>>11902234 pb

>>11902308 pb

Marriage has a special status in civil society. The purpose of government licensing is to clarify who is and who is not married, not to define marriage itself. The law recognizes and does not create the social institution of marriage.

The license is a type of witnessing of the special relationship type and, in the particular, acknowledgement of the particular instance of a marital relationship.

The key is the special reason for the special status of marriage in our society.

IF there is no such special reason, then, the marriage law becomes superfluous in terms of the social institution being recognized.

So, what is that special reason if you think the government is the primary party in the arrangement?

Or, perhaps, you deny there is a special status and so forego the justification via a special reason for that status.

>>11903826

Touche.

Brilliant and concise.

>>11903899

Marriage pre-dates the state governments. The special status of marriage pre-dates governments.

Overlaying the anti-mixing ideas is just that, an overlaying and not a defining. When such notions are imposed with the force of law, it actually runs against the special reason for the special status of marriage in society.

>>11904025

What act would be illegal if not licensed by a marriage license?