Just to back up the bus a little, and I don't go into the psychological or analytical properties of humans choosing mates and why they choose to formalize it with a contractual ceremony, my wife and I have been married for nearly a quarter century. I like the formalization and the sacramental part of this for the reason that vows are vows and need to be taken seriously. We were married in my wife's church, which I later became a member, to honor her, her family, and her upbringing in that church. Nothing more esoteric or intellectual than simply paying respect to the things that made her the wonderful and loving person that she is.
I have found that the fundamentalist surge that is taking over this church slowly and surely to be incredibly tiresome. There are several areas of doctrine that I have always caused me to part company, and this is the last straw. I no longer attend unless there is a pastoral presence that is more in tune to my needs and beliefs.
I am also sorry to inform the poster that said the piece of paper (marriage license) had no legal binding. Sorry. That is a legal contract in almost any jurisdiction that I can think of.
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Religion: The ultimate definition of verisimilitude |