Muslims stirring it

[d000hg]

Yes but other groups can simply refuse to perform a marriage anyway, they are not obligated to provide your 'right to marriage'.

So since the CofE is so wishy-washy already, make them forced to marry any random people who want a pretty building and let the proper churches get on with actual religious convictions

[Hawk]

Yes but other groups can simply refuse to perform a marriage anyway, they are not obligated to provide your 'right to marriage'.

So since the CofE is so wishy-washy already, make them forced to marry any random people who want a pretty building and let the proper churches get on with actual religious convictions

There's the kicker; once one does it, they all have to.

Wishy washy is an interesting term to use in discussing religion. I also thought religious convictions is an interesting term to use whilst discussing religion too. I don't believe in fairies, santa claus, the tooth fairy or any god, of any denomination, so it's moot as to what is exactly wishy washy in my eyes.

I actually am looking forward to them being forced to marry same sex couples, as it's going to be funny listening to the bombast and hysteria. I mean, you're talking to a man who advised his in laws to go and watch brokeback mountain for a wheeze. It will be hilarious watching the fall out from here. Turning the other cheek will not only be tested, but practised too...

[d000hg]

Maybe we should simply remove the various rights that churches have and provide them via secular channels e.g. marriage must be done legally at a registry office and anything you want can be done afterwards - I have some pagan friends married that way.

Then the Muslims, Christians etc can all compete for recruits on an equal footing and no one else has to care because they are not influencing the law for the rest of us.

You can already do this. It always strikes me as odd that non-religious people tend to want church weddings, with the whole Christian thing thrown in - your very marriage and the solemn vows you make are lies right from the start. Why would your bride think the promises you make to her mean any more than those you make to a God you don't believe in?!

[d000hg]

There's the kicker; once one does it, they all have to.

clearly they don't. Outside the CofE they can refuse to marry you for not following their religion, so clearly discrimination IS different for the CofE in that case at least.

It makes absolutely no sense to force a religon to marry gay people agaisnt their will. Why on earth would you WANT to be married by a vicar/priest who thinks what you're doing is wrong... the whole thing is a farce.

[Hawk]

Again, I am not too sure you understand what the EU has stated: Once a member state legalises same sex marriage, it affords them all of the rights of a heterosexual marriage, which includes the rights at church. If you offer a marriage ceremony, it has to be open to same sex couples as well; they have to treat everyone equally. Refusing to marry them on the grounds of their sexuality will be illegal.

I, among many here got married in a church as my wife, who is a christian, wanted to. I didn't feel at any time I was doing anything hypocritical, for I don't believe in god, so what I said meant nothing anyway, apart from to my wife.

As for not understanding why they'd want to. I don't read and haven't read the bible, but I haven't heard of anything to state thou shouldn't perform man love. It's also farcical that they preach tolerance, when clearly there is none, with the abject refusal to ordain female priests and to accept homosexuality. Some gay people are religious, regardless of what you state, they are. Therefore, on the grounds of freedom of religion, and sexual discrimination laws, it's just a matter of time.

This will maybe turn the church around, maybe make it more current, make it more tolerant.

It genuinely is going to be funny seeing all of the bombast and hatred that is going to come out, and it couldn't happen to people more qualified. I genuinely can't wait. I really hope it's the end of religion as we know it.

[MyUserName]

You can already do this.

True but I was talking about it being extended to you only being able to do this.

I am an atheist who married a Christian in a church, it is what she wanted and it made no difference to me. I could just as well have sworn oaths to Gandalf.

[d000hg]

Great wedding ceremony where you say things you don't mean. Perhaps this is a reason people do feel divorce is more acceptable now, because they feel none of the vows actually mean anything - it's just part of the tradition.

[d000hg]

Again, I am not too sure you understand what the EU has stated: Once a member state legalises same sex marriage, it affords them all of the rights of a heterosexual marriage, which includes the rights at church.

However they (meaning non CofE institutions) will simply refuse to marry you because "we don't want to" instead.

[Hawk]

However they (meaning non CofE institutions) will simply refuse to marry you because "we don't want to" instead.

Then they will be breaking the law d000hg, can you not see that yet?

[d000hg]

Then they will be breaking the law d000hg, can you not see that yet?

and?