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Marriage: Both Civil and Religious
What is marriage? Is it a sacred rite or a civil right? What role, if any, should religious institutions, traditions or beliefs have in the legal act of marriage?
Marriage in the U.S. is both an issue of religion and of civil jurisdiction. On the one hand are the religious rituals of marriage that vary from faith to faith, and on the other is the civil recognition of those unions.
Because we as a nation have chosen to give special status to individuals who are married -- tax breaks, for instance -- marriage is in fact a civil right, not just a religious ceremony. To deny marriage to individuals is to deny them access to governmental bonuses and services. As such, marriage should be available equally to all American citizens, just as, say, welfare benefits are.
Religions, on the other hand, do not convey the same civil benefits as governments. They give a faith-based, social approbation of marital relationships. Obviously, many of us want the sanction and approval of a church with regards to marriage. Even people who do not regularly attend church (or other house of worship) hold their wedding in one, or have it officiated by a priest (or other religious leader). Whether this is just due to traditional customs, to human needs for approval from authority figures, the significance of rites of passage to the human psyche, or some other factors, it remains a fact that marriage and religion go hand in hand in the minds of the vast majority of Americans.
Because no one is forced to follow a particular faith, or to join a particular church, we should not require churches to sanction marriages which they believe go against their beliefs. At the same time, it is important that we do have churches who will marry people who do not fit the norm for marriage, whether that is mixed-race couples, interfaith couples or gay couples. The path to that, is not through governmental regulation, but through people of like mind coming together to celebrate marriage in the way they see fit.
By
Pamela K. Taylor
|
July 31, 2009; 6:15 PM ET
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Posted by: pacifistcode | August 5, 2009 7:51 AM
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WE'LL CLEANSE ALL OLD-RELIGION AS PROMISED US...
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}-PAGANs;>..SHAMAN-VOODOOs..WITCH/WICCANs..too
Posted by: homeland1 | August 4, 2009 11:35 AM
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ooooppps
Posted by: homeland1 | August 4, 2009 11:03 AM
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The blurb-and-headline-writers strike again, summarizing Ms Taylor's article with this:
"we should not require churches to sanction marriages which they believe go against their beliefs."
This was never on the table in America, and in fact has been a prime point of disconnect with reality regarding the deceptions used to overturn equal marriage rulings and laws in this country, as well as tell people they had to 'define marriage as for heterosexuals only' lest some nefarious queers force them to attend a gay wedding in their own church.... Like anyone would want a wedding day like that, in the first place.
Posted by: Paganplace | August 3, 2009 5:10 PM
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Another great piece from Pamela Taylor. Thank you for writing!
Posted by: maq1 | August 3, 2009 3:32 AM
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If Prof. Gates doen't Fess-up to his "GUILTY-MIND" and plead "Guilty" to Inciting a
International Uproar anda "National-Riot" (something our real enemies thrive-on; or condone? by proxy AGENTS?) , so he Must really go to jail; Because
Behold: Thou Shall not (Situationally) LIE!
The RACE-CARD in Sweet Sweet U.S. of A.'s must END! It's getting to Dry, especially when today AMERICA, not AFRICA, has a half/White and half/Black/Brown "Elected" President For 2009+.
Repercussions (not Riots)? but:
---
DOWN with OBAMA & CO., comes 2012 and beyond!!!
DOWN with OBAMA & CO., comes 2012 and beyond!!!
DOWN with OBAMA & CO., comes 2012 and beyond!!!
Prof. GATES Must GO To Jail For almost insighting a National (RACE BASED) RIOT!
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-- W O W!
"A White Crackers ain't gota Chance
against a Black Cracker"?
Posted by: homeland1 | August 2, 2009 12:43 PM
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This is a very objective insight about marriage. It is totally in sync with the idea of separation of Church and State wherein both institution do not impose their power upon another.
Posted by: dcgilbert | August 2, 2009 6:56 AM
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I'M A GAY "NEVER ACCEPT MY MARRIAGE IN YOUR CHURCH"
I'M INTERFAITH "NEVER ACCEPT ME IN YOUR CHURCH"
CAN'T YOU JUST SEE THAT RELIGION IS SACRED AND PURE
WHY SHOULD YOU PLAY WITH IT? "BECAUSE AM CONFUSED"
THEN STOP NOW! "UNTIL I CAN QUIT BEING GAY"\
SO DOES THAT MAKE A SENSE? AWWW! PLEASE IS MARRIAGE IS NOT A SACRED RITE THEN TIES AND BLESS IT IN YOUR BEDROOM OR EVEN IN THE BATHROOM,
"YOU CAN'T DO THAT RIGHT" THEN LIVE DESCENT.