If Church and State are separate why do we need a marriage license?

[Bill G]

I believe the law says that the government can make no laws regarding religion, marriage is a religious practice between a man, a woman and God, so why does the government have their hands in it?
If marriage is not a religious practice, someone needs to inform the pope and rewrite the Bible. A civil union is just an excuse for the queer government of today. 240 years ago trials were held in church, the government is just trying to step on religion more and more.
It is totally amazing how brainwashed people are today by our screwed up government, our constitution has nearly been totally striped from us, and the flock just bends over and takes it!

[Roy K]

Government should only make civil unions . Marraiges should be up to private organizations .

Rev. Al ... The Law does not support all 10 commandments .( Thou shalt not put false gods before you .) Some laws may have certain elements of the ten commandments in them . So What ! ?

[elbeekanob]

Marriage is NOT a religious practice except in the sense that the church recognize the marriage. However, you are not married until the ceremony is filed with the county where you live.

In fact, you don't even need to be married in church nor have your marriage blessed. You don't even have to believe in a god to get married. It is and always will be a civil ceremony.

[jeriuana]

because marriage is the common term meaning 'civil union'. You have to be able to prove you and another are joined together, a lot of things are affected by it; taxes, insurance, other bs....

[spike misses debra]

marriage is a legal contract as well, which affects taxes and the distribution of assets-that aspect of marriage ($$$$) is extremely important to the government..but, the government as nothing to do with the religious aspects of marriage...the government is involved with the civil union, not the holy one; thus, there is no constitutional violation

[Jezebel CT]

What world are you from? A marriage license has nothing to do with religion.
It's to show that your competent enough to get married legally.

[Jerry G]

thats not a proper question there is the possibility of getting married on a boat as far as i no now i got back up for my theory i gave my dad permision to control all boats but i havent got the funds for it quite yet

could you refrase the question

[midnitepoets]

b/c marraige is both religious and a state matter.

[liberalinthedesertaz2]

because marriage isnt a religious practice,its a legal agreement. A marriage license is simply a way for the govt to tax people...nothing more nothing less...

and btw I am an atheist and I got married....I didnt have god in my marriage... why add god to the mix?

[hmmmm]

I think that it is related to disease prevention and other sordid reasons.