Brian Smith publishes opinion on Supreme Court ruling

Brian Smith, professor of religion and chair of the department, wrote an opinion piece about the recent Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. It was published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper and can be read here.

“The reactions to the Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage have been ones of elation and concern,” Smith writes. “Members of the LBGT community feel they are finally equal citizens before the law in terms of marriage, but many Americans — especially those in some religious communities — feel this undermines the traditional meaning of marriage.” Smith creates clear divides between a religion marriage verses a state marriage.

Smith says he believes the Supreme Court ruling was an act of promoting civil rights instead of a redefinition of marriage, as the church would see it. He says creating these distinctions is crucial to better understanding these changes.