Faith Search Update

So I have a few additional thoughts in follow up to my recent post about Religious choice that I wanted to share.

I know religion is a taboo topic (along the lines of politics), but please feel free to share any thoughts you may have on the subject with me.  I've had two friends email me separately about my post and let me know that they were hesitant to even mention it because they didn't want to come across as pushy or overstep any line.  So I just wanted to make clear that I welcome any and all thoughts on religion and your personal experiences.  I promise to hear all thoughts with a nonjudgemental, open mind.  And if you don't feel like sharing those with the world by commenting, feel free to email me - thenestingswans@gmail.com - and we can have a private dialogue. 

Mr. Cob and I had a long conversation last night about faith and religion and society.  I was first curious to know what he thought about my post and whether there was anything that stuck out to him.  This somehow turned in to a conversation about Jesus and the fact that I know very little about him/Him (do you capitalize the H when referring to Jesus?).  Did I know the speech on the mountain story? Nope.  And all other references/stories Mr. Cob asked me about (aside from the cross and subsequent resurrection story), I have no real knowledge of.  So he pointed out that I really don't know anything when it comes to Jesus, which is a valid conclusion.  So I've decided that a good starting point for me in this whole faith thing, is learning more about Jesus' teachings and life.

Then we talked a lot about the "Golden Rule" and whether most people try to live out this rule and what it really means.  While I wasn't raised with "religion", my parents always, always, stressed that I should "Treat others as you would like to be treated."  And I think I've tried to live my life this way.  Sure, I don't always follow this rule, but I'd like to think I try.  But what does it really mean to treat others as you would like to be treated?  I take the rule to mean you shouldn't judge other people and should come from a place of kindness.  But I also feel that most people don't try to live by this rule, or in any event, fail in trying to implement it.  I then realized that I might see things a little too black and white.  And Mr. Cob pointed out that I have all these thoughts that I really haven't thought through, which is true because they're just sort of floating in my head without having had any outlet or discussion in some time.   So now I'm trying to figure out what The Golden Rule really means and how to apply it in every day life.

Has anyone else noticed that when I have one question, it never gets answered, but rather just leads to ten additional questions?  Hum, funny how that happens.

And finally our talk turned to marriage and why people get married.  This conversation blew me away.  Mr. Cob has some interesting views and thoughts (although part of me wonders if he says things just to keep our conversations going and to get my all riled up and to really think about what I'm saying - you have to remember that the man is a litigator and argues for a living.  Then again, so do I. I have to stop for a moment and point out that I love the fact that my husband and I can have these insane conversations.)

So here's a question for you?  Why do people get married?  Why is marriage a religious ceremony more so than a legal ceremony (or is it)?  What does marriage add to society?

Our talk wound down the road to gay marriage and the reasons people oppose it, but I think that's a conversation for another day.  I'm now very curious to know why certain people get married.  Why did you?  Let me know your thoughts and I'll then fill you in on why I got married and what marriage means to me.