How and why do atheists get married when marriage is religious?

Tax breaks, health care benefits, tradition, etc. I love to celebrate the Christmas holiday even though everyone knows that Jesus is nothing more than a character in a fairy tale and that the christian mind control cult stole the celebration from the so called pagans. In fact, pretty much every major aspect of the christian mind control cult was taken from these "pagan" cults that predate the christian cult by hundreds, if not thousands, of years. The virginal birth, the death, the resurrection, and even your beloved cross, ALL stolen from the pagans and incorporated into the christian mind control cult to make it easier to indoctrinate people into the cult.

You are mistaken. Marriage is not religious. Marriage is legal, and recognized by the government and conveys certain rights as far as inheritance, taxes are concerned. People cannot get married by any officiant legally, unless that officiant is registered and licensed by the state to perform marriages. No gods required.

First of all, the Bible does not ordain marriage. It suggests that a man and a woman stay together for their whole lives, but that's it. It says nothing at all about promising it in front of some sort of official before having sex. Secondly, marriage has social benefits (everyone knows you're together), and fiscal benefits. And thirdly, atheists are probably overrepresented in couples living together unmarried.

marriage isn't religious. The licenses and recognitions are entirely secular. You can choose a religious officiant and ceremony if you like, but don;t have to. Oh and read that Bible of yours and you'll see marriage was far different back then, including polygamy, incest, and underage brides with nary a church or minister in sight.

So, you think that other religions don't have marriage? My husband and I have been married six years. Why? Taxes, kids, joint accounts, medical insurance, car insurance, etc., etc. Don't be stupid. Christians don't hold the patent on marriage.

Marriage is not religious, you can get married in a courthouse by a judge and then you get all sorts of tax and legal benefits, especially if you want children. Marriage was created by men, and has changed over human history, and now this is the place where it is, and it makes perfect sense for atheists to consider doing it.

It's more about being recognized by the state. It's political not religious. And it represents union, a bond, commitment. You dont have to be religious for that.

Marriage was a legal contract long before it was a religious thing.

Marriage has been around since well before Moses's time. It used to be known as handfasting, was primarily a fertility ceremony intended to help with having children and lasted only "as long as love shall last between ye both". Atheists get married today in civil ceremonies, for the (undeserved) privileged legal status that it confers; and the day that all co-habitating couples get exactly the same rights as married couples will see fewer marriages.