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Marriage and Civil Unions:
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Quotations reflecting different concepts of marriage:
 | An Apache Blessing: "Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be the shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be the warmth to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. Go now to your dwelling, to enter into the days of your life together, and may your days be good and long upon the earth." |
| Pat Robertson, The 700 Club, 1992-JAN-8: "I know this is painful for the ladies to hear, but if you get married, you have accepted the headship of a man, your husband. Christ is the head of the household and the husband is the head of the wife, and that's the way it is, period." |
Overview:
Marriage has been an amazingly flexible institution. It is and has been in a continuous state of flux. At various eras and locations:
| It has been a purely secular ceremony. | It has been a deeply religious ritual. |
| It has been regarded as a life-long commitment. | It has been a temporary handfasting which expired after a year-and-a-day. |
| It has symbolized the transfer of the near absolute ownership and control of a woman from her father to her husband. | It has recognized the relationship of two independent individuals, who enter marriage as equals. |
| In the past, some African-Americans and inter-racial couples have not been permitted to marry. | Currently, with few exceptions, any opposite-sex couple, no matter what their race, can marry. |
| In the past, only opposite-sex couples were permitted to marry. | Same-sex couples can now marry in the Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, Massachusetts, South Africa, and Spain |
| In the past, over 1,400 rights and privileges have been restricted to heterosexual married couples in most states of the U.S.. | Committed gay and lesbian couples can now get about 400 rights and privileges in Vermont, California, Connecticut and Massachusetts. They receive full marital benefits in Canada. |
Currently, the rights of North American same-sex couples is in a rapid state of flux. They are permitted to marry only in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and in Canada. Elsewhere in the U.S., gay and lesbian couples may register their relationship in some states and gain certain benefits and protection for themselves and their children. However, couples who have married in Massachusetts or entered into civil unions or domestic partnerships in other states lack the over 1000 rights, obligations and privileges that the Federal government automatically gives to all married couples.
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Topics covered in this section:
| General:
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Related section in this web site:
| Divorce and remarriage |
Useful references:
| The United Apostolic Church International maintains a list of "General Marriage Laws" describing state regulations concerning who may perform marriages and how marriages are to be registered in the U.S. See: http://www.uaci.net/laws.htm |
| The Get Your Wedding Favors web site sells unique and elegant wedding favors, gifts, photo albums, etc. See: http://www.getyourweddingfavors.com/ |
| XandyrGifts & Wedding Favors also sell unique wedding favors and mementos. See: http://www.xandyrgifts.com/ |
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or Home > Religious info > Basic religious info > Religious practices > here |
Copyright © 2000 to 2008 by Ontario Consultants on Religious
Tolerance
Originally written: 2000-MAY-31
Latest update: 2008-MAY-07
Author: B.A. Robinson
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