I am convinced that was the right thing...

[wanderingone]

You raise an excellent point, if someone is suggesting separating the two, are they comfortable saying that religious marriage has no legal meaning then?

Religious marriage ceremonies should have no legal meaning without the legal step taken to register the marriage.

Never in my until I encountered conservative christians have I ever heard anyone claim marriage to mean specifically a "religious" event; outside of the notion of marriage as one sacrament in a list of sacraments. I

Marriage has always indicated to me a marriage that has been entered into legally. (Which may or may not have been a religious ceremony) Interestingly I've encountered many Christians who call themselves married and then along the way in forums they announce that while they haven't taken the "legal" step they consider themselves married "in the eyes of God" Long discussions of this topic have taken place in women's forums here and on other Christian sites.

In most states it is not a religious ceremony that makes you married, it is a license to get married followed by the registration of the marriage performed by someone who can legally sign off. In states that recognize "common law" it's the recognition that a couple has lived "as a married couple" and meet the other criteria for that state to be considered married.

The fact that marriage means many different things (most of them NOT religious) to me means people should get over their worry about what marriage means to someone else, and as long as they are living by what their own values are who cares what someone else calls a marriage?

 

[TeddyKGB]

Nevertheless I believe church unions have the best chance of lasting. IMO

This looks to be answerable empirically. What do the numbers say?

 

[Texas Lynn]

Aren't the countries with the highest number of atheists also the countries with the lowest divorce rates? I read that a while back... i should look it up

Yes. The higest divorces are in the Bible Belt. Massachusetts and New Jersey have some of the lowest divorce rates. So much for the lie that same gender marriage threatens heterosexual marriage.

 

[Texas Lynn]

So an LA times poll is saying that the amendment to the CA constitution has 54% support.

That's a great sign because support for the initiatives and referenda in the states that have them start off high, usually, and then drops off, as people consider the implications....IOW, There's not much of a drop to be needed to stop the misbegotten thing. Considering how people coming to Cali to get married will boost tourist $$$ coming into the state that may in and of itself be more than enough to turn the tide.

 

[Skaloop]

Yes. The higest divorces are in the Bible Belt. Massachusetts and New Jersey have some of the lowest divorce rates. So much for the lie that same gender marriage threatens heterosexual marriage.

Canada's divorce rates are about half of the rate for the US. Not only are we less religious overall, but we've had SSM for nearly three years now. Negative effects - zero.

 

[jamielindas]

Canada's divorce rates are about half of the rate for the US. Not only are we less religious overall, but we've had SSM for nearly three years now. Negative effects - zero.

The governor of CA feels that this will be a net gain for the CA economy. Considering the number of wealthy gay couples in the bay area and the LA area, I can see this being a boom for the wedding industry. Also, if each license costs a fee, doesn't the state get a little boost too? What about the hospitality industry, with couples coming to the state to get married or open minded relatives coming to attend their gay nephews ceremony?! Economically speaking... it seems like a positive to me.

I mean, isn't that why the dutch did it? Gay marriage, legal pot, unionized prostitutes... pragmatic and regulated... you can't stop human nature.. you might as well give it some boundaries to work in.

 

[LittleNipper]

Religious marriage ceremonies should have no legal meaning without the legal step taken to register the marriage.

Never in my until I encountered conservative christians have I ever heard anyone claim marriage to mean specifically a "religious" event; outside of the notion of marriage as one sacrament in a list of sacraments. I

Marriage has always indicated to me a marriage that has been entered into legally. (Which may or may not have been a religious ceremony) Interestingly I've encountered many Christians who call themselves married and then along the way in forums they announce that while they haven't taken the "legal" step they consider themselves married "in the eyes of God" Long discussions of this topic have taken place in women's forums here and on other Christian sites.

In most states it is not a religious ceremony that makes you married, it is a license to get married followed by the registration of the marriage performed by someone who can legally sign off. In states that recognize "common law" it's the recognition that a couple has lived "as a married couple" and meet the other criteria for that state to be considered married.

The fact that marriage means many different things (most of them NOT religious) to me means people should get over their worry about what marriage means to someone else, and as long as they are living by what their own values are who cares what someone else calls a marriage?

Marriage for a Christian means committing to one another in the sight of GOD until death. That is what really counts for a Christian marriage aside for there being one husband and one wife, the GOD ordained bases for family starters.

 

[jamielindas]

Marriage for a Christian means committing to one another in the sight of GOD until death. That is what really counts for a Christian marriage aside for there being one husband and one wife, the GOD ordained bases for family starters.

logically, you must be against these christians getting divorce? right? christian divorce is illegal... right? er... hum..

you did do one thing right, you qualified it as 'marriage for christians' which might be the majority, but in a country seeking to provide equality to all its citizens, your idea is lacking. It is a religious goal, which you have every right to pursue, but no right to make laws, regulations or government policies with.

 

[Texas Lynn]

Canada's divorce rates are about half of the rate for the US. Not only are we less religious overall, but we've had SSM for nearly three years now. Negative effects - zero.

God Bless our neighbors to the North!

 

[Texas Lynn]

Marriage for a Christian means committing to one another in the sight of GOD until death. That is what really counts for a Christian marriage aside for there being one husband and one wife, the GOD ordained bases for family starters.

More correctly, one man and one or more women.

 

[Spherical Time]

Marriage for a Christian means committing to one another in the sight of GOD until death. That is what really counts for a Christian marriage aside for there being one husband and one wife, the GOD ordained bases for family starters.

As I gay guy, I don't want a Christian marriage. I just want a legal one.

It has nothing to do with your church at all.