If marriage is a religious institution, how come atheists and other non-Christians can get married?

The Internet and people like you will eventually destroy all such prejudiced notions as marriage being an exclusively Judeo-Christian institution confined to straight religious couples. Keep doing what you're doing.

That's just it. Marriage is a civil contract.

there are many religions that are not christian.

It's not a religious institution. It's a civil contract between two people and the state in which they are getting married. No religious ceremony is required. If people want one that's up to the couple getting married. AD: Persecuted where? In Saudi Arabia they are. In America Christians are a very privileged group. Their claiming persecution is risible.

1. Marriage is a religious AND a political institution: hence why there are tax breaks and other benefits that come along with getting married. 2. There are other religions that have ceremonies for "marriage" other than just Christianity. 3. No, Christians are NOT being persecuted. Are you crazy? Christianity is the religion of the majority of the United States. How on Earth can you think that they are being persecuted. 4. If you're referring to whether or not homosexuals should be allowed to get married, you sir, are barking up the wrong tree. How does the marriage of homosexuals hurt Christians in ANY way? It doesn't. If anything, heterosexuals have done enough to damage the state of the institution of marriage without the help of homosexuals. We get divorced, we commit adultery, we abuse and murder our spouses...how would having homosexuals get the tax breaks and everything else that goes along with getting married hurt heterosexuals. It wouldn't.

Men and women were "married" ie: committed to each other for life, before courthouses and documents ever existed. Marriage to me is a commitment before GOD to be with that person for life through better or worse. God does not require documents only the commitment from your heart.

>>how come you can have ceremonies in church until you are blue in the face but the state won't recognise it until the legal documents are signed?<< Uh, because it is the STATE? How come Catholics can have ceremonies in city hall until they are blue in the face but the Catholic Church won't recognize it until they marry according to Catholic Church law? I can use your reasoning to argue marriage is a Catholic institution (which not even the Catholic Church claims).