Marriage status

[Boyish-Tigerlilly]

Please bear with me, as I would appreciate any help here. I do not know what one would classify marriage as: Secular or Religious?

My parents keep telling me it is religous institution. I don't know. I would think if it were a religous institution, would religions have a say in who could marry? If it were secular, wouldn't the government have a say/duty to uphold equal protection/rights due to the constitution? If it were religous, should government have any influence in its rituals?

Thanks again for the status and any clarrification. I am having a debate with my friend, and he says that gays cannot marry becaues it is a religous matter and the government cannot tell them who can/cannot marry.

I think it is secular, and therefore the government has a duty to support fairness. What is what?

PS I know that there are private colleges who only allow WOMEN in, but men are excluded. I do not know of any Men's only colleges. HOw is that fair, and is that similiar discrimination?

[darthdavid]

It's both. G'vt Marriage liscences are secular and marriage rites performed within a church are religious.