...one of the advantages of having a spectacularly huge friendslist is interesting articles on the history of same-sex marriage. Thanks to 
lilchiva on this one.
From the article:
Prof Boswell discovered that in addition to heterosexual marriage ceremonies in ancient church liturgical documents (and clearly separate from other types of non-marital blessings such as blessings of adopted children or land) were ceremonies called, among other titles, the "Office of Same Sex Union" (10th and 11th century Greek) or the "Order for Uniting Two Men" (11th and 12th century).
I want the church to get back to traditional Christian values, damnit.
lilchiva on this one.From the article:
Prof Boswell discovered that in addition to heterosexual marriage ceremonies in ancient church liturgical documents (and clearly separate from other types of non-marital blessings such as blessings of adopted children or land) were ceremonies called, among other titles, the "Office of Same Sex Union" (10th and 11th century Greek) or the "Order for Uniting Two Men" (11th and 12th century).
I want the church to get back to traditional Christian values, damnit.
You'd like that, wouldn't you. :P
See, I figured this little tidbit (which is hosted off the Irishtimes site in the above link, but which can be read on www.ireland.com if one signs up) might be useful for telling people like your father to just shut the heck up. ;)
(you need to register with the LA times I think to read this article)
(I'll point out that this is a joke, since I've had trouble in the past for assuming that strangers know where I'm coming from).
Consequently: Marriage ceremonies are secular creations.
And THAT is traditional.
-R