markchd Posted:

It’s a pipe-dream of mine. In my fantasy (okay, impossible) system, nobody could get “married” by a state. Marriage as a legal concept and as a religious ceremony would be distinct and separate. A male-female or same-sex couple could get unionized without going through a religious ceremony, or vice-versa.

My intention wasn’t to literally do so, however. My suggestion of an impossible situation was intended to suggest that it’d be nice if we could separate the legal aspects of marriage from the religious ones in everyone’s mind. In reality, I’d still rather everyone were be able to be married.

Fair enough, though I was also talking about a world where no one could be “married” by the state – just one where the tradition of marriage still existed. I still think it would be better to imagine an ideal world where everybody got to have the tradition, rather than no one, but I understand your thinking. Log in to see images!