Philosophy Now Forum

In Jewish, Islamic, or Buddhist marriage, the clergy is optional. For a Christian marriage to be valid, however, the clergy must officiate and the marriage must take place in the church building.

This is a big problem. Why? The Christian clergy will refuse to officiate unless you do a civil marriage first or obtain a civil marriage license first. This means that your Christian marriage will always degenerate into a civil marriage. It will always involve inviting government control and state law into your bedroom affairs.

This is a disaster for you as a husband if you were to ever break up. Let me tell you the government's position on divorce beforehand already: "The marriage is over. It is of no use to you any longer, but you still have to pay." The government is hell-bent on perpetuating the husband's obligations after divorce while according to modern state law, the wife has absolutely no obligations in marriage to begin with. Furthermore, it brings your finances under the regime of "community property", which means that you lose in divorce half the assets you have worked for.

This dangerous nightmare is triggered by the presence of Christian clergy at your marriage. The Christian clergyman at your wedding is a crook and a despicable conman. He is not telling you the truth about what he is actually doing. He is a liar and a cheat.

Since there is absolutely no obligation to invite Jewish, Islamic, or Buddhist clergy to your marriage, the problem does not occur in other religions. In fact, you could even invite their clergy. They may even be present. They may even say a blessing. However, they do not officiate, because that is not their role.

Hence, if you want to avoid getting ripped off by the state's ruling mafia during your divorce, you need to repudiate Christianity, join another religion, and avoid at all cost to marry a Christian wife. Choose a Jewish, Islamic, or Buddhist wife instead, and safely marry according to her customs. In more than one way, Christianity and Christian wives are a dangerous scam which will ruin your private life and your finances.

you mean that the ordained Elvis impersonator has to do it in a church?

-Imp

Impenitent wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2024 1:48 pm you mean that the ordained Elvis impersonator has to do it in a church?

-Imp

Apparently, some Christian denominations allow it to be done in another location than the church:

ChatGPT: Must a Christian marriage always take place in a church?

Roman Catholic Church: Typically, a Catholic wedding is expected to take place in a church or other sacred space, though some exceptions may be made with the permission of the priest or bishop.

Protestant Churches: In many Protestant denominations, weddings can occur in a church or another location, such as a home, outdoor setting, or other venue, provided a pastor or minister is conducting the ceremony.

Orthodox Christianity: Orthodox weddings are traditionally performed in the church as part of the liturgical life, but there may be flexibility depending on the circumstances.

In summary, while many Christian weddings traditionally take place in a church, it is not an absolute requirement in all denominations or circumstances.

Concerning the "marriage license":

ChatGPT: Does every Christian denomination require a marriage license before marrying in Church?

Yes, most Christian denominations, while they may have specific religious rites and ceremonies for marriage, generally require a civil marriage license before conducting a wedding ceremony in the church.

This does not exist in other religions because their clergy does not officiate. In other religions, marriage is between the spouses (and their families) only. Their clergy does not have the authority to give or refuse permission.

godelian wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2024 1:32 pm In Jewish, Islamic, or Buddhist marriage, the clergy is optional. For a Christian marriage to be valid, however, the clergy must officiate and the marriage must take place in the church building.

Where did you get that from? The earliest Christian communities predate churches. In Orthodox Christianity, The Church is understood as the living body of Christian believers united in Christ. It's not a building.

You are placing too high a significance on social institutions and architecture built by believers - those are only symbolic.

Matthew 18:20 - "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

John 4:21-24 - Jesus tells the Samaritan woman: "Believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem... true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth."

Acts 7:48-49 - "The Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me?'"

You'll find nothing in the Bible which prescribes specific marriage ceremonies or rituals.

Skepdick wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2024 3:54 pm You'll find nothing in the Bible which prescribes specific marriage ceremonies or rituals.

That is exactly the point. The church invented both the new marriage ceremony as well as the fake authority of the clergy to permit or forbid marriage. Originally, no clergyman nor government official was trying to control marriage or divorce:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_marriage
In medieval Europe, marriage was governed by canon law, which recognized only those marriages where the parties stated they took one another as husband and wife as valid, regardless of the presence or absence of witnesses. It was not necessary, however, to be married by any official or cleric.

In 1566, the Christian clergy started their obnoxious land grab:

In 1566, the edict of the Council of Trent was proclaimed denying Catholics any form of marriage not executed in a religious ceremony before a priest and two witnesses.

Next, the official ruling mafia also wanted a piece of the cake:

The Protestant pastor and theologian of Geneva, John Calvin, decreed that in order for a couple to be considered married they must be registered by the state in addition to a church ceremony.

In 1792, with the French Revolution, religious marriage ceremonies in France were made secondary to civil marriage. Religious ceremonies could still be performed, but only for couples who had already been married in a civil ceremony. Napoleon later spread this custom throughout most of Europe.

These horrible individuals took control over people's private lives!
No other religion does this. This crap is an invention by the Christian clergy!