If marriage is a religious institution, why do I need a license from the court?

Question

And why would I have to report that on tax forms, credit requests..ect?

Answer 1

So that your state knows you're not marrying your cousin or sister.

Marriage is seen as a stabilizing factor for purposes of obtaining credit, but generally, the creditor just also wants your spouse's signature on the line.

Any tax benefits you receive for being married are based on a long-standing American public policy that marriage is good for society and children. So you get a teensy break. And as difficult as marriage and children are in this society, it isn't enough of a break.

Answer 2

Although my personal belief is that marriage is a religious sacrament that bonds two souls together in heaven forever with the blessing of the church, it is logical to note that when we live in a society with so many different religious and non religious beliefs, and taking into account that some marriages are not connected with any religious ceremony or church, how is the government going to know if you are married unless they require you to register with them. If all marriages were performed in churches, then the government could require them to report it so they also could have a record. But as it is, not all marriages are done within any religious ceremony or institution, so it seem logical that the government would require you to take out a license with them. Since it is illegal to be married to more than one person at a time, they can monitor this. Since the IRS gives different rates to married couples, when a marriage is registered wit the state, they too can have proof. When someone wants a divorce, how can they get it if there is no official record of a marriage? You see even though for some of us marriage is a religious institution, it is understandable completely that we must also register with the government.

Answer 3

I never understood it at all. People are so up in arms about the government wanting to know which books you take out of the library, yet by getting married they invite the government to participate in something that is far more private and intimate. This is usually not a problem, until the divorce when all the embarassing, gory details are made public.

I wonder if its possible to get married by the church - but not have it legally ratified?

Answer 4

Marriage is a legal institution as well - a Judge can perform a legal marriage.

What's the big deal here? People include religion in it if they so choose. Just like with any other aspect of their lives, everyone gets to decide if it has religion or not, and they have the freedom to worship or not as they decide.

Answer 5

A splendid query! A marriage has 2 parts to it: a religious one and a civil one.

So... if you want to get married in the eyes of the state - to anyone, even someone of the same sex, that should be no problem - it's just paperwork.

Religions can (and will) discriminate arbitrality and close-mindedly as they like. If they only want to allow certain types of marriages, they can.

Answer 6

Because it is also a civil/legal union. You can get married without a priest or any religious service whatsoever. Marriage is much a legal ritual as it is religious.

Answer 7

There are three parts to marriage: Legal, Social and Religious. Since being married gives certain legal benefits, you must register to claim those. Also, the American Puritan legal system wants to force a narrow judeo-christian moral code on its citizens.

Answer 8

It only becomes an exalted religious institution when two committed homosexuals want to get the same rights as a heterosexual couple. Then the Christian Right screams about how it's a religious institution and it shouldn't be shamed by homosexuals.

Answer 9

Because if you marry then they tax your more.