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User's avatar
NOGODZ20's avatar

Where did the religious get the mistaken notion that they invented marriage and own it?

Like atheism, marriage predates any and all religion. Religion does not own a patent on the institution.

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Joe King's avatar

Marriage being a social construct and civil contract, and religion having had a stranglehold on society and civil law for centuries before the Enlightenment, it is no wonder that they think they own it. Just like everything else, more territorial pissing. I am tired of our mops smelling like urine.

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ericc's avatar

When modern conservatives say "history," they mean something like "Barton's interpretation of puritan colonial life from 1650s to 1770s", not actual history.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

👆🎯

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Linda Bower's avatar

Christians are so unoriginal and uncreative it’s laughable. Always stealing tradition from others and distorting it until it’s unrecognizable. Ask the Pagans🎄

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John P Grundowski's avatar

It's also a $$$ machine.

Has nothing to do with morals. Thanks

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Linda Bower's avatar

💯

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Matri's avatar
9hEdited

They’re Christians. They claim to have invented the universe, the world, all plants and animals, humans, civilisation, culture, “good” and “evil”, languages, mathematics, clothes, sailing, the Roman Empire, your neighbour Bob’s shoes, your cousin Annabelle’s Toyota Hilux, your cat’s flea collar…

And don’t forget David Graf claimed holidays and calendar months in the name of Christianity, as well.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Is Graf on drugs?

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Matri's avatar

It was the one with the Obama Holiday that was happening very close to Easter.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Hate to burst his bubble (though someone should, as that bubble is preventing his brain from getting oxygen) but every day of the week i named after a pagan god and every moth is either named after a pagan god or a Roman emperor.

And how many pagan holidays have been stolen by Christians?

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

All of them, to make the natives more accepting of their hostile takeover. I think they missed Beltane and Lamas, but still.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Only the first half of the months. The second half is numbers :

September = 7

October = 8...

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Matri's avatar

And December is 10…

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

Considering the vast number of moth species, how did they manage to narrow it down to just twelve?

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

He's never heard of the pre-christian romans?

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Matri's avatar

Of course not! How could anything exist before Christians?

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Silly me!

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John P Grundowski's avatar

Agree ~ a monopoly over a civic construct/institution?

Also for years- you had to pay to "anual"(divorce)a marriage.The far right scream freedoms,yet trample the rights of others.What is moral about this?□Thanks

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19h
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NOGODZ20's avatar

You may want to ask George Takei about that. He might disagree.

people.com/george-takei-shares-secret-happy-marriage-exclusive-8634270

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19h
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NOGODZ20's avatar

"I don't care what he thinks. He's not a woman."

So you cavalierly dismiss his marriage because it doesn't fit your personal sweeping generalization of being a "barbaric practice?" Makes you a bit of a bigot. Marriage is no longer defined as "one man, one woman" (though the xtian reichwingers in this country are working hard to bring back the bad old days). Marriage equality is a reality in 38 countries as of last year.

Still going to go with that generalization of yours?

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Oh my fucking god did she really say that? How embarrassing.

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18h
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Len Koz's avatar

You keep screaming about legal contracts. You do know contracts are usually not considered to be bad things, right? Unless someone is dumb enough to enter into a contract with anyone named Trump.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Why did same sex couples have to demand equal treatment? Seriously? You don't know why?

We're never going to agree on this, so I'm going to leave it here.

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oraxx's avatar

An inconvenient fact: The divorce rate among Christians is higher than for atheists and agnostics. I think the urge to get members of the clergy to be the only ones who can solemnize a marriage is pure magical thinking. It's an easy sell for a lot of people to believe the clergy has some kind of magical power and a pipeline to the almighty. It's lost on people that this massively screwed up world is to a very large extent, the work-product of believers.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

According to the CDC, Texas (along with Tennessee and Alabama), have the highest divorce rates in the country, And Alabama is tied with Mississippi as the most religious states in the USA.

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

Btw, Texass is where Jasmine resides.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Surprised, I am not.

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Linda Bower's avatar

I think they truly just want to deny others rights or privileges they enjoy themselves. The othering of people makes them feel more powerful because they are oh so weak. This path to power isn’t admirable at all! 🤣

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oraxx's avatar

One set of rules for thee, and a very different set of rules for me. It's an age old story, and one exacerbated by religion. The preachers can talk about their loving Jesus and the glorious afterlife from now on, but it is power and control on this earthly plain they covet more than anything. Power few groups are more ill-equipped to exercise.

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Linda Bower's avatar

Amen

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Matri's avatar

Eternally relevant when it comes to them: https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2011-05-03

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

Well, if the gayz and baby-eating atheists have the same privileges that they have, then their special privileges won't be so special anymore.

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Matri's avatar
4hEdited

If The Others have the same rights and privileges as them, then they’re equals.

If they’re equals, then they don’t have more than.

And if they don’t have more, then they aren’t Superior anymore.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

And equality feels like oppression to them.

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Boreal's avatar

Marriage is a civil contract. You don't go to a church to get your marriage license or to file for divorce.

More unwarranted xtian privilege.

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Donrox's avatar

This. A marriage is not legal until it is registered by the state.

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Holytape's avatar

well, has anyone considered the consequences of letting non-religious people conduct marriage ceremonies? Without the morals and limitation provided by religion, who knows what they will do? They might allow two people of different religions to cohabitate? Or allow a loving same sex couple to be legally recognized by the state and this have access to health care provided by one of the couples employers. They might even allow a couple of gingers to wed.... Or God forbid, a non-religious celebrant might even allow to Nickelback fans to marry!!! That would give legal permission to reproduce! What if these celebrants do it all at once. We would be over run with well adjusted half Lutheran, half Methodist soulless ginger children singing how they want to be rock stars off key and with access to healthcare!!! Is that the country you want to live in?

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

May I order a dark haired half Satanist, half Pagan ? It's not for a friend.

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Len Koz's avatar

Any preference on the flavor of paganism?

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Not a Viking/Saxon gods worshipper. They often are white nationalist assholes.

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Len Koz's avatar

Too true.

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larry parker's avatar

The more redheads* the better.

*Women only.

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Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

I’ll take the gentlemen with red hair.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

The more men* the better.

*Dark hair only.

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larry parker's avatar

How about mostly dark with gray highlights? : )

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Looks like DM 😁

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Len Koz's avatar

😛

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

I'll take them both, I'm an equal opportunist.

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Len Koz's avatar

Not gingers! No! Evil soulless things!

P.S. I am a ginger, descended from gingers.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Hi, Baldy. :)

(don't gingers tend to bald early?)

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Len Koz's avatar

Is 35 early?

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dammit barry's avatar

The ones I have known kept their hair. Just adopted a new nickname "Whitey" as it turned white, not gray.

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Len Koz's avatar

My mother's went brown instead of gray. Perhaps if she had lived past her 50s it would have eventually gone gray or white.

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Die Anyway's avatar

I had red hair as a kid (mother and sister both redheads) and now have full head of very white hair.

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Die Anyway's avatar

P.S. what happened to my avatar? Seems to have vanished.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

I had very blond hair up until age 5. Then my dad's genes took over and my hair turned brown.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

My paternal grandfather too.

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

Mine too.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Papi ? T'as ressucité au bout de 24 ans ?

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Beware, you may be snatched by cdbunch.

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Len Koz's avatar

I doubt it. I'm old and worn down by life.

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dammit barry's avatar

Those of a certain ange and political bent might remember "The mind of Markey Mark and the body of Calvin Trillin."

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Linda Bower's avatar

🤣

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Fine with me, bud! 🤣

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Maltnothops's avatar

It might lead to……dancing!

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John P Grundowski's avatar

YEP ,,,good point.

Religion's final hurrah.

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avis piscivorus's avatar

You are married when you have signed the legal paperwork. Not by the magic words uttered by the celebrant. The law has no business requiring a priest (or pastor, rabbi, imam ...) to be the master of ceremony at the private party you organize for family and friends.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Ever so much this ^^^^^

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Joe King's avatar

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐸𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑇𝑒𝑠𝑡, 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑠𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑤 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑜𝑛. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛’𝑡 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑦, 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒, 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑤 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑛’𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑡ℎ.

Looking at the law, it appears to me that there is a special benefit to people of faith. Religious people get to have the clergy of their choice or have a courthouse wedding. All the non-religious get is the courthouse. Just because there is an 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 for a non-religious wedding, doesn't mean religion isn't favored. The only other option is to jump over the additional hurdle of online ordination, and thereby pretending to be religious. I would like to ask these judges if they really think it is appropriate to force Texans to pretend to be religious just so they can get married.

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ericc's avatar
19hEdited

Yeah it's ridiculous. All you have to do is substitute race for religion and the bigotry is obvious. "All white people, plus black Judges, can solemnize a wedding. This is not racist because hey, black judges!" would never fly, even in Texas. But if the discriminated party is atheists? Sure, why not.

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Donrox's avatar

I married a couple at the Texas Renaissance Festival , last year. It was Bob's Burger themed.

I am no longer a theist, but I am credentialed. Texas did not question my signature on the license.

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Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

“Instead, there is a rational basis for the Statute’s limitation based on both the historical practice of allowing judicial and religious officials to solemnize marriages, and because these individuals and their respective organizations can reasonably be expected to ensure the prerequisites to marriage are met and that the ceremony contains the necessary level of respect and solemnity without the need for significant involvement and oversight by the state.”

So, necessary level of respect and solemnity includes kneeling and standing and kneeling and standing, or a man in a robe with a funny hat, or often a torture device adorned with the subject of that torture in the most excruciating point of the torture front and center? Also there are wedding ceremonies with special candles, or funny underwear, or mystical chanting, or silly dances, or any number of activities that are strange, misogynistic, dehumanizing, and outrageous, but they’re all solemn and respectful in a way that a non-religious organization cannot possibly reproduce without magical men in the sky.

Also, this can easily be corrected legislatively. Rather than determining which type of organizations (this law clearly shows favoritism toward Christianity, and Judaism, by not only listing it first, but also grouping 99% of the rest of religions into one without naming any of them.) can perform the ceremonies, instead use the legislation to delineate what constitutes the right level of respect and solemnity. Anyone can claim that what one religion or another thinks is solemn is a farce. I think all the religious traditions are wild nonsense, silly and ridiculous. But those involved think they’re so deep and meaningful. And hey, there are folks that do crazy things at their weddings that are only meaningful to them, reciting vows in Klingon, dressing up as Tolkien elves, doing dance numbers from ridiculous comedies, skydiving or scuba diving ceremonies, and because there’s a religious clergy member willing to oversee that, it’s solemn enough, respectful enough for the state. But a celebrant from a non-religious organization will be a step too far. There really are no solemnity or respect standards, just an excuse to exclude non-religious people.

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Whitney's avatar

For the amusement of reinforcing your point: My first marriage was performed by a minister in a 'solemn ceremony' and dissolved four years later. My second was in a Las Vegas wedding chapel for fun and is still going strong more than 20 years later.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Tell me you had an Elvis impersonator!

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Whitney's avatar

Sadly we didn't, but it was one of the best road trips I've ever been on. We effectively eloped and invited the rest of the family to join us there. All weddings should be so much fun.

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dammit barry's avatar

Hound dogs chasin' down the hoodoo man.

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Die Anyway's avatar

When you're born on the bayou, that sort of thing is normal.

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John P Grundowski's avatar

Agree ,I think 💲$💱- and maintain a grasp on future generations.There was(is)pressure to support institutions we are associated with, blindly-without thought.

Thanks

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

"And hey, there are folks that do crazy things at their weddings that are only meaningful to them . . ."

Like . . .

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8086f51b19afb27d09da5c84c1f12d6b3b9b1cb65938d8ee9c212e0303aeff1e.gif

. . . not smashing cake into each other's face.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

The solution is simple. Switch to mandatory wedding at the city/town hall with a religious ceremony after if desired 😋

"That didn’t apply, said the judge, because anyone looking at the law wouldn’t come away thinking it offered some special benefit to people of faith."

"The fact that the Statute does not allow every secular individual trained to solemnize marriages to legally solemnize marriages in Texas does not make this statute unconstitutional."

When I read that, I wonder how many federal judges would fail at a Constitutional law test.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

"When I read that, I wonder how many federal judges would fail at a Constitutional law test."

Asking questions like that around southern states and Texas particularly result in what can be embarrassing outcomes. And the officials, both governmental and religious, mostly don't like being embarrassed, especially because of their respective positions of assumed authority.

Tread carefully.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Here, judges have to pass exams to get promoted, and the higher the position, the harder the exams. It doesn't completely prevent corruption but it's better than incompetent judges like cannon fodder or beer pong man nominated at (tenures ?) they are not qualified to fill.

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ericc's avatar

I'm sure the pre-Trump conservative judges CAN answer these questions correctly, they just choose not to on the bench. Now, Trump's appointees? They may actually believe what they're shoveling.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

I'd love to see such a system put in place here, but this is the United States! Who the hell are WE kidding?!? 🤪

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

I know, it's a tall order going from medieval England to modern France. As cutting religious practice from public offices and government.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

What really has to happen is that the US needs to get over this stupid social and religious adolescence that we're struggling with and find its way somehow to adulthood.

The teen years are bad enough with parents and kids. With a whole nation, it's murder.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Or Louie Gohmert the east Texas village idiot.

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John P Grundowski's avatar

Right,,,a state where Elon Musk- bought a town to house his 11 wives in privacy 🙈🙉🙊

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

11 brood mares.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

None of whom actually WANT to live there.

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

That reminds me of the 1984 US sitcom 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵. In one episode, Judge Harry marries a couple by simply signing their wedding certificate. Their reaction was, of course, confusion. He then explains that the only thing they need for their marriage to be legally recognized is his signature, no ceremonial gobbledegook required.

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avis piscivorus's avatar

Time for TST to train official wedding celebrants. Wonder how your Texan neigbours and co-workers wil react when you invite them to your satanic wedding ceremony?

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Sinanju06's avatar

I'd go, if there's metal.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

You have good taste.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Be sure to include "Ave Satanas!" along with each invite. :)

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avis piscivorus's avatar

"Ave Satanas" are Latin words and that's only spoken in Latin-America. Here in Texas you have to translate it into Redneckistanese: "Hail Satan".

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

If texass really followed the tradition from it's founding, it should be "Hola Satán".

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avis piscivorus's avatar

They should go even further and say it in languages like for example karankawa, coahuilltecan or atakapa.

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

WEDDINGS – I WOULD LIKE TO GET MARRIED BY THE SATANIC TEMPLE

Our ordained ministers can legally officiate weddings in every state in the United States. If you are planning a wedding and are interested in having a Minister of Satan who has been ordained by The Satanic Temple officiate the ceremony, please contact your closest congregation to see if a Minister is available in your area.

The Satanic Temple's weddings and ceremonies program at our headquarters in Salem, Massachusetts has been redesigned and we can't wait to welcome you into The Little Black Chapel once more.

Click here to learn more about Satanic Ceremonies at The Satanic Temple Salem!

https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/faq

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NOGODZ20's avatar

OT

Today marks the month and day in 1969 that humans first set on the Moon. As it turned out it's also the exact same date that David Bowie released "Space Oddity."

Here's Chris Hadfield's version

youtu.be/pDyl6I6ESSw

Sometimes, you just need a little science and technology. Oh, and Hadfield's an atheist. 😎

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larry parker's avatar

Supposedly. ; )

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Hey, who you gonna believe, sane people or Lauren Boebert? 😃

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larry parker's avatar

Those rockets taking off that I could see from my backyard when I was a kid were fake!!!

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Kay-El's avatar

I was married by a friend who had the two minute credential, as I didn’t know any judges. A guy in a gorilla suit would have been ok too.

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dammit barry's avatar

Get married in a church. When the priest holds out his hand, tell him he is a man of god and his almighty god will pay him. Tell him the state forced you to do this. So get paid by the state

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John Smith's avatar

The next step for Texas is not recognizing same-sex marriage followed by interracial marriages. I wouldn’t be surprised Texas and other states within the Bible Belt go that route. Civil rights and human rights, according to the rednecks only applies to Christian Nationalists. Everyone else is inferior or not even human (according to the rednecks).

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Texas seems to be really jonesing to join a cattle call for The Handmaid's Tale (sorry, Texas, but that show wrapped a couple months ago!). To marry someone in the Lone Star State, you have to either be a religious official or a government official, and the way Texas is going, the lines on those two are going to blur pretty badly, pretty quickly. Secular celebrants need not apply, and the reasoning there also seems to be pretty poorly focused.

Ordinarily, I'd say appeal this ruling, but were it to go all the way to SCOTUS, I'm not at all sanguine about the outcome.

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Linda Bower's avatar

Zero hope with a hellbent corrupt SCOTUS for the foreseeable future…

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Maltnothops's avatar

OT. My bride got a big promotion. Her new role will likely have her working 50-60 hours a week and traveling around the state of Maryland. With her concurrence, I am retiring from a job I detest, effective 8/15, to be a house husband. I’ll do all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, dog stuff, and shopping so we can spend our weekends not doing those things.

Woot!

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Big time props.

Seems you got a promoton as well. You escaped a job you hated for a life at home. :)

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

I wish you a happy new career.

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Maltnothops's avatar

Thank you.

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Daniel Rotter's avatar

A wedding is certainly an odd time for the attendants to rehearse a scene from Equus.*

*Explaining the joke: Equus was a play that involved horses. In the play, human actors played the horses (although in the movie version, horses played horses).

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Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz's avatar

I'm waiting for the version where horses play the humans.

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dammit barry's avatar

I R GREAT cook. I press proper buttons on microwave, food good. Wrong buttons, Barry cusses. Also great at opening cans.

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larry parker's avatar

Congratulations squared.

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Maltnothops's avatar

Thank you.

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Donrox's avatar

I am a retired United Methodist minister. I have performed scores of weddings in California, Oregon, Arkansas, and Texas. I could have signed Mickey Mouse or George Washington for all anyone cared. My credential is stored in an obscure county court house deep in the Ozarks.

I will marry any couple with one stipulation: they have to come to my living room.

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Boreal's avatar

Does your living room have a cocktail bar or do they have to bring their own?

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Donrox's avatar

It is BYOB, but I always have excellent dank cannabis to share ...

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