We marry in front of God. Then why do we not get a divorce in front of God but instead in court?

[Anonymous]

1st marriage = 1st loop. In front of God.

1st divorce = In court, not in front of God. So from God's perspective, we are still married[1st].

2nd marriage = 2nd loop. In front of God. But, this time, inside the 1st marriage loop, since we are not divorced with respect to God.

This seems a bit complicated and unethical. Mainly like an affair with respect to God.

Why do we not do divorce in Church too? I mean not only for Christian religion, but for other religions too in their respective buildings according to their respective customs.

I have had this question on my mind for a very long time now. What do you think?

Updates

1 y

Does only adultery matter to God? What about internal marriage problems that either or none of them are willing to resolve? Are these problems mentioned in the Bible or any other holy book? What about domestic abuse, on both sides? What about mental abuse too? Any provisions for these?

Adultery, running away, and death are the extreme points, I would say. What about the problems in between? Anything on that in Bible or in any holy book?

Updates

1 y

I never expected this much response. I need some time to process the responses.

[IMuser]

I am not a Christian but I will try to make a point which is equally true for all religions (I guess)

Any religious event assumes the involvement of ideal citizens. An ideal citizen (an ideal man or an ideal woman) is someone who adheres to the religious principles.

In this aspect, a marriage is supposed to be a communion of two ideal citizens (ideal man and ideal woman) to raise an offspring. It is assumed that the man and the woman will take care of each other while performing their prescribed duties.

The only possible case as to why divorce is not explicitly mentioned (except adultery) is that since both men and women are following religious principles, they will collectively (and individually) work together to serve God (by following prescribed duties). Thus there is no need for divorce as since they have a common ground (serving good, taking care of kids etc), the differences will be resolved amicably (sometimes by involving the priests too)

The reason adultery is an exception is because of the influence sexual energy can have on someone. Even priests can forget themselves in lust. There is a higher probability of someone being influenced by lust as compared to other factors (like rage for example. However unsatisfied lust OR not transmuting sexual energy evolves into lust).

I hope it makes sense

[Asker]

Bro, that makes more than sense.

[nachosaresexy]

You have a very strange formulaic view of this stuff. Try to take a step back, setting aside the beliefs you've been raised/indoctrinated into...

Early humans moved around in tribes. As you can probably imagine, that meant procreating amongst themselves, in a relatively small tribe. It was not uncommon, and not at all looked down on, for a female to choose her mates... yes, plural, mates. And generally speaking, the dudes didn't fight about it... I mean, it was normal, and how life carried on.

Fast forwarding in time, skipping over a lot of stuff... love is transient... the idea of people meeting & falling in love & spending their entire lives together & deep down being *happy* about it is an imaginary thing that has no roots in the history of humankind.

These things aren't "bad" and they happen in spurts since we're emotional human beings, but the whole "life partner" and "till death due us part" is simply not compatible with human biology. Makes a good living for divorce lawyers and marriage counselors tho.

[TrueConfection]

I'm pretty certain that some religions require permission for divorce, even if the local government permits the divorce.

The bible does talk about how men are supposed to treat their wives and how women are supposed to treat their husbands. The martial strife you mentioned would be avoided if we all followed God's word.

[DizzyDesii]

I dont think people are even supposed to divorce unless someone was unfaithful but either way, God sees and knows all so you technically dont have to do anything in the church. Its just better/expected that you do

[andreasderjuengere]

To most people to ''marry before God'' is just an entertainment detail.

Especially, after consumerism hopped in and dictated (mostly to the girls) how ''grand'' and ''glamorous'' a wedding should be.

Where a divorce is kind of a business transaction... meanwhile, that is: after consumerism hopped in and dictated what's best (... for the girls :D )

A troubling tendency also is that faggots as well can meanwhile imitate a marriage in large parts of the deteriorating world.

In the interest of consumerism, it's more practical to make the money from excluding God in this.

[genericname85]

cause people only asociate posive stuff with god, not negative. that's part of the indoctrination.

like what i'm saying is: if you find your wife that you love, you marry her and you say "oh thank god for giving me this lovely woman". and then if it turns out she's a horrible person that you can't stand and you have to leave her, that's somehow suddenly your fault and not longer gods responsibility... it's a weird double standard.

that's why i don't get why people follow this cult.

[slatyb]

They are two entirely separate things. The government doesn't care what you promise to God or your spouse. It only cares about the paperwork you both signed declaring yourselves married to each other. When that paperwork is submitted, then you are legally married, and will remain legally married until you agree to divorce and file another piece of paper. Because divorce requires division of joint assets and possibly making arrangements for child custody and support, it's more complicated than marrying.

[jshm2]

You raised in a barn or something?

The bible doesn't allow for divorce.

It's only the past couple of centuries that the fall of Christendom came about. That allowed legal authorities to move up the food chain so the judiciary can legislate and overrule, the diocese and papal power. Theologically there is no such thing as a "second marriage". It's one reason why many breakaway sects formed from Catholicism

A Catholic church can never divorce

[Asker]

And can this be not termed as a proof of sheer ignorance on the religion's side?

There is a symbiotic relationship between the religion and the people. Religion gives something to depend on and people are the ones keeping the religion alive.

Hence, should the religion not look after the happiness of the people? A marriage is not absolute. And more often than ever, a partnership is not there. A dominant-submission relationship is there. And exploitation chances are high than ever. Means one of the people is suffering in the relationship. Hence a clear provision to leave the marriage should also have been there. I believe. That is free from any societal stigma too.

Ignoring as important as a divorce based on family problems is like ignoring the fundamental problems of humans.

I heard that Catholic church exerts many unrealistic restrictions on women especially. If that is the case, then its a good thing people are leaving it.

[LilyoftheLake]

That's an excellent point that I had never considered. Why isn't divorce done in a Church setting like Marriage?

Maybe the Bible says something about how God doesn't want us to get divorced?

[RedThread]

Whether it's a religious marriage or not there's still legal things to consider. You're still legally married in accordance with the government. Naturally there will be legal issues to consider when seeking a divorce as well.

If people want to handle divorce according to their religious beliefs, I don't think there's any law against it.

[OlderAndWiser]

It is my understanding that there are church divorce proceedings within the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Jewish faiths.

[maximumpower]

Ever heard of a Justice of the Peace?
Marriage is a sham.
It's created by women, for women.
That's why so many obsess about it from their early years and would drag themselves over a mile of rusty nails and broken glass to attend one.
Men, on the other hand, rent a tux and often show up hungover.

[legalboxers]

Because God dont want $100 an hour plus an additional $1000 to make sure the wealth accrued during x amount years is distributed. And you are wrong - in some court houses you got crucifixes there. So it is ALSO in the EYES of GOD (One law I won't touch is Family Law)

[JDBSLAOQ]

well if you're religious you're not supposed to get a divorce in the first place lol

[LazerBean]

Because God only allows divorce if adultery occurs, and that is rarely the reason for divorce.

[SaoirseS]

Both marriages and divorces are civil matters of record. Religious services are optional.

[WhitneySnow]

Because most Christian religions see marriage as a good thing and divorce as generally a bad thing. And you can get married in court too if you want.

[BCRanger10]

Because marriage in the religious sense is a Sacrament. It's a sacred union of a man and a woman ratified by God through the Church for the procreation and education of children.

[menina]

Not all people get married in a church and not everyone believes in a religion. At the end of the day what matters is what is legally valid.

[AviatorTom]

In God's eyes, there is no divorce. Divorce is created by humans, thatwhy it's in court and not before God.

[sheikalana]

Not everyone gets married in front of God. A lot of people get married in a courthouse.

[mermaidcancermoon]

According to law, everything is "under god" including divorce

[exitseven]

When you get married in the church you promise in front of God that you will love honor and obey until death us do part. It's a one way trip.

[Fireguy17]

Because there is usually complications, money, house, kids stuff like that which needs to be done legally.