Civil ceremony in a Chapel/Church?

starrystarry

jaylee3 wrote: »

Judging by some of the ignorant and rude comments from certain members on here - even questioning if some people actually *are* Christian - I think a few people would be arrogant enough to ask people of another religion if they could have a non religious wedding in their Church, as they obviously have ZERO respect for people's faith.

Absolutely disgusting. They should be ashamed of themselves.

This is something I have a bit of an internal struggle with. I feel as if I should have respect for people's faith but I actually can't respect a faith that is so patently ridiculous. I guess I can respect people's right to have faith, but I can't respect the faith itself.

Jagraf

starrystarry wrote: »

This is something I have a bit of an internal struggle with. I feel as if I should have respect for people's faith but I actually can't respect a faith that is so patently ridiculous. I guess I can respect people's right to have faith, but I can't respect the faith itself.

I respect people who have a fish pond. I don't like fish and I certainly wouldn't want to get married in the pond. So why would someone with no faith want to get married in a place of worship, without the worship. Surely it's the last place they would want to be.

starrystarry

Jagraf wrote: »

I respect people who have a fish pond. I don't like fish and I certainly wouldn't want to get married in the pond. So why would someone with no faith want to get married in a place of worship, without the worship. Surely it's the last place they would want to be.

Oh I agree, I wouldn't want to get married in a church (or anywhere else for that matter) and can't understand why a non-believer would.

JaniceS

Maybe if they were getting married to someone who was very religious. It does happen that people fall in love and one person is religious and the other person isn't.

If some churches are happy to marry people who aren't religious I don't see what the problem is. It's not as if someone's wedding matters to the people who are church members. I don't walk past churches and go, I wonder if the two people getting married are steeped in their religion or not.

Also there was a post in the thread about weddings mattering to people who are religious, there are many people who have a faith who end up divorced. Believing in God doesn't mean that one person's marriage will last longer than someone who doesn't.

Gloomendoom

I'm not sure that any church is exactly happy to marry non-religious people, more that sometimes they have no choice. It will be a fully religious ceremony though, like it or lump it.

Torry_Quine

missbiggles1 wrote: »

The Church of Scotland has parishes!

I was specifically talking of the C of E requirement to marry anyone from the parish, not a member of the C of S either.

JaniceS wrote: »

Maybe if they were getting married to someone who was very religious. It does happen that people fall in love and one person is religious and the other person isn't.

If some churches are happy to marry people who aren't religious I don't see what the problem is. It's not as if someone's wedding matters to the people who are church members. I don't walk past churches and go, I wonder if the two people getting married are steeped in their religion or not.

Also there was a post in the thread about weddings mattering to people who are religious, there are many people who have a faith who end up divorced. Believing in God doesn't mean that one person's marriage will last longer than someone who doesn't.

Absolutely does it matter to the members of my church who is married in our building, why wouldn't it?

Jagraf

Had to visit a grave today so popped into our church for a couple of minutes.

I can't see how anyone wanting a civil ceremony would feel remotely comfortable having it in our church. It is full of all things religious, from the Sunday school paintings on the walls to the crosses on the pews and the bibles in the aisles.

I would love someone to paint a virtual picture of what a civil service in a church would look like ...

Brighton_belle

Jagraf wrote: »

I would love someone to paint a virtual picture of what a civil service in a church would look like ...

Actually, apart from a theoretical question by the OP, who isn't getting married, no one has actually asked to do this have they (because it is such a ridiculous notion surely)?
So we are 'arguing' an idea that no one in reality is ever going to want to do?

missbiggles1

onlyroz wrote: »

My point is that I don't see how something as important as belief in a deity can be an unconscious decision that people sleep-walk into. Before you can proclaim to be a Christian/Muslim or whatever you have to have rationalised that viewpoint in your head, otherwise you're just saying words that have been put into your mouth by somebody else.

I can accept that belief in a deity might be like "falling in love" and that might take time to build up to a point where you become fully aware of it, but unless you have had this moment of realisation I don't see how you can truthfully call yourself a Christian.

There's a big difference between a "moment of realisation" and a "rationalised viewpoint" - or at least there is for me. The former would lead to your acknowledgement of belief whereas the latter might be more relevant in deciding which denomination to join or which style of worship suits you.

onlyroz

missbiggles1 wrote: »

There's a big difference between a "moment of realisation" and a "rationalised viewpoint" - or at least there is for me,

Perhaps you could clarify?