For the first time in America's great history, same-sex marriage is legal within our borders. It's time we ask ourselves: "Was God wrong?" For far too many, this basic question has been missing from the debate over the redefinition of marriage.

Advocates of preserving traditional marriage, myself included, have argued that the fundamental building-block of every single civil society in the world throughout history has been marriage defined as a union between one man and one woman - all societies that have veered from this definition eventually vanished

Social-science data proves men, women and children are healthier, safer, better educated, more economically sound, more emotionally stable and happier when they live within the bonds of traditional families that include one mother and one father.

To change the basic building block of society would result in radical changes in every other aspect of our lives. For example, consider the exercise of free speech and the freedom of religion in Canada, where same-sex marriage was legalized in 2003. On April 28, 2004, Bill C-250 passed the Canadian Senate making it a criminal offense to criticize homosexuality. The government has already started banning radio programs containing criticisms of the lifestyle. Depending on how the Canadian courts rule in specific cases, pastors could be thrown in jail by simply preaching sermons against homosexuality.

Evidence from the Netherlands illustrates that when the definition of marriage is altered, people begin to shrug their shoulders at the concept of marriage altogether and see it as unnecessary - since same-sex marriages became legal in Norway, for example, 80 out of 100 babies in some areas of the country are now born to single mothers.

Everything from advertising to children's textbooks will change to depict same-sex marriages as "normal." The costs of extending health care, insurance, social security and every other benefit to new types of married couples will skyrocket for everyone and could break the federal treasury.

Also, who determines where the line is now drawn? If two men can marry, can two brothers marry each other? Or two heterosexual widows? If gender doesn't matter, why does it have to be between "two" people? Why not three or more? Can a group of people sharing a house decide to marry each other so that all may enjoy the legal benefits? Where does it end? Why should it matter?

We have correctly raised all of these issues and more in our defense of marriage. But the basic question we must raise - the only one that really matters - is: "Was God wrong?"

Our opposition tells us that we can't bring religion or God into the picture, that to do so would be to force our moral beliefs on others.

Yet, the only argument that the same-sex marriage crowd makes is couched in moral terms - "It is immoral," they say, "to deny two people who love each other the right to marry." It's the only argument they have, and it is entirely based on their view of right and wrong.

The advocates of same-sex marriage say they believe in God - most seek to invoke His name in their marriages. I say it's time for everyone to stop - stop and ask ourselves: "Was God wrong?" God's definition of marriage is clearly defined in the account of His creation of this basic human relationship in Genesis 2: 22-24:

And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

Was God wrong in creating woman and man for each other? Was he wrong when he established marriage as the institution in which children are to be born?

God's design for marriage is the only one that matters. The evidence - much of which has been provided in this column - also proves that God's design for marriage is the only one that works for mankind.

God loves us - all of us. He created mankind in His own image, and designed a beautiful framework in which we can thrive and multiply and experience true fulfillment in every sense of the word. The laws of nature - created and defined by the Creator - are the indisputable evidence that fundamental to mankind's societal existence is the cornerstone of marriage between one man and one woman.

To say otherwise is to declare God wrong..

Rebecca Hagelin is a vice president of the Heritage Foundation.