Yep, I agree that both contract law and "everyone's marriages" would benefit if we separate them. Unfortunately, as we've seen by the fundies' belief that homosexuals "attack" the institution of marriage, you're right, it just ain't gonna happen.
And yes, since our nation has decided that religion is outside of the law in a lot of ways, that "freedom of religion" trumps many other rights and obligations (tax exempt and censorship, to name two), a church's refusal to marry someone is a totally different problem than legalized equal rights.
It just baffles me how people can't see how much better off EVERYONE would be if we finally, once and for all, separated the two concepts officially as they are in reality.
I mean, religions would get to keep their "sacred institution" and everyone would get to keep the government out of their personal relationships, while the government gets to continue regulating property contracts. Everyone wins!
But no, we have to hold onto that damn word because it has "historical significance". Yeah, and that historical significance is fraught with unequal distribution of civil liberties and horrendous abuse. Now that's something I want to align my modern-day, egalitarian, romantic relationship with!
no subject
And yes, since our nation has decided that religion is outside of the law in a lot of ways, that "freedom of religion" trumps many other rights and obligations (tax exempt and censorship, to name two), a church's refusal to marry someone is a totally different problem than legalized equal rights.
It just baffles me how people can't see how much better off EVERYONE would be if we finally, once and for all, separated the two concepts officially as they are in reality.
I mean, religions would get to keep their "sacred institution" and everyone would get to keep the government out of their personal relationships, while the government gets to continue regulating property contracts. Everyone wins!
But no, we have to hold onto that damn word because it has "historical significance". Yeah, and that historical significance is fraught with unequal distribution of civil liberties and horrendous abuse. Now that's something I want to align my modern-day, egalitarian, romantic relationship with!