If it is a religious institution then the govt. needs to stay out of it. If it is a legal issue (ie. state sanctioned) then gays should have the right to marry.
2006-06-27 13:19:37 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A secondary question, if it is in fact something created by a christian god, how is it that the Chinese and the Japanese(who are generally not christian) also have state sanctioned marriage? I don't think that a christian god has a monopoly on marriage.
2006-06-27 13:26:47 · update #1
Marriage is more of a legal issue than it is a religious one. While many people do get married through a church of whatever their particular religion is, the church in no way makes the marriage official in the eyes of society, just in the eyes of the church. What really makes you married is the certificate that you get from the state when you tell them you're getting married and go through the whole paperwork thing.
2006-06-27 13:24:02 · answer #1 · answered by Archangeleon 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Marriage is not defined in any single way. I would not be offended if any state sanctioned union was called something other than marriage, and the word marriage were reserved for church sanctioned "joinings". Then, religious people could have both, and non-religious people could be allowed to have the legal rights without perhaps the "till death do us part" as well as other religious connotations associated with marriage. I am appalled that Christians in our government feel the need to impose their beliefs by trying to ban gay marriage. If their church does not condone it, fine, but everyone should be allowed to enter into a state sanctioned marriage, as the state has no place poking into citizen's affairs.
2006-06-27 14:25:49 · answer #2 · answered by reverenceofme 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Exactly.
It started as a religious institution but as soon as the marriage license was created it became a legal contract as well. So the answer is it is both. I agree that everyone should have the same civil rights (including marriage) and religion is a personal choice so you can pick a religion that allows you to worship the way you want and live the way you want without any government interference.
2006-06-27 13:26:11 · answer #3 · answered by az 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
since u didnt state the religion, i may answer:
actually i would go for both. however, in some countries (i.e. muslim countries) many govt. rules were taken out of religion. because tht's what a religion is all about, guiding you to the right path by telling u what to do. so, it's religious. but what i dnt understand is (and i would really appreciate if someone would answer me) why christian ppl take marriage so personal and special when they actually can live together and have babies without marriage!
2006-06-27 13:48:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is both. The state has to be involved with it because of the legal rights of married partners. I agree that same-sex couples shoud be given the same legal rights as traditional married couples (to speak for the other in the case of a medical emergency, estate rights, etc), For exceptionally sensitive people, I would suggest a same-sex partnership be called a "civil union".
2006-06-27 13:28:25 · answer #5 · answered by shellb7088 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In Islam, Marraige is a contract between a man and a woman following God stated terms and conditions.
As this contract results in duties and obligations, Goverment role is to protect each party if any do something violates the marraige contract.
So Government act is a Judge not a contract party
2006-06-27 13:31:20 · answer #6 · answered by egyptian_youth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's both in this country. It's religious because it's done in a chapel and has religious reasoning behind it. It's also legal because aspects of it are controlled by the gov't. For example, married couples file taxes jointly. Also, Aethiests can get married. In countries such as Israel, it's completely religious.
2006-06-27 13:26:19 · answer #7 · answered by x 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Marriage is a vow to God to honor and be loyal and loving to your spouse forever. this is a promise to God as well as your spouse. Gays should not marry in my opinion because it goes against what the Bible teaches us, God created Eve for Adam, and vs. versa. male and female. as for the chinese, etc..they make the promise to eachother but not to God.So that is not religious, nor is it just a legal matter, its an oath just to the other person and not to God. this is my belief.
2006-06-27 13:52:10 · answer #8 · answered by crazytown 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
that is probably why it is such a heated issue with religious people and those who are in politics. they both feel they are right in their stand, one way or the other. you however have provided a view to either one.
and you cant choose both.
i would go with which one was here first, god was therefore in my honest opinion, it is a religious institution.
(with legal benefits) lol
2006-06-27 13:26:59 · answer #9 · answered by jenzen25 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's some of both.
Some countries people have two weddings, a civil marriage and a church marriage. That might work out better for the US.
2006-06-27 13:22:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋