Ok , lets not get silly. The dog/religious union is beyond silly. :lol:

 

No, it's not what I'm saying, I'm fine with a civil union but I view marriage as a religious union before God. The state can let gays have all the perks that married people have, I don't care.

 

No, it can't, it goes against what religions believe marriage to be. Between a man and a woman. What's wrong with a civil union?

 

The church doesn't really view it the same. In my religion a JOTP marriage doesn't carry the same weight, and since the government allows a man and a woman to marry there is no other way for me to view it. As I told you, atheists marrying is no more than a civil union to me. Not at all the same a a religious marriage IMO.

 

I understand your point now. Along those lines, do Catholics view a marriage outside of the Catholic religon as a union before God if it was in another church?

Ok, I think I get a better understanding now.

 

One last point to clarify, in your mind atheists can't get married because it's not "a religious union before God". Is that correct?

 

I want to say that it's hard for me to word the last part where it doesn't sound like an indictment on your beliefs. I hope it doesn't come off like that. I'm honestly just curious.

 

I thought you might think it was silly. But this could prove otherwise.

No, I never said they can't marry and legally they can. Just that religiously it's viewed differently since, by what an atheist is (one that doesn't believe in God) that to me it's no different than a civil union because of the lack of religious belief.

 

OK lets look at it another way. For your sake I'll remove the religious aspect of it and try to explain why many don't think gays should marry. Much of this goes back to JS's post.

As explained by JS, marriage was a logical extension of human reproduction and that society organized around the family to survive and for society to survive. It created a recognition of the idea of couples committing for life and raising children together and sharing the struggles of survival. Personally. I believe that the title of marriage, and the word marriage, refers to the union of one man and one woman and that the word properly belongs to the heterosexual community. I include non-reproducing heterosexuals as being "grandfathered" into this group through tradition.

There is nothing that restricts individuals from committing to each other and deciding between themselves, and perhaps their friends, that they are a couple, and that they intend to share their lives together.

The problem is if we open up the definition of marriage to include same sex marriage then why limit it to two people? Why not three, four, or five people. Why not let people marry thier pets, as you pointed out? After all, your cat is much more likely to make a life long commitment to you than a human will and can be trusted to be more loyal and respectful of the relationship. You must draw a line and it was drawn a long time ago.

I understand your point now. Along those lines, do Catholics view a marriage outside of the Catholic religon as a union before God if it was in another church?

I would say of Christians, Jews and Muslims yes since it's the same God. I honestly can't answer your question for sure either way, but I would guess they do. Since you have me curious now, I may have to ask someone in the know on that one.

I would say of Christians, Jews and Muslims yes since it's the same God. I honestly can't answer your question for sure either way, but I would guess they do. Since you have me curious now, I may have to ask someone in the know on that one.

Please do and share...I'd like to see what they have to say.

Please do and share...I'd like to see what they have to say.

I will do my best, FKY. :thumb:

Along those lines, do Catholics view a marriage outside of the Catholic religon as a union before God if it was in another church?

 

Please do and share...I'd like to see what they have to say.

Some food for thought.

 

Muslim husbands may have four wives, but no more, and each wife must be cared for well although numerous regulations have made polygamy in modern Islamic marriages rare. Roman Catholic marriages require monogamy and view human marriage as a reflection of Christ and the Church.

I go to the Church of Dog Love...

I hate to be the one to break it to you FKYW but you may not really be an atheist... you may just be dyslexic... :idunno: :idunno: :idunno:

I hate to be the one to break it to you FKYW but you may not really be an atheist... you may just be dyslexic... :idunno: :idunno: :idunno:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

I just about fell off my chair laughing at that one, FB! Nice!!