I may simply just DON'T KNOW but.....

[dokkbudd]

If there is supposed to be a "seperation between church and state"...... how EXACTLY does one get MARRIED by a JUDGE?

[Falconer02]

Religion does not need to be involved in marriage. It's up to the couple to do what they want. You can get married in a courthouse by a judge. It's nothing new.

[gaylasue]

A judge is just one of the acceptable means of performing marriage ceremonies.  A justice of the peace as well as a pastor, minister, rabbi, priest, etc. are acceptable as long as they are licensed.  Yes, the "state" is in everything.  You have to have a license before you can be legally married.

[LiciaPruitt]

WOW!!! My husband and I went to the courthouse but we picked a pastor to marry us not a judge so we got married at his grand dad house which is Rev. Ash, I wanted a church wedding but my braids-maid was complaining about their financial problems so we did what we had to do by the grace of God we've been married for 7 months now.   

[manicamarketing]

Great question!  What I believe is this.  The state does not have any authority to determine what constitutes a valid marriage.  God gave us the institution of marriage and therefore only HE alone can determine what is and is not permissible (i.e. between 1 man and 1 women not 2 men or 2 women). 

Seperation of Church and State also means that the state shall not impose on the religious.  Not the other way around which has been the common misconception.  Americans are supposed to bring their conscious and religious ideals into politics, not politics into their beliefs.  This is misconception is one of the main reasons why I believe the country is so backward today.