Why do non - religious people get married in churches?

retroactively upgraded guy wrote:

theJeff wrote:

Probably because Jesus actually existed and Santa (St. Nicholas notwithstanding) and the Easter bunny didn't. Do you believe in Julius Caesar?

But how do you know he was all that?

Who was all what?

Bbc

RejectRunner wrote:

Is it just a cultural thing? Or is it because their parents are religious? I don't understand why they would marry in a dark, old, building instead of getting married in Vegas or something.

Not sure but I think likely to appease family. I insisted on no church as I'm not a believer in organized religion. As I'm also no fan of Vegas, we got married at an old hotel in the White Mountains.

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theJeff wrote:

But Christ gives us 1. an explanation for our sick, fallen world, 2. hope for a better life after death, and 3. a reason to love others, even those different from ourselves. Remember, Christ didn't die for strangers; he died for people who actively hated him.

I know this isn't fair to ask, but: try not to judge Christ by the actions of us fallen Christians.

#1. But he doesn't. Decades after his death, some other people wrote down what they claimed he said (some of which is "impossible" seeing as how he was supposed to have been alone (desert, Gethsamane, etc).

#2. As does most religions since the dawn of human history.

#3. Why would you not love others anyway? Advance society, advance humanity, improve the world. Actual altruism, not something you do in hopes of appeasing a created deity.

It's hard to judge Christ. All we know about him is from one single book that was composed decades after his death by a myriad of people, then other people decided which of those books they liked the most hundreds of years after that, and then thousands of years later, still other people then interpret those books in whichever way suits them.

It's a little zany when you get right down to it, no?

At the end of the day, it gives an excuse to just shrug your shoulders and say, "because Jesus said so". A lot easier to just accept than to challenge.

waltertompatton wrote:

The bible cannot tell us everything there is to know, any more than a book about electronics can tell you everything about that subject. A book about golf will come far short of telling all there is to know about that endeavor. That is why God gave us a brain. But to stand up and say the bible is wrong is foolish.

.

But if you use said brain and actual science and history, you'll see that the bible is indeed "wrong", at least for any type of literal interpretation (which a surprising number of people use).

Start with creation: no rain/water cycle, dirt people that lived with dinosaurs, global floods that never occurred and the introduction of light refraction after that, the whole Egyptian stories and wanderings in the wilderness that didn't happen,, a man spending three days in a fish, the sun standing still for about a whole day, a census in Israel that never occurred, Herrod's persecution of the firstborn which never happened, a hovering star, the very historicity of Jesus (for a guy with thousands of followers who literally followed him around, there is not a single contemporary account of the guy outside of the bible!), and then the really fun stuff at the crucifixion: darkness in the middle of the day, an earthquake, and then ZOMBIES, actual dead people rising out of their graves and walking the streets of Jerusalem...None of which was ever recorded outside of the bible. Strange, that.

I mean, you could write pages and pages of all of the "interesting" things the bible has to say, and you'd have to be a fool to say that the bible was correct and it's all true.

theJeff wrote:

Star,

If they ARE just fables meant to teach lessons, but are divinely inspired, would that take away from the power of the texts?

Fwiw, I think you have a point. I mean, Jesus taught in parables; why couldn’t Moses, et al? I don’t think it would take away from the core message of Christ’s substitutionary atonement one bit.

Well yes, it would take away that power. And no, Jesus think Moses spoke in parables, because Jesus expressly said they were true, and specifically said what Moses said was true.

So Jesus believed it all: "And if you believed Moses, you believed me... but if you don't believe his writings, how will you believe my words?" (his alleged words)

And that presents many, many problems, as I mentioned in my prior post.

theJeff wrote:

Southern Pastor wrote:

Maybe Pastor's are actually forgiving unlike born again hypocrites?

People get married in a Church to appease their still living brainwashed relatives. It's not worth the hassle to them.

We can forgive sins against ourselves. It isn't my place to forgive a sin against God.

I know you are trolling, but for the folks out there who are uninformed: that isn't what forgiveness is.

It also isn't your place (or a pastor's place) to pretend to know what is or is not a "sin against God". That is between God and the individual.

But thanks for your trolling.

My wife and I wanted to get married in a bank, but we couldn't find anyone to conduct the service there. Too bad -- some of those bank buildings are really nice, and I like what they stand for. Bank presidents should be allowed to officiate weddings.

To get back on topic, my experience is that some people who aren't religious still like the aesthetics and tradition of a church wedding, while some churches are fine doing weddings for non-members as a way of outreach or service. Match them up and they both think it's a win-win.

You see the same thing with funerals.

RejectRunner wrote:

Jeff, I know you are very religious and I respect that. We all find our own meanings in life. Religion can keep kids in order and be a good place to meet new people in an organization. BUT, you cant deny the numerous sexual abuse cases, terrorist agendas and hate it has caused the world. Do you honestly think the world would be worse if religion did not exist?

Reject,

To answer your question; possibly. Since the dawn of time, man has worshipped some god(s). Whether they be pagan or evangelical. The ancient Egyptians worshipped the sun god. They put their dead on a glorified raft, let them float from the mouth of the Nile, out to the Mediterranean Sea, thinking the sun god would basically beam them up when out of sight.

The Vikings worshipped gods of strength, sea, and military strength. We , the people of modern society might smirk at these seemingly "ridiculous" beliefs. But, who is to say, societies in the distance future won't be laughing at us?

Having said all of this, I will admit, I am a catholic who actually goes to church. I have some doubts, but when asked why I go to church, my answer is simple and sometimes selfish; "it makes me feel good". What harm is that? What do you or anyone else care if I go or don't go to church?

I do think some of our best schools for people of high school age are parochial schools. Simply for the schools mission statements, beliefs in respect, and how to present yourself when representing that school. I coached in both systems. A boys parochial school, and a public school. With the parochial school athletes, I get complete backing from the school and the parents for discipline. I wanted to show my displeasure for two track athletes for what I considered disrespectful actions to a senior, and the AD directed them to run hills until they puked. the parents agreed. Now, it could just be that it's different with boys.

But, my experience with the public school did not go as well. The boys mouthed off. They knew they could, and I found that out when I addressed my concerns with the AD. I was told to leave it alone and that the AD department would deal with it. They never did. Some team members left practice without notice when they saw their parents arrive in the parking lot. Others found ways to hide when I wasn't looking and never produced anything for the team.

The parochial school was full of a team concept, with senior captains who took their title seriously, and confronted several underclassmen on their own that were getting out of line.

For me, I'll take the lower pay and larger pride any day.

And, I take pride in being a catholic, knowing full well that although Martin Luther , who created the Protestant Reformation was a catholic priest, that Protestants mock the catholic church, and seem bitter or jealous with their remarks. I would think if you basically copied someone or some religion, you'd pay tribute to that which you copied., rather than be a hypocrite in one of the pillars of your faith that you don't recognize the Pope as the voice of God. yet, when the Pope came to NYC, I was pushed and shoved by many non-catholics, trying to get a glimpse of the Pope, and hoping he would touch or give the sign of the cross in their direction.

I remain humble and happy, that my religion, the catholic church, is the original followers of Jesus Christ, where the term "Christian" came from.

theJeff wrote:

retroactively upgraded guy wrote:

But how do you know he was all that?

Who was all what?

JHC of course.

Lets face it if he was the SOG ain't nobody would have been killing him. Picture this happening right now.

Hardloper wrote:

In many cases it is much cheaper and better than other available venues. I had the opposite problem, would have preferred getting married in a church but none were available for weddings.

Some thing got married to YOU? Is it human?

Because you are such an unpleasant person that... wait.. Maybe he/she/it is just as unpleasant as you are...

Oh well, all the best and may you never post here again.

antitheist wrote:

theJeff wrote:

Star,

If they ARE just fables meant to teach lessons, but are divinely inspired, would that take away from the power of the texts?

Fwiw, I think you have a point. I mean, Jesus taught in parables; why couldn’t Moses, et al? I don’t think it would take away from the core message of Christ’s substitutionary atonement one bit.

Well yes, it would take away that power. And no, Jesus think Moses spoke in parables, because Jesus expressly said they were true, and specifically said what Moses said was true.

So Jesus believed it all: "And if you believed Moses, you believed me... but if you don't believe his writings, how will you believe my words?" (his alleged words)

And that presents many, many problems, as I mentioned in my prior post.

Your prior post assumes a lot. Don't you know there are hundreds of ancient texts that prove the bible is real? There is physical evidence for the crucifixion. The resurrection can only really be proved by the ancient Greek texts. But the crucifixion happened. Even many Atheist scholars admit there is proof for it.

You say many things as if you were actually there. You do not know that the things in the bible did not occur.

If you really explored and studied the bible and it's history you would become a believer. But you would rather have your own religion and do your own thing. However you will not be happier refusing to accept God. His ways are easier than man's ways. It does take discipline though to enjoy his favor. Admittedly I also fall short and life becomes more difficult than it ought to be.

But even as a doubting Christian at least I have hope. The Atheist has no hope even for this world.

To an Atheist death is the end. To a Christian it is the beginning.

Scrooge von Duck wrote:

My wife and I wanted to get married in a bank, but we couldn't find anyone to conduct the service there. Too bad -- some of those bank buildings are really nice, and I like what they stand for. Bank presidents should be allowed to officiate weddings.

agreed

Sure the crucifixion happened, so? What if he was just another crucifixion victim?

Atheists aren't bothered with death being the end. That's why we have a life.

Why weren't all the " props" from the crucifixion preserved?

Yes, my prior post assumes the laws of science have not changed in the last 2000 years. Other than that, no, my post assumes nothing.

You can prove that people die and then come to life again with ancient Greek texts? That's something.

Thousands of crucifixions happened. That's neither rare nor important. The reanimation part, though, that's the key.

If you're asserting a need for me to explore and study the bible, then I assume you have done the same and can refute anything I've written so far with some actual facts or evidence and not fallacy or delusion.

Death is the end, make the most of the life. Hardly a bad philosophy to live by!

retroactively upgraded guy wrote:

theJeff wrote:

Who was all what?

JHC of course.

Lets face it if he was the SOG ain't nobody would have been killing him. Picture this happening right now.

Pictured it. It was a willing sacrifice.

1. That is the same with most every ancient history book. I don’t see the significance, unless you think the Bible should be judged with a different set of standards than other histories, ending your objectivity.

2. Granted. Out of context, but granted.

3. Humans are pretty sh!tty to one another, on the whole. We call it “sin nature”. See #1.

4. It isn’t “one single book”. I don’t think you know as much about the Bible as you put off. I challenge you to study it before you pretend to know what it says.

I don’t expect to change your mind on an Internet message board, but please let me know if you take me up on my challenge.