No. Because many societies have marriage that are not religious. Thus, anyone can get married. The only difference would be that it doesn’t matter to the government. This would be for both straight and gay couples, religious and non-religious couples.

Hence, agreements between the individuals themselves regarding their rights would govern when it comes to state enforcement. What you call your commitment is your decision, not the government’s.

Why is a marriage certificate important? Because it is the piece of paper you file with the state that gives you all these rights and obligations under the law. If the state no longer is involved with marriage, then the marriage certificate loses its importance. You can still have the commitment without the certificate.

The government should not be the thing you look towards to validate your relationship. Isn’t this what same-sex marriage proponents argue? “You can’t tell me who I can love and who I can marry.” Well, then fine. If no one’s marriage is recognized, then the state can’t tell you who you can marry because it won’t care.

Which goes into the next point that you can still be a family without the government recognizes the “foundation” of the family (i.e. “married parents”). Parents will still be responsible for the welfare of their children, as it ought to be.

Can’t answer your question about meaningless “non-religious marriages” because it’s based on an assumption I didn’t make.

Divorce? Again, that should be dealt with by individual agreement. It happens now even with marriages, for example – prenups and other agreements made during marriage.

The family as a unit is more than just whether the mom and dad are married. The state has an interest in protecting the welfare of the children that can be separated from “divorce” proceedings. This is obvious by the fact that there are many procedures already in place regarding the children of unmarried couples now. So, not much would change.

I don’t need the government to validate my relationships. And there are mechanisms available to me to ensure that the people I care about are taken care of without having to rely on things outside contract, trust, and wills law.

I am not saying that my way is the “right” way, but it’s the clearest way, to me, of getting everyone the same rights and obligations under the law, as is meant by equal protection.

Further, if the state removes itself from marriage, what then of divorce? How will the disollution of a family be delt with when there is no state interest in the family as a unit?

(There’s a SPAM museum?)