In the United States, the legalization of same-sex marriage has a long history of opposition from religious circles. Some oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage based on their interpretation of the Bible's stance against homosexuality (Dobson, O'Brien). Other opponents argue that this practice is based on universal principles of moral behavior, fundamental beliefs that underpin our country's existing laws and should not be eroded (George, Finnis, Friedman). However, more and more arguments against same-sex marriage have turned to the legal realm, arguing that the practice threatens the right to religious freedom. Opponents use the U.S. Constitution and existing laws to make legal arguments, rather than moral ones, warning of a sharp erosion of religious freedoms if marriage laws were changed to accommodate same-sex unions (Berg, Schowengerdt ). Are same-sex marriages a threat? to religious freedom in the United States? Exploring the ramifications, thought leaders and religious scholars argue that this is the case. Their arguments include two dominant themes: 1) the fear that legalizing same-sex marriages violates religious freedom by forcing organizations and individuals to sanction, under penalty of law, marriages contrary to their respective religious principles; and 2) concerns about equal protection under the law versus religious freedom, which implies that one constitutional freedom encroaches on another. Here is an explanation of these two themes. Many organizations today are guided by a set of religious beliefs and values ​​based on a biblical definition of marriage, which is "the union of a man and a woman as husband and wife for the purpose of give birth.” et nurturi...... middle of paper...... " Law Journal. HeninOnline. Web. April 25, 2012. George, Robert P. In Defense of Natural Law. Oxford: Clarendon, 1999. Print.Laycock, Douglas, Anthony R. Picarello and Robin Fretwell Wilson. Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Freedom: Emerging Conflicts [Washington, DC]: Becket Religious Liberty Fund, 2008. Print.Moody, Howard “Sacred or Civil Rite? cover). "Nation 279.1 (2004): 28-31. Academic research completed. Web. April 18, 2012. O'Brien, Raymond C. "Monosexual Marriage: A Religious Perspective." Law Journal Library (1998). Henin online. Web. April 24, 2012. Schowengerdt, Dale M. “Defending Marriage: A Litigation Strategy for Opposing Same-Sex “Marriage”” Law Journal Library (2002). Volokh, Eugene. Homosexual Marriage and Slippery Slopes Vol. 1. UCLA School of Law, April 23.. 2012.