I'm not getting married anytime soon, but I am an atheist and I was wondering how our marriages go about. My family is mostly Catholic so I've been to plenty of Catholic weddings, but would an atheistic wedding have a priest? Just wondering, and let's not be sarcastic because this is one of my few serious questions :)
2007-09-08 13:20:07 · 18 answers · asked by :) 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Do it however you want. My atheist friends got married in a national park with a judge present. But they could have bought a marriage license over the internet and done it themselves. The paper is all you need, and you need a judge for that - none of the rest (church, priest, etc) is legally binding.
2007-09-08 13:31:42 · answer #1 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A marriage is a legal contract between two people. In the eyes of the State, a married couple has certain obligations and privileges. Marriages must be performed by authorised marriage celebrants who have the legal authority of the State. Ministers of religion must have the civil authority to perform marriages otherwise, although someone might be married in the eyes of their god, they are not married in the eyes of the State. Many non religious people have the authority to perform marriages. These might be Justices of the Peace or Judges in some jurisdictions, they might be trained marriage celebrants in others.
Atheists get married all the time, they just don't use religious celebrants.
2007-09-08 20:40:13 · answer #2 · answered by tentofield 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Up to you. I am atheist and my hubby is non-practicing Catholic. (and yes, he lied to me in the beginning and told me he was atheist. darned Christian liars).
Pick a church if you want, Universal Unitarians are really open to your lack of beliefs and the priest worked with me to remove most religious overtones from the ceremony. But he snuck a few in which made my hubby & his family happy.
Go to Vegas and get married by, well almost anyone.
Get married at the county courthouse by whoever can do it, then throw a big party.
It is your wedding my dear, do it whatever way you want. Just keep in mind that some priests will not remove the entire religious overtones and scripture even if you want them too.
Who cares? You will still be married and it will still entitle you to the legal aspects of the contract.
Peace.
2007-09-08 20:38:58 · answer #3 · answered by Gem 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could have a priest but most choose to have a justice of the peace marry them. The ceremonies are usually shorter and more from the heart and can take place where ever you want them to. The last wedding that I was at was written entirely by the bride and groom, which i think made it more special.
2007-09-08 20:27:22 · answer #4 · answered by Vintage Glamour 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's just a civil service.
Can be performed by a judge, magistrate, different officials depending on where you are.
Technically, the only marriages recognized in most countries are legal marriages, and clergy of all sorts have to comply with the legal system regarding marriage, not vice versa.
(I was married in a religious ceremony and when we moved to the US had to get remarried civilly for MEDICAL INSURANCE, because the US doesn't recognize out of country orthodox rabbi's, apparently?Or the insurance companies are just really corrupt and want to deny anything they can. I mean, I'm as married as it gets, but the law has the final say.)
2007-09-08 20:40:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheists would generally not have a priest (being kind here).
Most would have a Justice of the Peace or something like that. Some churches do perform nonreligious weddings too.
2007-09-08 20:26:55 · answer #6 · answered by sara_says_no 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
An atheist's wedding would not have a priest anymore than a PETA convention would have a hot dog vendor. Get a Justice of the Peace to marry you in an outdoor setting or in a place that has some special significance to you. Do not get married in a church by a priest just to please your family. It is your day, not their day. I got married at the Little Chapel of the West in Las Vegas in a very spiritual (but not religious) ceremony.
2007-09-08 20:25:41 · answer #7 · answered by Pangloss (Ancora Imparo) AFA 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Well people might tell you that it would be hypocritical for you to get married since it's a god thing. However, I feel as if it's more of a traditional, a ceremony celebrating your love. So probably a non-denominational minister would preside over your wedding and you can do whatever you want with it. No real rules involved. Perhaps vows and rings and what not, but other than that, its up to you how you want to do it.
2007-09-08 20:25:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Visit some Unitarian Church weddings. Atheist's weddings are pretty much the same. Just like any other wedding but with all references to God's removed.
2007-09-08 20:38:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are an atheist it makes no sense to have a religious wedding. Use a judge/Justice of the Peace instead.
2007-09-08 20:26:08 · answer #10 · answered by magicalpossibilities 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋