If there is separation of Church and State in the US, how come the government recognizes Church marriages?

Question

In other countries where there is separation of Church and State, you have to get married by both the civil ceremony and church because neither one is recognized by the other.

Answer 1

"Seperation of Church and State" does not mean that religious communities and the government cannot interact. The 1st amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

This is the basis for what has come to be known as the 'seperation of Church and state', but in fact, the original intent was only to prevent a "Church of the United States" from being created, as had been done with the "Church of England" in Britain.

Answer 2

In Britain one can be married in Church, so long as the house of worship is recognized in law (mosques are not; synagogues are). There are special rules for Jews and Quakers, for historical reasons.

In both the UK and the USA it is the fact of the marriage licence that matters. Except in those US states that recognize common law marriage (a few do still) or native-American marriage (I think even they have to have licenses now, but that's recent).

Don't listen to Warren Jeffs. His were not real marriages.

Answer 3

The government considers the filing of the marriage license as a legal marriage... The church ceremony is just a ceremony as far as they are concerned...

Answer 4

There is a seperation. The government doesn't care where you get married. You can get married in a church or a synagogue or a temple or wherever. The marriage is not valid, for legal purposes, till the government issues a marriage license.

Answer 5

In this country you can get married by the Church. You then sign the marriage license in front of witness, and the marriage is not legal until you file the license.

Answer 6

There is no "separation of church and state" in the constitution. That is a liberal rewording so that they can make anti-religious laws - which is the exact opposite of what the Amendment really states.

The First Amendment reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

Answer 7

Government has freedom of religion, so the marriage license can be signed in the presence of your entire family.

On a divorce application, one question asks if one was married in a civil or religious ceremony.

Answer 8

i do no longer trust this, yet i think of the factor they might desire to make is that the belief of marriage itself is a 'religious thought'. which you may them it particularly is like some form of affront to their faith. What they do no longer see is that marriage is likewise something it somewhat is a legally binding settlement in a feeling, to no longer point out any emotional part of having married, it provides human beings criminal rights that they won't be able to regularly get being no longer called a married couple. i've got self belief no longer allowing gay marriage, does go the line then in keeping apart church from state, using fact such as you suggested, their situation with it particularly is probably due strictly to faith. there is not any different foundation for it, and in assessment to three here I do think of it is going to take place, it somewhat is in elementary terms incorrect to disclaim those that stunning, it particularly is unlike they are going to end being together using fact of it. there is basically no plus section to no longer legalizing it.

Answer 9

There isn't seperation of church and state in the US. How could a secular society permit the teaching of "intelligent design" as a scientific fact - or permit the president to worship openly, garner most of his support from the religious right and claim that God tells him what to do?

Answer 10

You still have to get a marriage certificate from Uncle Sam