The reason the state recognizes marriage is less about religion than about property rights and simply continuing to do the things that people have always done. That is, subjugating women to men in order to maintain social order. With men on top, of course.

Did you see the ludicrous discussion on my Facebook post that prompted this LJ post? I bet that fella would have a thing or two to say about your crazy ideas about personal liberties ;-)

See the description of my crypto-refs elsewhere on this post.