Do any religions besides Catholics believe you're only truly married (in the eyes of God) if it's done in/by your church?
If this is true of your religion or beliefs, would you agree to marry someone in a civil ceremony? IF that marriage was only to help that person (suspend your incredulity for a moment here), and there was to be no real marriage and you'd divorce later with no legal consequences?
I know everyone is going to think "immigration" at this point, and your views on that may color your answer. But please just pretend that it's for another reason, no matter how unlikely.
Whether or not you WOULD do this, do you feel you would be committing a sin or other no-no in the eyes of your church? Or God?
2007-01-31 04:52:51 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If I were single, and if it was for a really, really, really good reason (like some one was going to be killed and needed to be married for at least a day to avoid it or something like that) then I would give it some serious consideration.
And this wouldn't be a sin in the eyes of the Church, since the Church wouldn't recognize the marriage anyhow. And when I divorced her, it wouldn't be considered a divorce either. Of course, I couldn't consumate the "marriage", since that would be a sin.
2007-01-31 04:57:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The fact that the Bible says you are only to marry in the lord means that it IS possible to have a legally binding marriage outside of church. Would I have married somebody outside of my personal beliefs? Doubtful. Would I call it a sin? I'm not sure.
I can tell you in 1Peter 3:1 it speaks of a wife, in case her husband is an unbeliever, to try to win him over by her actions(without a word) - her chaste conduct and manner of dress. That maybe he could some day become a believer.
The bible also speaks of not becoming "yoked with unbelievers". So it seems that the Bible is covering all grounds here. It would seem to me that if you were to marry an "unbeliever" that you might have to spend the rest of your life paying for it. I don't mean that in a bad or horrible way - but imagine the disputes to arise when it's time to go or not go to church. Is one spouse going to tell the other that they are forbidden to go to their church or if they go that they are choosing their church over their spouse? and if that couple has kids, what religion are those children going to abide by? Just by marrying someone who is not of the same faith as you, you are setting yourself up for future arguments and strife. If it's worth it, is up to you.
I also have to put my 2 cents in about how I don't believe in marriages of convenience. I don't see the necessity in today's world. There will always be doubt on one or both parties of true love and commitment to the relationship. A marriage is legally binding, whether you do it in a church or in the court-house. If you both are going into this marriage knowing that you will just divorce in year, then why marry in the first place? In the eyes of God and as far as I can see, marriage is a SACRED vow. You are saying, when you marry someone, that you will be with that person till the day you die. If you don't plan on honoring this vow, then why make it? The bible does say to "let your Yes mean yes and your no mean no." That means don't lie. If you can't make the marriage vow without lying through your teeth, then it shouldn't be done.
2007-01-31 13:00:58 · answer #2 · answered by CHRISTINA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually it is illegal to marry just for immigration purposes so really you couldn't do it on that basis. i know this happens alot and therefore that is why immigration is so strict on this. a little story for you if you're thinking of doing this...i have a male aquaintence who is gay and illegal, a woman, legal citizen agreed to marry him and live with him in a marriage of just what you are talking about and then once he got his citizenship they would divorce. ..two things happened...she met someone and fell in love 6 months after she married him and her boyfriend is very angry with the situation and wants to marry her but does not want to wait another 3 (or more ) years before they can divorce so she is now divorcing this gay, illegal and now getting ready to be deported guy who is also in very serious legal trouble and will probably have to go to jail. part of the agreement (verbal of course) was he would pay her a fixed sum of money and also they got a house together, he paid the down payment and now that he is technically illegal once again guess who gets the house? ....her...so even if you are the best of friends this type situation never works out whether in the eyes of god, the church or the court.
2007-01-31 13:01:56 · answer #3 · answered by ?! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You touch on many interesting questions. Marriage is an adhesion contract. If you invite the state in it is a contract among a man a woman and the state ( the Almighty is left out) If you leave the state out...... If you marry someone only for citizenship purposes, that is called fraud, and the INS people take a dim view of it.
2007-01-31 13:00:18 · answer #4 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, first of all marriage is a religious belief. If it was up to the simple common man we would want to hump, scr-ew, and ***** every girl/woman in sight!! We wouldn't want to be married, we would just have many many one night stands. Religion controls our thoughts, feelings, and the way we handle ourselves in life and death. But to be married just in a church is not correct. You can be married on a boat, skydiving, under the sea, or up a tree. You can be married by the justice of the peace because he must hold to a certain religious standard. I hope this help's you.
2007-01-31 13:11:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think if it is YOUR belief that a real marriage is only in the church, and you are engaging in a civil ceremony only, you are not compromising your beliefs because you are not really getting married.
I personally believe that marriage is a sacrament of the church, and that governments should issue only certificates of legal union rather than certificates of marriage.
2007-01-31 12:57:58 · answer #6 · answered by Karen M 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As long as it was a legal marriage.No problemo.Remember when Isaac took Rebekah forwife.They didn't even have a ceremony,he just took her in his tenet(actually his mothers) and that was that.What you really need is commitment.
2007-01-31 12:59:00 · answer #7 · answered by AngelsFan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, my father married his second wife in a civil ceremony. and i dont like the idea of getting married in the church anyways, my step brother had to convert to his fiancees religion just so they could get married in her church (her childhood dream). thankfully he wasnt the religious type and was only doing it in name so fufill her wishes.
either way, its just a piece of paper.
2007-01-31 12:57:53 · answer #8 · answered by mickey g 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am a Buddist. I would one day also considered to marry my wife to be, be it Christian or non-christian to wed in a church ceromony. Because the setting is romantic and beatiful, it's the 'IN' trend nowsaday.
2007-01-31 13:17:21 · answer #9 · answered by ButterMilkQueso 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. it would be a no no, just because your intentions are putside the realm of what Marriage is intended for, the fact of the matter is that MARRIAGE is MARRIAGE, and thats one thing, a Sacred institution founded by GOD himself, you have no right to twist it or pervert it, Because God isn't going to "make an exception" Or "bend the rules"
the bonds of marriage have rules, and those rules do not waiver.
2007-01-31 12:58:47 · answer #10 · answered by brian_d_long2006 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋