So what do the country's leading religious denominations have to say about gay marriage?
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life compiled a report on the question last year and updated it in May, the same month the California Supreme Court cleared the way for gay weddings, which began this week.
Although attitudes toward same-sex marriage will vary among individuals, the Pew Forum assessed the positions of various denominations and religious groups.
The following, which includes just some of the entities the Pew Forum surveyed, is based on the forum’s research with additional Times reporting.
American Baptist
In 1982, the American Baptist Churches in the USA's governing body, the General Board, declared that "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."
Some individual churches, however, have welcomed openly gay members. American Baptist churches in California, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona broke away from the national church in 2006, saying the General Board failed to penalize churches that had welcomed gays.
Buddhism
Although some Buddhists call for tolerance, there is no official Buddhist position on same-sex marriage.
Catholicism
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opposes gay marriage, saying that "marriage is a faithful, exclusive and lifelong union between one man and one woman." The bishops also have condemned violence and bigotry against gays and lesbians and said that they "must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity."
Episcopal
The Episcopal Church has not explicitly endorsed gay marriage, but in 2006 the church stated its "support of gay and lesbian persons and [opposition to] any state or federal constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex marriages or unions."
Some Episcopal congregations have split from the national church over gay issues and interpretations of Scripture.
At least one Episcopal congregation in California, All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, has already hosted same-sex weddings.
Evangelical Lutheran
The legislative body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is expected to consider gay marriage and the ordination of openly gay ministers in 2009. A church task force in March recommended that the church continue to define marriage as a union between a woman and a man.
Hinduism
Although cultural attitudes may vary regarding gays and lesbians, there is no official Hindu position on same-sex marriage.
