Dustin,
Oh, is this going to be yet another thread about gay marriage? Sorry - you'll have to find someone else to play then. I have stated my opinion on that so many times that I am totally, totally bored with the topic.
I'm opposed to any form of marriage being sanctioned by the state. I think all unions should be civil unions and that marriage should be a religious ceremony. And if you want your marriage to take place in a religious community, and you want to live in a religious community, then you can find one that's accepting and supportive, or start your own.
In other words, I believe in the state staying out of mandating religious practices.
That's all I'm going to say about it.
There are over a thousand plus rights and privileges bestowed upon us married folk the moment we say "I do", rights and privileges given, and reinforced, by the State.
If all marriages were a matter of being "civil unions", then married couples could be discriminated against. Hospitals would not be required to provide visitation rights, we would have no power-of-attorney should our spouses become incapacitated, adoption would be a morass of legal paperwork, the spouses of veterans would receive no benefits, there would be no tax breaks to help married people with kids, et cetera ad nauseaum.
Religion indeed plays an important role in many people's lives, so they choose to enact the institution using religious wedding ceremonies and clergy that are duly authorized by the State to be Marriage Officiants. However, religion doesn't own the title to either the term, or practice, of marriage. Never has, never will. Indeed, marriage by clergy was never instilled in the Christian religion until the 1500's, and then only in the Roman Catholic Church.
Atheists, and the religious who do not wish to include either their god, or another religion's god, in their marriage have always been able to attain this g'ment sanctioned, and protected, institution utilizing either judges/justices, who are automatically endowed with a Marriage Officiant certification, or anyone else who has acquired said certification.
And, pray tell, who would conduct wedding ceremonies should your opinion become fact? Clergy only? Whose clergy? Yours only? Yours and mine? Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Wiccan, Druid, Celtic, Asatru, etc clergy as well? What about the Atheists? SOL, tough, use a priest?
What if a spouse is in intensive care and the hospital doesn't recognize your religion, or lack thereof, or your "civil marriage" and refuses you visitation? Do you really think this is fair?
