Marriage Flashcards
Importance
- To unite with someone they love
→Adam and Eve are married in Genesis 2, described to “become one flesh” - To make promises to God and each other
→Presence of God representing by a Priest - Outward display of their love for others to see
- Special commitment for the rest of their life
- Bible teachers that marriage is important
- A secure environment to raise a family
- To have sex + have kids
→Roman Catholics do not accept any relationship that includes sex outside of marriage - To fulfil human’s creative nature “be fruitful and multiply”
Entrance
→Bride enters church after the groom on the arm of her father, triditonal Christian belief that the father ‘gives’ daughter to the groom. (wow)
- Declarations
→Couple are reminded that the vows they will take are made in the presence of God who “knows the secrets of our hearts”
- Make vows
→“To love and to cherish until death do us part”
- Rings
→The couple places rings on each other’s fingers
→Symbol of their marriage, acts as a physical reminder of their commitment throughout their lives.
→Continuous circular shape of the ring represents unbroken love, faithfulness and eternity
- Takes place in the presence of a priest / minister representing the prescence of God
→lead the couple in expressing their commitment to each other through the taking of vows, and blesses their union
- Signing of the register
→Legal requirement - bride, groom and 2 witnesses
→Couple receive a copy of the marriage certificate
Divergent views
- Catholic + Orthodox → the presence of a priest / minister is essential for the marriage to be valid
- Many other denominations → the couple’s love and intention are the only important thing, minister is only there to oversee the ceremony
- Same sex marriage
Only able to enter into a civil partnership until recently (2014 damn) - in UK
In HK - same sex marriages + civil partnerships are not recognised
