NationStates Jolt Archive

So, for most of human history, marriage has been considered primarily a religious institution, right?

Please correct me if I'm wrong

Yes. For the most part.

Far as I know.

If the state is involved, it shouldn't be, but if it isn't, it doesn't matter.

Perhps in human history it has been associated with religion. However, since the equivalent of marriage has been observed in many, many other animals, I don't see how it could be. Albatrosses are pretty much the most faithful and devoted spouses of any species observed, certainly including ourselves.

Legally, no.

It wasn't until late in the middle ages that the christian churches were responsible for preforming marriages...

Buddhist monks only ever preform marriage ceremonies because of specific request, otherwise the religion stays out of marriage.

Albatrosses are pretty much the most faithful and devoted spouses of any species observed, certainly including ourselves.
Canadian geese as well. It's part of why hunting them is bad because they mate for life, even if their spouse dies, they remain alone for the rest of their days. Thus, by killing one, you have eliminated an entire pair from the gene pool.

I disagree, I don't believe marraige is a religious thing at all. You don't make a promise to god, you make a promise to each other. I don't see where religion is needed in marriage at all.

Well you have to define marriage.

Do you mean a lifelong monogomous relationship? No it isn't.

Religion did absorb it and at times tried to control it(ie sex is only for children).

Does/should religion own the rights to it? No they should not. In fact all the moralists should be happy two people take a vow of life together.

As to the gay matter. I would rather have them in the open and marrying each other then back in the closet and possibly marrying say my daughter.

There are those who are spiritual and got married for spiritual reasons, there are those who are religious and did it for religious reasons (not always the same as spiritual), there are those who are political/social/economic and did it for political/social/economic reasons... blah blah blah

What does it matter if it is considered a religious institution anyway?

Since it is part of the legal domain now, marriage laws should not be based around religious beliefs. There are in fact religious/spiritual bodies who DO accept same sex marriage as viable.

Peopel can get married without the help of a church and I'm sure it doesnt matter to many people if they have a churches blessing to get married anyway.

Sorry if your post has nothign to do with same sex marriages. I was assuming makign an ass out of U and me

If ur talking about an arranged marriage or a political marriage, then f**k no, but if ur talking about two people getting married for other reasons, then yes...

I always had it down as a social and/or economic/property thing primarily, though I can't say I've studied it particularly. It had a religious aspect in those societies with a dominant religious component to their culture is all, to my way of thinking.

If ur talking about an arranged marriage or a political marriage, then f**k no, but if ur talking about two people getting married for other reasons, then yes...


so youa re saying that if they married for religious reasons then it is a religious institution but otherwise it is not? lol

or wait if they didnt marry for political reasons or because it was arranged for them, and instead married because they make great sex together, then its a religious institution?

I got married because I loved my husband and he loved me and we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. I guess this is not why people get married any more?

If ur talking about an arranged marriage or a political marriage, then f**k no, but if ur talking about two people getting married for other reasons, then yes...
So people who marry for love get married religously?

So, for most of human history, marriage has been considered primarily a religious institution, right?

Please correct me if I'm wrong
No, marriage was unconnected to the church, at least in Europe, until the Middle Ages.

Religion does not completely own marriage.

I disagree, I don't believe marraige is a religious thing at all. You don't make a promise to god, you make a promise to each other. I don't see where religion is needed in marriage at all.

Have you ever been to a wedding before? I think you'll find that in the section of the service entitled the "vows" which are the promises the couple makes to each other, the belief is that these vows are made before God and thus are binding in his eyes. Breaking the vows is equivalent to breaking the promise made to God.

Have you ever been to a wedding before? I think you'll find that in the section of the service entitled the "vows" which are the promises the couple makes to each other, the belief is that these vows are made before God and thus are binding in his eyes. Breaking the vows is equivalent to breaking the promise made to God.
Have you ever been to a non-Abrahamic wedding before? My parents were married by a civil servent. No god was involved.

Have you ever been to a wedding before? I think you'll find that in the section of the service entitled the "vows" which are the promises the couple makes to each other, the belief is that these vows are made before God and thus are binding in his eyes. Breaking the vows is equivalent to breaking the promise made to God.
You are aware that the wedding in a church means absolutely nothing without the certificate the couple signs, right? You can say your "I do"s in front of a priest all you want and you still wont' be married until you go get a little piece of paper.

Also, there are people who get married without the involvement of a deity.

Have you ever been to a wedding before? I think you'll find that in the section of the service entitled the "vows" which are the promises the couple makes to each other, the belief is that these vows are made before God and thus are binding in his eyes. Breaking the vows is equivalent to breaking the promise made to God.

Yes, I do believe I was at my own wedding, I will have to ask my husband, but I'm pretty sure I was there..lol :D

You are aware that the wedding in a church means absolutely nothing without the certificate the couple signs, right? You can say your "I do"s in front of a priest all you want and you still wont' be married until you go get a little piece of paper.

Also, there are people who get married without the involvement of a deity.

Not buying this... i think that the certificate is the thing that means nothing, not the promises that the couple have made. That's why some people don't feel the need to marry - they don't need a certificate to prove their love.

Not buying this... i think that the certificate is the thing that means nothing, not the promises that the couple have made. That's why some people don't feel the need to marry - they don't need a certificate to prove their love.
And for some people, such as my wife and I, the certificate is almost as important as the promises. We're in love, sure, but we also wanted to make a public lifelong commitment, which is where the certificate comes in. That and the fact it tidies up a lot of financial and chidcare issues nice and easily, which was also a major factor.

Marriage is not just about love, and has only been about love at all in comparatively recent times and in Westernised cultures, IIRC.

Not buying this... i think that the certificate is the thing that means nothing, not the promises that the couple have made. That's why some people don't feel the need to marry - they don't need a certificate to prove their love.

I'm sure you know that a marriage without the certificate means nothing legally. And I'm sur eyou figured out thats what they meant by it.

Also, the promises a couple have made could be made in the name of religion but do not have to be for them to consider themselves to be married.

The certificate means every thing, unless you have it, you're not married and that has nothing to do with the church. My husband and I made sure god was never mentioned once in our vows. We promised each other in front of the people we love, our friends and family and that to us meant more than any religious ritual could of ever meant.

You come back in 25 years and Zeppistan and I will still be married, not sure how many religious people will be able to say that. Zeppistan and I will be together till death do us part. We got married for the right reasons. We love each other, we are mature adults. We wanted to always be together. Our beliefs are the same. Our values are the same. Heck, we make most of our friends sick, we never even argue..lol