BIGD: “Marriage is an institution that God created and that government controls.”>>

DAR
The first claim can never be shown, the second claim, is obviously true. The second claim is the only part that matters in reality. The first claim, sounds nice but has no effect or substance in reality.

BIGD: Government was not involved in it and should not be today.>>

DAR
You want ministers to enforce marriage/divorce laws? That’s funny. Any “religious” role to marriage today is purely ceremonial, optional and completely irrelevant to our laws.

BIGD: “Why do I need permission from the government to marry?”>>

DAR
Because it’s the law. Don’t like the law, petition your government to change it. Don’t expect any support on this one!

BIGD: I can marry who I want and do not need their permission.>>

DAR
True, except for that bit about you actually being married. Try it and see.

BIGD: “A same sex couple could have a civil union that is a contract allowed and performed by the government.”

DAR
Well if it’s the same thing, then lets let them get “married” and be done with it. If it’s not the same thing then, it’s unfair, unconstitutional and it’s not equal protection under the law.

Still waiting for an argument for why we can’t give gays complete equality on this issue. I’ll be waiting a long time because… there isn’t one.

D.
——————-
“My wife is a sex object. Every time I ask for sex, she objects.” –Rodney Dangerfield

Marriage is an institution that God created and that government controls.

One enters into a contract with another, the government allows for the contract if a fee is paid. This was not always the case. People did not need a license to marry long ago and the license only started when states began allowing interracial marriage. Once the state began requiring those then they required a license for everyone. Then the feds made in uniform in 1923.

Government was not involved in it and should not be today. A license means you have permission to do something. Why do I need permission from the government to marry? I can marry who I want and do not need their permission.

Now, you will say that marry who you want should be anyone of any sex. The definition of marriage from the Bible through our history is between men and women. Men use to be allowed many wives but government stopped that. Don’t know who would want it, too many mothers in law.

So, yes marriage is a religious institution and the definition is between a man and a woman.

A same sex couple could have a civil union that is a contract allowed and performed by the government. A change in the tax law and the law of succession after death would solve any the complaints against this process.

DAR
It’s hard to imagine a more colossal misstatement of fact.

It would be nice if it were true because, since religion is unregulated and just made up on the fly as anyone wishes, the problem would be solved. That is, instantly, gone.

Some churches would marry gay people. Some wouldn’t. Ah, freedom.

But marriage is not in any meaningful sense a “religious institution.” No one cares about that because religious claims have no reality in the real world. They’re make believe.

What is real is the fact that marriage is obviously, objectively, a legal instrument, a government bestowed category of contract which carries many rights and responsibilities. That’s what matters and is all anyone really cares about. Whatever babble is spoken about marriage in the church of your choice, matters not, one, whit.

So to correct Bigd’s big error:

“Marriage is a license and contract the government furnishes and whether people allow their religion to get involved with it is a private matter and quite irrelevant anyway.”

D.
——————
The Presidential Prayer Team, in its August 15, 2003 newsletter requested that we pray for a suitable definition of marriage to be codified into law. They urged Americans to:
“Pray for the President as he seeks wisdom on how to legally codify the definition of marriage. Pray that it will be according to Biblical principles. With many forces insisting on variant definitions of marriage, pray that God’s Word and His standards will be honored by our government.”
Here is a proposed Constitutional Amendment codifying marriage on biblical principles:

A. Marriage in the United States shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women. (Gen 29:17-28; II Sam 3:2-5.) Marriage shall not impede a man’s right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives. (II Sam 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chron 11:21)

B. A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed. (Deut 22:13-21) Marriage of a believer and a non-believer shall be forbidden. (Gen 24:3; Num 25:1-9; Ezra 9:12; Neh 10:30)

C. Since marriage is for life, neither this Constitution nor the constitution of any State, nor any state or federal law, shall be construed to permit divorce. (Deut 22:19; Mark 10:9)

D. If a married man dies without children, his brother shall marry the widow. If he refuses to marry his brother’s widow or deliberately does not give her children, he shall pay a fine of one shoe and be otherwise punished in a manner to be determined by law. (Gen. 38:6-10; Deut 25:5-10)

I had heard that as well. I would believe it. This guy can’t go to the bathroom without a teleprompter.