Marriage

====Christianity====
{{Main|Christian views on marriage}}
{{Further|Wedding#Christian customs}}
{{blockquote|{{"'}}Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man."  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.<ref>{{bibleverse|Genesis|2:22–24|TNIV}}</ref>}}
{{blockquote|{{"'}}...So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."|Jesus<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|19:6|TNIV}}</ref>}}
[[File:Crowning in Syro-Malabar Nasrani Wedding by Mar Gregory Karotemprel.jpg|thumb|Crowning during [[Nasrani wedding|Holy Matrimony]] in the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]], an [[Eastern Catholic]] Church and a part of the [[Saint Thomas Christian]] community in [[India]]]]
[[File:St Mary's Church, Kyoto.jpg|thumb|Christian wedding in [[Kyoto]], Japan]]
[[File:Russian church wedding in Toronto,Canada.jpg|thumb|Russian orthodox wedding ceremony]]

Modern Christianity bases its views on marriage upon the teachings of [[Jesus]] and the [[Paul the Apostle]].<ref name="Witte" /> Many of the largest [[Christianity|Christian]] denominations regard marriage as a [[sacrament]], sacred institution, or [[covenant (religion)|covenant]].<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/ritesrituals/weddings_1.shtml |title=Religions – Christianity: Marriage and weddings |publisher=BBC }}</ref>

The first known decrees on marriage were during the [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[Council of Trent]] (twenty-fourth session of 1563), decrees that made the validity of marriage dependent on the wedding occurring in the presence of a priest and two witnesses.<ref name=monger/><ref name=omalley/> The absence of a requirement of parental consent ended a debate that proceeded from the 12th century.<ref name=omalley/><ref>For clarification, see [https://archive.org/details/stateofvirginity0000stra/page/53 <!-- quote="Winkel" "Gender, Religion, and Politics in an Early Modern". --> State of Virginity: Gender, Religion, and Politics in an Early Modern Europe] (Google Books) by Ulrike Strasser, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 2007</ref> In the case of a civil [[divorce]], the innocent spouse had and has no right to marry again until the death of the other spouse terminates the still valid marriage, even if the other spouse was guilty of adultery.<ref name="omalley">*{{cite book|first=John W.|last=O'Malley|title=Trent: What Happened at the Council|url=https://archive.org/details/trent0000omal|url-access=registration|date=15 January 2013|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-06760-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/trent0000omal/page/225 225]}}
*{{cite book|last=O'Malley|first=John|title=The Council of Trent. Myths, Misunderstandings and Unintended Consequences|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k3FFCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA6|date=22 May 2013|publisher=Gregorian Biblical BookShop|isbn=978-88-7839-255-7|page=6}}</ref>

The Christian Church performed marriages in the [[narthex]] of the church prior to the 16th century, when the emphasis was on the marital contract and betrothal. Subsequently, the ceremony moved inside the [[sacristy]] of the church.<ref name="monger">{{cite book|last1= Monger|first1= George P.|year= 2004|chapter= Christian Weddings|chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=o8JlWxBYs40C&q=marriage+ceremony+%22early+christianity%22&pg=PA70|title= Marriage Customs of the World: From Henna to Honeymoons|location= Santa Barbara, CA|publisher= ABC CLIO|pages= [https://archive.org/details/marriagecustomso0000mong/page/70 70–71]|isbn= 978-1-57607-987-4|oclc= 469368346|url= https://archive.org/details/marriagecustomso0000mong/page/70}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09703b.htm|title=Catholic Encyclopedia: Ritual of Marriage|website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref>

Christians often{{quantify|date=September 2015}} marry for religious reasons, ranging from following the biblical injunction for a "man to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one",<ref>{{Bibleverse|Gen.|2:24}}. See also {{bibleverse|Mark|10:7}}, {{Bibleverse|Gen.|2:24}}, {{Bibleverse|Matt.|19:5}}, {{Bibleverse|Eph.|5:31}}</ref> to accessing the [[Divine grace]] of the [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] Sacrament.<ref name="Lehmkuhl, Augustinus 1910">{{CathEncy|wstitle=Sacrament of Marriage}}</ref>

[[Catholicism|Catholics]], [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]], as well as many [[Anglicanism|Anglicans]] and [[Methodism|Methodists]], consider marriage termed ''holy matrimony'' to be an expression of [[divine grace]],<ref name="Jr.Warrick2013">{{cite book|last1=Yrigoyen|first1=Charles Jr.|last2=Warrick|first2=Susan E.|title=Historical Dictionary of Methodism|date=7 November 2013|publisher=Scarecrow Press|language=en|isbn=978-0-8108-7894-5|page=236|quote=In Methodism, the sacred service celebrates a covenenat grounded in the will of God and sustained by divine grace. ... Methodism encourages the solemnization of marriages within the context of congregational worship and eucharistic celebration.}}</ref> termed a ''[[sacrament]]'' and ''[[Sacred mysteries|mystery]]'' in the first two Christian traditions. In [[Latin liturgical rites|Western ritual]], the ministers of the sacrament are the spouses themselves, with a [[bishop]], [[priest]], or [[deacon]] merely witnessing the union on behalf of the Church and blessing it. In [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern ritual churches]], the bishop or priest functions as the actual minister of the Sacred Mystery; Eastern Orthodox deacons may not perform marriages. Western Christians commonly refer to marriage as a [[vocation]], while Eastern Christians consider it an [[ordination]] and a [[martyr]]dom, though the theological emphases indicated by the various names are not excluded by the teachings of either tradition.{{Dubious|date=January 2010}} Marriage is commonly celebrated in the context of a [[Eucharist]]ic service (a [[Mass in the Catholic Church#Ritual Masses|nuptial Mass]] or [[Divine Liturgy]]). The sacrament of marriage is indicative of the relationship between [[Jesus|Christ]] and the Church.<ref>{{bibleverse|Eph.|5:29–32}}</ref>

The Roman Catholic tradition of the 12th and 13th centuries defined marriage as a sacrament ordained by God,<ref name="Witte"/> signifying the mystical marriage of Christ to his Church.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c3a7.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217152549/https://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c3a7.htm |archive-date=17 February 2007 |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, Article Seven, Paragraph 1612 |publisher=Vatican.va }}</ref>
<blockquote>The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c3a7.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217152549/https://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c3a7.htm|archive-date=17 February 2007|title=Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, Article Seven, Paragraph 1601 |publisher=Vatican.va }}</ref>
</blockquote>

For Catholic and Methodist Christians, the mutual love between husband and wife becomes an image of the eternal love with which God loves humankind.<ref name="Church2016">{{cite book|title=The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2016|date=16 December 2016|publisher=United Methodist Publishing House|language=en|isbn=978-1-5018-3325-0|page=623|quote=For the church, the marriage covenant is grounded in the covenant between God and God's people into which Christians enter in their baptism.}}</ref> In the [[United Methodist Church]], the celebration of Holy Matrimony ideally occurs in the context of a Service of Worship, which includes the celebration of the Eucharist.<ref name="Jr.Warrick2013"/> Likewise, the celebration of marriage between two Catholics normally takes place during the public liturgical celebration of the Holy Mass, because of its sacramental connection with the unity of the Paschal mystery of Christ (Communion). Sacramental marriage confers a perpetual and exclusive bond between the spouses. By its nature, the institution of marriage and conjugal love is ordered to the procreation and upbringing of offspring. Marriage creates rights and duties in the Church between the spouses and towards their children: "[e]ntering marriage with the intention of never having children is a grave wrong and more than likely grounds for an annulment".<ref>McLachlan, P. [http://www.catholic-pages.com/marriage/sacrament.asp Sacrament of Holy Matrimony]. Catholic-pages.com</ref> According to Roman Catholic legislation, progeny of annulled relationships are considered legitimate. Civilly remarried persons who civilly divorced a living and lawful spouse are not separated from the Church, but they cannot receive Eucharistic Communion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c3a7.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217152549/https://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c3a7.htm |archive-date=17 February 2007 |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, Article Seven, Paragraph 1665 |publisher=Vatican.va }}</ref>

[[Divorce]] and [[remarriage]], while generally not encouraged, are regarded differently by each Christian denomination, with certain traditions, such as the Catholic Church, teaching the concept of an [[annulment]]. For example, the [[Reformed Church in America]] permits divorce and remarriage,<ref name="RCA1975">{{cite web |title=Statements of General Synod |url=https://www.rca.org/synod/statements/ |publisher=[[Reformed Church in America]] |access-date=4 June 2021 |language=English |date=1975}}</ref> while connexions such as the [[Evangelical Methodist Church Conference]] forbid divorce except in the case of [[fornication]] and do not allow for remarriage in any circumstance.<ref name="EMCC2017">{{cite book |title=Evangelical Methodist Church Discipline |date=15 July 2017 |publisher=[[Evangelical Methodist Church Conference]] |language=English|pages=22–21|quote=The marriage contract is so sacred that we advise against seeking divorce on any grounds whatseover. Should any member seek divorce on any unscriptural grounds (Matt. 5:32 "But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced comitteth adultery."), and that well proven, he shall be summoned to appear at a meeting in the local church, with the general board working in co-operation with the local church board. If proven guilty of such offense, he shall be dismissed at once, and no longer considered a member of Evangelical Methodist Church. We advise against the remarriage of all divorced persons, as the scriptures declare in Romans 7:3a "...So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress." If any person becoming converted, and having such marital complications as mentioned above in the days of their sin and ignorance, it is our belief that God will and does forgive them; however, we shall not receive such persons into church membership, but with to extend to them the right hand of fellowship, promising the prayers of God's people. Should any pastor, knowingly or unknowingly, receive such persons that have been divorced and remarried into membership, such membership shall not be valid. Ministers are advised to have nothing to do with the re-marriage of persons divorced on any grounds. In the event any person is divorced by an unbelieving companion and shall remain in an unmarried state, retaining his or her Christian integrity, he or she shall not be dismissed or barred from church membership.}}</ref> The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] allows divorce for a limited number of reasons, and in theory, but usually not in practice, requires that a marriage after divorce be celebrated with a penitential overtone. With respect to marriage between a Christian and a pagan, the early Church "sometimes took a more lenient view, invoking the so-called Pauline privilege of permissible separation (1 Cor. 7) as legitimate grounds for allowing a convert to divorce a pagan spouse and then marry a Christian."<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/augustweb-only/46.0c.html?start=2 Divorce and Remarriage from Augustine to Zwingli]. Christianity Today. Retrieved on 6 April 2013.</ref>

The Catholic Church adheres to the proscription of [[Jesus]] in ''Matthew'', 19: 6 that married spouses who have consummated their marriage "are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate."<ref>''Matthew'', 19: 6, ''New American Bible Revised Edition'', [http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/19].</ref> Consequently, the Catholic Church understands that it is wholly without authority to terminate a sacramentally valid and consummated marriage, and its ''Codex Iuris Canonici'' ([[1983 Code of Canon Law]]) confirms this in Canons 1055–7. Specifically, Canon 1056 declares that "the essential properties of marriage are unity and ''indissolubility''; in [C]hristian marriage they acquire a distinctive ''firmness'' by reason of the sacrament."<ref>''Code of Canon Law Annotated'', edited by Ernest Caparros et alia, Canon 1056, pp. 806–07 (Woodridge, Illinois: Midwest Theological Forum, 2004); see the printed work to correctly cite the translator(s) et alia; emphasis added.</ref> Canon 1057, §2 declares that marriage is "an ''irrevocable'' covenant".<ref>''Code of Canon Law Annotated'', edited by Ernest Caparros et alia, Canon 1057, §2, p. 807 (Woodridge, Illinois: Midwest Theological Forum, 2004); see the printed work to correctly cite the translator(s) et alia; emphasis added.</ref> Therefore, divorce of such a marriage is a metaphysical, moral, and legal impossibility. However, the Church has the authority to annul a presumed "marriage" by declaring it to have been invalid from the beginning, i. e., declaring it not to be and never to have been a marriage, in an [[Annulment (Catholic Church)|annulment]] procedure,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/relationships/chmarriageanddivorcerev1.shtml |title= GCSE Bitesize: Marriage |publisher= BBC }}</ref> which is basically a fact-finding and fact-declaring effort.

For [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations, the purposes of marriage include intimate companionship, rearing children, and mutual support for both spouses to fulfill their life callings. Most [[Calvinism|Reformed Christians]] did not regard marriage to the status of a sacrament "because they did not regard matrimony as a necessary means of grace for salvation"; nevertheless it is considered a covenant between spouses before God.<sup>cf.</sup><ref>{{bibleverse|Ephesians|5:31–33}}</ref> In addition, some Protestant denominations (such as the Methodist Churches) affirmed that Holy Matrimony is a "[[means of grace]], thus, sacramental in character".<ref name="Mulhall2013">{{cite book|last=Mulhall|first=Daniel S.|title=The Ecumenical Christian Dialogues and The Catechism of the Catholic Church|date=18 September 2013|publisher=Paulist Press|language=en |isbn=978-1-61643-809-8|page=155|quote=The Protestant reformers of the sixteenth century were unwilling to call marriage a sacrament because they did not regard matrimony as a necessary means of grace for salvation. Though not necessary for salvation certainly marriage is a means of grace, thus, sacramental in character.}}</ref>
[[File:Phil and Marlene.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A couple following their marriage in the [[Manti Utah Temple]]]]

Since the 16th century, five competing models have shaped marriage in the Western tradition, as described by [[John Witte, Jr.]]:<ref>{{cite book | last =Witte | first =John | title =From Sacarament to Contract: Marriage, Religion, and Law in the Western Tradition | publisher =Westminster John Knox Press | series=The Family, Religion, and Culture |  edition =1st | date =2007}}</ref>
* Marriage as Sacrament in the Roman Catholic Tradition
* Marriage as Social Estate in the Lutheran Reformation
* Marriage as Covenant in the Reformed (and Methodist) Traditions<ref>{{cite book |title=Book of Discipline of the Free Methodist Church |date=2015 |publisher=[[Free Methodist Church]] |pages=53–54 |language=English }}</ref>
* Marriage as Commonwealth in the Anglican Tradition
* Marriage as Contract in the Enlightenment Tradition

Members of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church) believe that "[[Marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|marriage]] between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the [[Plan of salvation (Latter Day Saints)|Creator's plan]] for the eternal destiny of His children."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world?lang=eng|title=The Family: A Proclamation to the World|website=ChurchofJesusChrist.org}}</ref> Their view of marriage is that family relationships can endure beyond the grave.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/lesson-5-laws-and-ordinances?lang=eng|title=Lesson 5: Laws and Ordinances|website=ChurchofJesusChrist.org}}</ref> This is known as 'eternal marriage' which can be eternal only when authorized priesthood holders perform the sealing ordinance in sacred [[Temple (LDS Church)|temples]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/the-eternal-family-teacher-manual/lesson-15-eternal-marriage?lang=eng|title=Lesson 15: Eternal Marriage|website=ChurchofJesusChrist.org}}</ref>

With respect to religion, historic Christian belief emphasizes that Christian weddings should occur in a [[church (building)|church]] as Christian marriage should begin where one also starts their faith journey (Christians receive the sacrament of [[baptism]] in church in the presence of their [[Church (congregation)|congregation]]).<ref name="Dooley2016">{{cite book |last1=Dooley |first1=Sandra |title=A Guide to Catholic Weddings |date=20 June 2016 |publisher=Liturgy Training Publications |isbn=978-1-61833-134-2 |pages=29–30 |language=English}}</ref> Catholic Christian weddings must "take place in a church building" as holy matrimony is a sacrament; sacraments normatively occur in the presence of Christ in the house of God, and "members of the faith community [should be] present to witness the event and provide support and encouragement for those celebrating the sacrament."<ref name="Dooley2016"/> Bishops never grant permission "to those requesting to be married in a garden, on the beach, or some other place outside of the church" and a dispensation is only granted "in extraordinary circumstances (for example, if a bride or groom is ill or disabled and unable to come to the church)."<ref name="Dooley2016"/> Marriage in the church, for Christians, is seen as contributing to the fruit of the newlywed couple regularly attending church each [[Lord's Day]] and raising children in the faith.<ref name="Dooley2016"/>

=====Christian attitudes to same-sex marriage=====
{{Main|Religious arguments about same-sex marriage}}

Although many Christian denominations do not currently perform [[same-sex marriage]]s, many do, such as the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]], some dioceses of the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]], the [[Metropolitan Community Church]], [[Quakers]], [[United Church of Canada]], and [[United Church of Christ]] congregations, and some [[Homosexuality and the Anglican Communion#Anglican Church of Canada|Anglican]] dioceses, for example.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070703002853/http://marriagelaw.cua.edu/publications/wrr.pdf "World Religions and Same-Sex Marriage"], Marriage Law Project, [[Columbus School of Law]] at The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, July 2002 revision</ref><ref name="united">{{cite web|url=http://www.united-church.ca/exploring/marriage/affirmingcongregations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531085742/http://www.united-church.ca/exploring/marriage/affirmingcongregations |archive-date=31 May 2010 |title=Affirming Congregations, The Episcopal Church and Ministries of the United Church of Canada |publisher=United-church.ca }}</ref> Same-sex marriage is recognized by various [[religious denomination]]s.<ref name="pewforum">{{cite web|title=Religious Groups' Official Positions on Same-Sex Marriage|url=http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=291|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109194247/http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=291 |archive-date=9 November 2008 |publisher=pewforums.org|date=1 April 2008}}</ref><ref name="NYT UCC SSM">{{cite news|title=United Church of Christ Backs Same-Sex Marriage|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/05/national/05church.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050708015301/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/05/national/05church.html |archive-date=2005-07-08 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |author=Shaila Dewan|date=5 July 2005|work=The New York Times}}</ref>