The solution to this problem is of course to remove all mention of 'marriage' in
the law and give everyone 'civil unions' which of course would be legally the
same as the previous definition of 'marriage' without the man and woman
requirement.
Let the churches figure out if they want to marry two dudes or two women
but keep the government out of it.
In one respect I disagree. 'Marriage' should be the secular term for the
social/legal commitment made. Whatever additional ceremonies are performed,
whether making a promise to a deity or hugging a tree, they shouldn't be
allowed to call it 'marriage'.
I think it is atrocious in this day and age that religious organisations are
allowed to belittle and undermine a couple's commitment to each other
just because it wasn't sanctified by a clergyman. In their warped, jumped-up
little minds they think the ceremony is the important part. They're dead
fucking wrong.
From a societal/legal standpoint, the ceremony is completely insignificant; it
is the commitment that is of total importance, and it should be this which is
awarded the label of 'marriage'. The ceremony held by a clergy is just a piece
of theatre to make the bride feel important for a day, and it's about time this
was made absolutely clear to everyone involved.
TLDR: The church can go fuck itself.