What do you think of having a Spritual Wedding instead of a Legally Binding Wedding?

Horrible idea.

Millions of people in our country are fighting for their right to marry each other, b/c marriage offers a myriad of legal, financial, and other benefits that you can't get any other way. Even a POA could be contested in court by a disgruntled immediate family member. Not that they would win, but it could cause a lot of uncertainty at a tragic time. Why would anyone deny themselves or their spouse the benefits that come with marriage? Not to mention any future children they have together? It seems very irresponsible to me.

God's outlook is good and all, but unfortunately it doesn't hold weight with a judge who's deciding whether or not you can keep the house you've lived in for 20 years when your spiritual spouse dies.

Okay here is the deal, remember this is just a theory:

Kids: if it's biologically both of yours, it shouldn't be a problem.

Home: If both of your names is on the DEED, then you have legal right to the house also.

Hospitalization, Legal Issues, Etc: Power of Attorney, Written Will, making sure your the beneficiary on related documents that requires you to have one.

Now the Plus of not being legally married: No hassle, or the question of what's rightfully yours or his. With the arrangement above, there is no question or a fight it gets split 50/50...Point Blank!!

...........that's what prenups are for...

I think anytime you split from anyone, there is going to be hassle, fight and question about what is yours or his. I've seen friends break up and move out.....plenty of hassles, fights and questions all around. Who paid for the couch, who paid the rental deposit, those are my dishes, that's my dog, yada yada.

I also think if someone is considering this b/c it might be easier to split up in the future, then that's not a true spiritual wedding either.

I feel like even if you do your best to cross all of your T's the way you mentioned above, there is still risk of error, omission, and challenges later on. And there are so many special circumstances- children from previous partners, and so on. It would be very hard to truly cover ALL of your bases the way a simple marriage license would.

Plus, I just still don't understand.....why would someone NOT want to be legally married? If they're truly committed....why? What's the point?

The only time I think this is understandable is in the case of same-sex couples whose home state does not recognize same-sex marriage. Otherwise, there are a lot of legal rights that go with being legally married. In some instances, the only other way to get those rights is through expensive legal documents--and even then, you risk not having them to hand when they are needed. In other instances (e.g., pension rights), there is no way to get them without being legally married.

And if you live together, buy things together, and have kids together, there will always be questions regarding what happens if you split. The bitterness will be the same. The only difference is that you won't be able to get the help of a court to sort it out.

If one goes to all that trouble to fill out document after document after document (you get my drift) just so one has the legal right to act as a spouse...then why not just get married and be the spouse? It doesn't make sense and seems like a lot or work just to say "We’re spiritually married and don’t need a piece of paper" because obviously, you do.

Is the concern that being legally married detracts from being spiritually married? That one is "better" than the other?

Is it really that big of a hassle to be legally married? I think it will be even a bigger hassle if you are only "spiritually" married. Just a question and I really don't mean this to come off rude, but if you are spiritual and are having a spiritual wedding why would you even think "I'll just lie to the doctor"? Just a question.

Yeah, I think we're all still confused as to what could possibly be the benefit of NOT being legally married if you are in fact planning to spend your lives together.

As it has been stated, there would in fact be a LOT of hassle over who owns what if you split up, and if you are going into your "spiritual" marriage thinking that you're going to split up later then it's not really a valid marriage now is it?

If their commitment is that weak, then don't bother. Just buy yourselves some cheap promise rings like a couple of naive high school students and be done with it.(this is not directed at you, it's just my response to anyone that would consider actually doing this)

Haha Janell, I wasn't going to ask why a preacher's wife would think that's a good thing to encourage...

I suppose the girl who was going to get have a civil marriage before her wedding so she wouldn't be "living in sin" with her FH should have just asked the minister to approve them as married on the spot then? so they could do the naughty?

I would also point out that if you are in a state that recognizes common law marriage, you might well end up legally married based on your spiritual ceremony and subsequent consummation.

@Jen...I'm not encouraging anything, I said agreed upon it in the eyes of God, it's he whom says if we're living in sin! It's he who judge according to his law, not the state! I just think it's an interesting idea! Being spiritually binding is soulfully based on love for one another, and not having some legal agenda, like most of today's marriage. I'm just trying to find some solution to this devastation we're hearing nowadays! Everyone is divorcing, what's happening?! They know if they had put God 1st, then it wouldn't have came to that!!

@Sharron...I'll do any and everything to see my Husband!! Just an option...LOL

If i wasn't legally married and not have done the legal arrangements I stated above!

I come from a very religious family full of Pastors who "put God first". I can pretty much guarantee the divorce rate in my family is at least the same as the national average, if not higher.

I just don't see any convincing argument for ditching our society's institution of marriage and the protections that come with it, to IMPROVE your spiritual marriage. It makes no sense to me. But, potayto, potahto.

FTR, my marriage will be equally based on soulful love for one another. But it will also be legal and recognized by the State where I live. Like I said, there are reasons people fight for this right. It has nothing to do with "legal agenda". It's commitment.

Hmmm well.. you could just divorce and then do a spiritual ceremony!!

@Everyone!! You guys just don't get it!! With God 1st there is only victory at the end, and yes with many struggles though!! If most of these couples had put God ahead of there LIFE, then there love wouldn't have been question! If they followed the good book called, "The Holy Bible", they would have more victories, and less disappointments! Speaking from personal experience!!! I love my husband, and thanks to God and my faith in God, we'll be together til death does us part, like it suppose to be!! If you believe, spiritually or legally!! That's TRUE LOVE!!! NO GAMES, NO SHOW, NO AGENDA!!!

But that wasn't your question, you asked if it was a good or bad idea to just have a spiritual ceremony, no legal documents.. It looks like most people agree it's not a good idea.

With my beliefs, the spiritual part of it is more important than the legal part, but not having the legal part would just cause too many problems!

Yes it was, and I also stated that I was trying to find a solution!!

You know what? You are absolutely right! Kim Kardashian SHOULD have just had a spiritual ceremony instead of a real marriage!! Then they wouldn't have had to have gotten divorced and, who knows? they may still be spiritually married.

@Alina...that's true too!! I'm just going to pray for these couples, because most of them have children. And this affects them also, you know!!