imortal wrote:
My pubes are doing quite well, thank you.
I am getting married in 21 days.
Congrats on your anniversary .
If you are making your argument in that area, I do tend to agree. Personally, I think that the civil benifits of marriage should be seperated from the relegious act of marriage. I see no problem behind gay marriage, clan marriages, or even line marriages (for those here who are confused, read "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert Heinlein sometime). If your faith allows a "non-traditional" type of marriage, it is not the place of the state to determine if it is moral or allowed. Because most marriages involve a priest, pastor, preacher or similar holy figure, the faith of the wedding party IS involved.
All the tax and civil benifts should be available anytime two or more people wish to enter into a contract of a civil bond. Yes, I say two 'or more.'
I think it should be the act of the civil union which provides all of those wonderful benifits. If you are marriaed from the church, you also enter in a civil union (ie getting a marriage license), but you can also enter into a civil union without getting married in a church (that would be going to the jp).
Although my wedding will be of the most traditional type. By choice.
I wasn't talking about your pubes...you get it. I get it.
However, regarding the civil part of the marriage - I'm already making the assumption the two people are getting married for reasons beyond "tax breaks" - I'm specifically talking about the false idea that a marriage isn't a marriage unless it's in a church or the wife has to take the last name of the husband, etc. Those things don't matter.
What matters is the husband & wife have made and oath to each other, to love each other no matter what. If that requires a church, well, then it's because the people elected it as an option.
Second of all, the church ceremony is done for one reason - to take the highest oath you can - in front of God. I, for one, do not believe going to church on Sunday or any other day, precludes me from having a relationship with God. This means you can go to the courthouse to do the legal part, and then you and your new wife need to make an oath to each other - and it doesn't have to be in a church.
Third, it's not up to me to decide for everyone else what exactly a "marriage" is. It's not my right to decide that for others. For instance, I do not like gay marriage, but it's not right for me to decide the union is null and void.
See the difference? My argument is the marriage has absolutely nothing to do with what "traditional" or not. Its whether you have committed yourselves to each other.