I like David F's critical analysis here.

You could see separation of church and state as a philosophy like any other religious philosophy- with no particular superiority.

A peoples philosophy doesn't always have to be completely consistent- there is some asymmetry in this case as there are in all cases.

I agree with the Israel approach in this particular case. Every culture should have their own nation.

There are particular issues in Israel, Tibet, etc that complicate things. Perhaps the sacred sites around Jerusalem could become stateless museum zones and Israel moved a short distance to a less contested area.

Many problems would be reduced with less people in the world.

Should people have the right to diversity or should people have a right to stability and self determination.

It's all pretty arbitrary. This leads one to Existentialism and further to Nihilism.

Traditional values seem to be a good place to go back to. Village cultures are much simpler places.

Diversity and mass culture creates and breeds a lot of unnecessary complexity.

The Unabomber said that "technology creates slavery under the guise of freedom".

The technology of industrialism requires mass society

Dear David,

Israel does not claim or pretend to be a "western democracy", only a "democracy".

You can say many things against some Israeli laws, and I am also shuddered by that law which makes a religious ceremony (of marriage, by unauthorised people) a criminal offense. Nevertheless, not only is Israel a democracy, but its electoral system is far more democratic than the Australian. The laws which we both hate, were legislated democratically by the people's legitimate representatives.

It is also a criminal offense in Israel to expose a Jewish minor (under 18) to the New Testament. I presume that you would gladly approve that particular law.

The elephant in the room is, WHAT ANYWAY IS "MARRIAGE"?

It is easy for Australia to allow marriage between almost anyone and anything because "marriage" has been emptied of meaning over the decades and matters no longer. You want to say that you are "married"? Here, pay a small fee and we give you a paper to that effect. You no longer want to be considered "married"? no problem, pay another fee and we will give you another paper...

In Australia today, unmarried people can legally do everything that married people do and married people can do everything that unmarried people can. My suggestion is that the word "marriage" (and its grammatical derivatives) be erased from all legislation, that marriage/divorce should no longer be administered by the state and be left for the private discretion of anyone still interested.

P.S. Due to COVID-19, Israel's Knesset is now debating (currently in the committee stage) the recognition of marriages performed on the grounds of foreign embassies/consulates. This new law has good prospects to pass.

I have a right to object to the laws of Israel because Israel claims to speak for me even though I am neither a citizen nor a resident of Israel.

I oppose Self-determination. If a nation is formed on a particular religious or ethnic paradigm those who do not share that paradigm are in danger of becoming second class citizens, and I think nobody should be a second-class citizen.

I do not approve of laws making it a criminal offense to expose a minor to the New Testament. I approve of laws that require children to be taught critical thinking.

As long as there are no children marriage need not be the business of the state. However, children should be protected from parents, the state or any other menace.

Israel claims to be a democracy. I can claim to be a horse. Even if you believe my claim I am not a horse.

Yuyutsu,

You ask "What anyway is marriage?"

A: It's hell. Try it and find out for yourself.

Chuckle. chuckle, chuckle.

But on a serious note it is basically a socially recognized contract acknowledging sexual relations and the rights and duties accruing from procreation.

Civil marriage was introduced into Australia
in 1973.

Same Sex marriage in 2017.

Foxy,

Have you run across simpau marriage?