This is just BS.
Legal marriage can only be done within a Governmental institution.
For thousands of years marriage didn't involve the government.
You go to the civil office with your future spouse. You sign a piece of paper. And you're done. that's it.
No, that's not it. As a Christian, we are admonished not to go before secular courts to resolve disputes (I Corinthians 6). Quakers also hold that God joins a man and a woman in marriage, not government.
There is no such thing as
"private marriage".
I have one.
Not really. More and more couples opt to "cohabitate" because they don't want governmental interferrence in their relationship or the dissolution of their relationship. Frankly, a private marriage is exactly that... accept the partners make vows or "promises" (Quaker term) and have witnesses in their faith community that acknowledge their "marriage".
A
nd religious ceremonial weddings are just that. Weddings. Whether you hold a wedding or not, depending on your religion, it doesn't matter in the eyes of the state. From a legal perspective, if you hold a wedding and not sign that piece of paper at the civil office, you're not legally married. If you sign that piece of paper and not hold a wedding, you are legally married.
Marriage has been around long long long before that precious "civil office". It has no REAL authority to define marriage for you, for me, or anyone else. It should close up shop and focus on more important matters.
and if you do both, sign the piece of paper and hold a wedding, congrats, you are doing what everybody is doing and that's great.
No, it's not great. It's great for attorneys who get paid quite a bit in legal fees and the court for court costs should the marriage dissolve. It's a money making racket.
There is no such thing as "keep the govt out of marriage".
Not true... I have a government free marriage.
yes, it is your business whom you are marrying, but guess what, its society's business too. These things to into statistics to analyze the health of the population.
Then maybe we should need a "license" issued by a duely authorized agent of the state to eat fast food. LOL
Without it, it's like going on a train without knowing where you're going or where you are at any given moment.
Not true... it's even better than just "going on a train"... it's like driving the train yourself.
So stop this non-sense about "keep the govt out of marriage". Just stop it.
Ooo... more control issues I see. lol
Ever hear of a concept called... "liberty"??? lol
You're making a fool of yourselves if you support this. Moreover, why the hell is this in the "religious discussions" subforum. It doesn't belong here because marriage is not a religious issue.
Marriage originated within the context of religious blessings between families with regards to a couple's union. And I want to specifically address the religious side of it. Why do so many churches get so caught up on "civil marriage" and refuse to acknowledge government free marriages? For example, my grandfather and grandmother were never legally married. Oh, they wore rings, signed their Bibles and other documents as husband and wife. They were together over 30 years and raised 5 kids. Yet when my grandfather died it came to light that they were not legally married. The church she served for her entire life... condemned her and excommunicated her. Why? What about the separation of church and state? Couldn't the church have acknowledge that their union was a "marriage in the eyes of God"??? Did they REALLY need a peice of paper from a civil office to keep in good standing with the church????
So yes, I'm wanting to discuss the religious side of it. The problem is... others don't.
That's your opinion. Not mine.
