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He's just saying he doesn't want a religious element in his ceremony. For every marriage to be legally binding, there has to be a registrar there. In countries such as Germany, the registrar never comes into the church meaning that if you want both a legal and religious blessing, you have to hold separate ceremonies in the place of worship and the registry office.

Hmm. Kind of like when my parents split up. I personaly would rather have marrege first. At least then I got an item to use for gaining sympathy. And, I follow the rules of my belief system and tradition. I beleive in marrege, but yeah I get you on that, I think.

Yo, Christian here!

There's nothing inherently good or bad about diversity. It does make for a stronger gene-pool, and creates more pavillions at the food court. New Zealanders, weren't the Maori there before you? Like the Natives over here in Canada, they may be on tough times now, but that's because of European expansion. The white man drove the Native into poverty and now blames them for being "depraved."

High-five!

I honestly wouldn't have a problem if New Zealand and the UK only sold British food. Ok, it might get boring if people don't search hard for food of British origin, but this is a price worth paying to preserve our native culture.

I don't see why we need a stronger gene pool. Both the UK and New Zealand have populations of sufficient size to make the risk of inbreeding very low. Also, Japan is one of the most homogenous countries in the world, but it almost always seems to come out top among the major nations for life expectancy.

As for the Maoris, saying that they were there at the time of the European arrival is a huge oversimplification.

Firstly, they weren't the first inhabitants: - the Maoris intermarried with a tiny number of Mori-Ori and drove some to the Chatham Islands, but otherwise committed acts of mass genocide against the rest.

Secondly, there are no pure-blooded Maoris left, as they intermarried fairly readily. As a result, Maori land claims could be rephrased as, "I'm claiming against you for what one of my great-grandfathers did to one of my other great-grandfathers". If you live in New Zealand and you have the slightest trace of Maori ancestry, you can claim all sorts of free money. My cousins (incidentally both anti-Maori) have 1/16 Maori ancestry (i.e. not much), but they were able to claim substantial Maori scholarships as a result.

Thirdly, the Maoris' plight is their own fault. Michael Palin mentioned in "Full Circle" that the arrival of European weapons meant they were able to kill each other in larger numbers. They are a very work-shy people (as Kiri Te Kanawa, a famous Maori opera singer commented) and they are very predisposed to committing crimes (as statistics will show), which is why they are so poor.

I don't see why the Maoris can't work to better their lot. In the UK, Jews control huge proportions of the UK's wealth on account of their financial know-how. Similarly, many Indians have come over the UK with nothing but the clothes they were wearing, but due to hard work and know-how, they control an enormous proportion of the country's wealth. Similarly, in New Zealand, East Asians control most of the country's wealth. If East Asians with no ancestral connections to the land can accumulate huge fortunes very quickly, there is no reason why the Maoris can't do that too. It is the same in Canada: - East Asians control most of the wealth in western cities like Vancouver.

Interesting. Doesn't it count that the dominant British culture you like so much murdered, stole and raped to impose their "superiority" on others?

I live in a place where white, British culture is dominant. Domestic violence, incest (child rape of daughters) alcohol and drug abuse are common. I guess the genes that influence violence and arrogance towards the rights of others are still alive and well.

I'm Catholic, a convert. Was originally a Pentecostal. Jesus is still my Lord and Savior.

If Jesus is still your Lord and Saviour, then you are saved by faith. What lead you to approve of Catholicism as better than Protestantism though?

I personally cringe when I hear, "Holy Mary, Mother of God" I know she was the physical bearer of Christ who is both God and man, but giving her that title is, as far as I'm concerned, blasphemous. She is, in a sense, mother of God because she gave physical birth to the Son. However, she did NOT give birth to God the Father or God the Holy Spirit, so the title "Mother of God" is not completely valid and I think it shouldn't be used.

Catholics call Mary the Mother of God not as a title of worship. We believe that when Mary gave birth to Jesus, it was with both Human and Divine natures which cannot be separted. We don't believe that Mary is above Christ in any way.

There are different reasons why became a Catholic. I like the History and tradition within the Catholic Church. I beleive that the Early Church of the first centuries was Catholic in theology and doctrine. I also like the coherence of the Catholic Church and doctrinal unity as opposed to the doctrinal confusion among Protestant denominations. I have problems with the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura. I believe that there needs to be an magisterium that has the final word on doctrine and dogma tp keep unity.

I would have thought that if the existence of God was an absolute truth, there would be no need to have a magisterium to keep unity. It seems to me that a belief in the existence of God should be strong enough to bear examination from many perspectives, after all, if you examine a chair, from above, below, beside, beneath and on top it reveals many characteristics and qualities but they are all "chair". Surely God does not have fewer facets than chair. I also would have thought that revelations of the behaviours of many priests and the machinations of the Vatican would be enough to enable people to see that these guys are fallible and that their views may be as subject to personal prejudice and ambition as anyone else. Think for yourselves guys.

Trying to understand the Holy Trinity is like bashing your head against a brick wall. There are some things we humans just cannot fathom, were not meant to fathom. The mystery of the Holy Trinity ... to me that is proof that there is a higher mind, a higher order of thought in the universe.

Indeed God has not fewer facets than a chair, but infinitely more! This is not a good comparison, since a chair is mundane & finite. God is transcendant and limitless. God has no characteristics, since He resides in all things and moves all things. Belief in God isn't the same as lacking self-directed or independant thought. This does not make you stupid, although it won't make you inherently smarter.

If god has more facets than a chair, I consider that even more reason why there should not be an attempt to define how people worship and what they should believe. I think cargo cults offer an explanation of the concept of god.

I just blogged about my grandfather. I do try not to be like him. It really makes me mad when people tell me I'm like that. My favoriteverse, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." I love it because it helped maintain my sanity. It's a reminder of what a silly little material world this is.

A myth: "When a Christian is shareing part of his beliefs with you, he is forceing you." Most Christians I know are NOT forceful at all!

I'm not thinking of a Pegan friend I have though. We can get along. No, we don't force each other in any respect. It would be disrespectful if I only share a verse I like, and she gets down my throat with "I don't want to hear it! Can't you see I don't want to be converted?!" No, I think we both know better. Not accusing anybody, just saying what I'm thinking. Despute has been ticking me off a bit lately

I am a Lutheran, and that actually *fueled* my progressivism and liberalism.