atheist get married in church??

Question

My friend who is atheist is marrying another atheist, their families are not pressuring them to do it in a church, i asked them why she's doing it and she said cause it's tradiction. i dont agree if you dont beleive you're not supposed to get married in a church cause doing so it's presenting yourselves to God as becoming one? with the exception of pressure from family or the bried/groom to be is religious, why would an athesit want to marry in church? isnt that disrespectful? this question is not supposed to be hurtful or offensive to atheist, it's not about that. i just dont understand why that if you dont beleive in God would you do that(apart from the exceptions given)? Honest answers please no rude ones. thank you

it's not a question that the building is nicer, i personally dont agree with it. it's like saying i'm a vegetarian and eating meat.

to thelitlle... yes i AM offended about it because getting married IN a church IS about becoming one IN FRONT of God...i dont remember denying my offense in my question BUT if YOU read correctly i said i didnt want to offend ANYONE but obviously you forget that prat, what a shocker!

yes i DO think it's offensive i never said the contrary, but know you WANT me to be offensive so you can have good ammo to use against Christians, if i wanted to be offensive i would have phrased my question differently and the fact tha ti did ask the question is because i want other perspectives...so sweety dont get upset about you geting PMS

Answer 1

I don't agree with it either, and I'm an atheist. I would get married in a civil ceremony, somewhere beautiful like Hawaii. If she is doing this because "it's tradition", I'd love to know whose tradition she thinks that is. It's not about respect for me, it's about common sense. I don't believe that God exists; therefore, I would not get married in a building that was erected specifically to glorify a deity in which I don't believe.

Answer 2

1. i think it's really weird. When you marry in a church you have to get married by a minister. And you ARE presenting yourself to G-d. one that you don't believe exists.

2. There are many beautiful buildings that are not the places people go to pray to something you don't believe exits. I've seen many BEAUTIFUL Hindu temples, and Catholic churches, but I'm neither so would never get married there.

3. But the biggest question is why is a minister marrying them? Ministers usually meet with couples, etc. And don't just loan out their churches to everyone, usually you have to be members anyway.

4. It would be a little like me giving a paper on evolution at a science conversion, on how evolution is great and correct, and not believing in it. It is dishonest.

5. Yes, it is unthoughtful, and No, you can't do anything about it.

Edit: (6) religious traditions are used by persons to invoke a sense of the divine. If you don't believe in the divine, it is wrong to take part in them. If you want the traditions of a white dress, etc that's fine, like celebrating a secular christmas. But don't get married in a church, and on christmas day don't sing hymns in a church. it's really different.

Answer 3

To you, the ceremony has a religious purpose, but to me, it's a beautiful tradition. Can't you just present yourselves to God somewhere else? Must there be an exchange of rings? Do you need to dress up in white? How about something old, new, borrowed, blue? Do these superficial things, in your view, matter to God? I think you'll find that no, most of this is just a nice tradition.

I don't know what right you have to get married in any Church you like, but if it's OK with them and the couple wants to, I don't see why you have any say in it.

Answer 4

Why should an athiest get married at all. Does marrage not mean that you unite as one infront of God. Done in a church or not it is still becoming one for God. The may as well just go to the justice of peace for a certificate for the legal purposes then have a party for friends and family. Why have a wedding if you are not a christian.

Answer 5

Many churches have beautiful architecture and stained glass windows, plus built-in seating so they don't have to rent chairs, usually ample parking, and a piano or organ so they don't have to worry about figuring out what a pianist or organist is going to do (if they want live music). The acoustics in a church are also great.

I would guess they're looking at completely practical and aesthetic reasons when deciding they want to be married in a church.

)O(

Answer 6

I've given the readings at friends marriages, Corinthians always goes down well, it's quite a nice bit of writing.
I also sing hymms, Jerusalem is a nice tune, doesn't mean I believe the words.
I kepp my fingers crossed the whole time of course!

Answer 7

Ceremony is an important part of human life, just because the theist overtones aren't appreciated, the ceremony is.

Have you ever considered having 50 guest attend a wedding at the court house?

Worse, if you live in South Carolina, you are REQUIRED to have a church wedding. The current anti-gay marriage law invalided all judge and courthouse weddings as invalid marriages.

I'm an atheist and I got married in a Catholic church. My wife was Catholic. Strangely enough, it didn't hurt a bit. I didn't burst in a flames or anything. That was 27 years ago.

Answer 8

I want to get married in a church because there's a beautiful church around here I just have to find out if I can have someone other than the pastor perform the service.

Answer 9

Churches offer a decent looking building with plenty of seating and sometimes room for the reception.

Answer 10

I don't know why they would want to.
Except that maybe she isn't actually an atheist. Sometimes people say they are atheists when in actuality they are just not religious. It's not really the same thing. Maybe that is the case with her.