why is this the government's business?

Question

i asked a question, 'why should the government be involved in marriages anymore' in a civil society. among others, i recieved this answer: "they need to help protect the Godly image and plan of marriage...between one man and one woman and not let it be degraded."

my question now is:

if that statement about not 'degrading' marriage has to do with so-called, 'gay marriage,' isn't this a matter of individual conscience and religious affiliation that the federal government shouldn't be involved with? for example, the Metropolitan Community Church is a Christian denomination that believes in marriage between gay men or lesbians.

Certainly there is difference of opinion between this denomination and others, but if the governement does 'help' not to 'degrade' a certain view of marriage, isn't it setting itself up to become the arbiter of who is married "in the eyes of god," as the MCC certainly will argue that two men it marries are indeed married "in the eyes of god!"

morris, that doesn't address my question.
besides, each biological parent has legal responsibilities for his/her minor children. taken out of the equation, and emphasizing the notion that all adults must be responsible for themselves, why do we need a separate tax structure for married people, or to be involved in the inheritance of property, etc. all of these civil matters have private legal solutions, without the need for public registration and regulalation of a discrete category for a man and a woman who say 'i do,' as opposed to, say, four men and two women who say, 'i do.' -- yes, granting marriage 'rights' to the latter requires a ridiculously byzantine set of regulations, tax considerations, ad nauseum, but that's the point. and given the rates of divorce, blended families, single parenthood, itnernational marriage (as the world grows smaller, as we continue sending troops to police the world), etc...

i can add to this question, "why should there be a need for state regulations regarding posthumous disposal of property, except as it impinges directly on the interests of the state, or in the case of abandoned property (which is already well established in most jurisdictions)?

Answer 1

amen!!!

Answer 2

Marriage isn't a religous union in the US anymore. There are religious aspects and ceremonies for those who choose to have them, but marriage has become a legal contract. It's the legal union of two lives. I'm not sure why the governtment cares what kind of union it is- I don't.

Answer 3

Whatever happened to "separation of church & state" if the government gets involved in marriages?

Answer 4

All religon aside, government has an interest in marriage due to taxes, ownership of property, social security payments, and estate disposal in probate court. Child welfare is also of interest to government.