Civil ceremony in a Chapel/Church?

southoftheriver

Errata wrote: »

What do you plan to do when prayers are being said and hymns sung, whistle Dixie?

There's no need to be so rude, and if you took the time to actually know what Unitarianism was before sounding off then you'd realise that prayers and hymns are completely optional.

Unlike you, the church is open to a spectrum of beliefs and allows people to build a service that represents them, rather than a specific dogma.

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

How does that work then? Surely it'll still be a religious service?

No, it isn't. Or rather, it's as much or as little a religious service as we want it to be. It doesn't matter if you agree with it or not, that's the way it is.

southoftheriver

Peter333 wrote: »

I would have said no too. Any decent vicar or minister who has a shred of respect for his faith and for the Christians who attend his Church would refuse such a vulgar request.



:rotfl:



Exactly! Utterly ridiculous, having a wedding in Church, but refusing to allow any religion to be mentioned. As many people have said on this thread, I bet no other religion would accept this; in fact a minister from any other religion would probably be extremely offended, and put his foot up your backside!

Who said I refused to allow any religion to be mentioned? Do you have an insight into the future and know what we've written for our service?

And as I'm agnostic how can you possibly know what I believe? It doesn't matter what a minister from another religion things because I'm not getting married in another religions church am I?

And my point was that I wouldn't try to, because I respect the values of other people's religions. If the option didn't exist then I wouldn't try to bend it to my will, I would simply choose a different option.

People's lack of tolerance when making assumptions is interesting.

Torry_Quine

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Interesting. It really does look like you can have what amounts to a civil wedding in a Unitarian church or chapel.

http://www.brightonunitarian.org.uk/wedding-ceremonies.html

Having read that, thanks by the way, I wouldn't call it a Christian church though.

southoftheriver

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Having read that, thanks by the way, I wouldn't call it a Christian church though.

No neither would I. The origins of Unitarianism are founded in Christianity and some members of it affiliate themselves with it's teachings but it would be pushing it to call it a Christian Church.

duchy

southoftheriver wrote: »

And as I'm agnostic how can you possibly know what I believe? It doesn't matter what a minister from another religion things because I'm not getting married in another religions church am I?

And my point was that I wouldn't try to, because I respect the values of other people's religions. If the option didn't exist then I wouldn't try to bend it to my will, I would simply choose a different option.

People's lack of tolerance when making assumptions is interesting.

agnostic
aɡˈnɒstɪk/
noun
1.
a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.
synonyms: sceptic, doubter, questioner, doubting Thomas, challenger, scoffer, cynic; More

Why wouldn't anyone know what an agnostic believes ? It's hardly a secret !!!

I hope you get the service you want but I suspect it won't be quite as God free as you hope.
I still think it's the height of hypocrisy though !

inkie

I am a Minister and my answer to the request would be no.
I always explain to people who are non- church goers who request me to do their wedding/christening/conduct a funeral, that I am a Christian minister and that is the approach that I will be taking. I have not had anyone take issue with it

Errata

southoftheriver wrote: »

No neither would I. The origins of Unitarianism are founded in Christianity and some members of it affiliate themselves with it's teachings but it would be pushing it to call it a Christian Church.

In that case, what is it? A building where those who don't believe can gather together and celebrate their non-belief?

Lily-Rose_3

Errata wrote: »

In that case, what is it? A building where those who don't believe can gather together and celebrate their non-belief?

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

heartbreak_star

Errata wrote: »

In that case, what is it? A building where those who don't believe can gather together and celebrate their non-belief?

*tongue firmly in cheek*

In my social circle, that's the pub :rotfl::beer:

HBS x

System

Jagraf wrote: »

I'm just thinking about our church. Two people who want a pretty building but a civil marriage in a church. At the alter, you have Jesus on the cross. In front of you on a pretty stain glassed window you have Jesus' ascension into heaven. All around you, you have bibles, crosses, candles and prayer books.

Why on earth would anyone want to get married in church when they are not religious? Its really odd.

I don't understand it personally. I'm not religious in the slightest and i wouldn't want to marry in a church (religious or civil either way). Making vows to an entity i don't believe in kind of undermines the vows i'd be making if that makes sense?