I remember while living in Greece, I wanted a Civil ceremony and was told that they weren't performed there, and that if I had one anywhere else, it would have been considered illegal in Greece. My husband and I were forced to have a religious ceremony, and even more complicated since we were of different religions, I had to convert to his, at least going so far as to be baptized in it. I resented the whole thing, and still do.

Civil Ceremonies are surely the answer, at least in countries not supposedly ruled by theocracies. The problem is that god has never been totally out of the picture in the United States from it's inception. So religion is part of our way of life, every time someone says "So help me God" (yes, I know one can affirm rather than swear in court) or pledges alliegence "Under God", or uses money that states "In God We Trust".

I continue to follow what will happen with the law on this, because it'll go a long way in convincing me there is still a chance for us to begin acting like a Human Community.

Then again, as El Greko says in another post...Whoops! There flies another pig!..xx..e