Posted by
Chris Feola on
Nov 12, 2008; 9:44pm
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/Obama-Proposition-8-tp1490485p1491697.html
Perhaps I can lend a little bit of perspective here.
I was married in the Philippines; despite the rather extensive influence of the
Catholic Church there, marriage consists of two separate and unrelated
ceremonies. First there is what is called a "civil ceremony," generally
done before a judge, mayor or similar official. After this, if you so
choose, you can then get married in a church; ironically, there is no marriage
license requirement because you must have first completed the civil
ceremony.
In other words, the legal and religious components are
completely separate. Once the civil ceremony is complete, the state has no
further interest: get marrried in the church of your choice, or
not.
As others have mentioned, this seems to get to the actual
root of our problem in this country: there is an unfortunate overlap between the
civil and religious definitions of marriage.
cjf
Christopher J.
Feola
President
nextPression,
Inc.
www.nextPression.com
In response to Phil Henshaw, briefly, I believe there still remains a
place for civil marriage -- that marriage has taken on a non-religious place in
most people's hearts, sort of like Christmas trees and Christmas carols. It
speaks of love, devotion, fidelity between two consenting adults, and should be
something any two adults can partake in civilly. Love between two people should
be able to celebrate and exist under a civil union, legally undertaken. ... and
that union, historically, is called marriage.
and I think gay male
couples can also sort of choose the husband / wife roles to some degree --
though hopefully all couples, gay or straight, are beginning to edge into
a shared mixture of both -- so does that mean that a straight couple who don't
want to assume husband and wife roles are not able to be married --
maybe not under Webster ..
So .. I have argued myself towards
your position, rather than mine!! A new definition may be called for
here.
Peggy
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked
by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.9.2/1783 -
Release Date: 11/12/2008 10:01 AM
============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at
http://www.friam.org