Which part of the bible is it in?, the newer part? or the stone age part that includes those zany Leviticus passages?
Is only the newer part of the bible meant to be followed, or do some parts of the world still adhere to all of it?
Now I'm all confused, so if marriage is only in the church, does that mean every single marriage at wedding chapels, vegas and so on weren't marriages after all? because no church was involved? ooohh wait a minute, what really qualifies as a church? those wedding chapels look churchy enough and they follow some kind of religion (even if it is just worshipping money). Does this mean Hindu people can't get married? or is there some kind of qualifier as to which religions can call get to call it marriage and which religions aren't religious enough to qualify? This is getting hard to figure out... who's god is the real God that gets to call the union a marriage?
It's even more confusing trying to figure how committed a couple is if they didn't get married in the church, are they only half married?
Dude, there is a healthy dose of reading involved to answer all those questions. I may not be the right person to explain it to you. I know what I believe, and it sounds to me that you pretty much answered most of the questions yourself. Marriage is not just some fancy wedding ( or cheap Vegas chapel) ceremony, beautiful dresses, expensive gifts...etc. Marriage is more than just saying I do in front of a bunch of smiling people and getting your picture taken from a hundred different angles. Marriage is the actual pact two people share with God. All the outrage, all the anger, all the euphemisms attacking me--set them aside. They are nothing compared to the simple truth that faith, love and honesty is required from the deepest set of your soul to make that pact.
Other religions? They probably have their own ceremonies and name for it, Just another reason in this country where there is so much diversity why there should be one government entity that people apply for a contract for legal rights after they have completed their own spiritual traditions as their religion or non religion calls for the ceremony.
I have no problem with people of other races, religions, having their own ceremonies and sharing the commonality of a legal contract in the United states that gives them all equal rights and benefits and standardizes the legal system and and all paperwork.
Why should the government have to figure out what religions are valid for a marriage certificate when everyone can receive the same legal document and then have their own ceremony?
