| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
PaxLibano
France
39 Posts |
 Posted - 07/03/2005 : 2:16:39 PM
|
The Global Organization for Democratic Believers is currently putting together in collaboration with the CDL a workshop and a paper on Interconfessional marriages.
Rather than concentrating just on the dialogues between various sects, the workshop will try to discern what some of the next initiatives and directions are which we should take in the movement toward the greater visible unity of the Lebanese society.
From a wealth of suggestions made in the earlier meetings and workshops, the following questions emerged as deserving careful attention by our joint group:
What are the ways into greater visible unity of the Lebanese society, and what are the factors of form and substance which hinder or help that movement?
What is the relation between the experience of religious unity, theology and shari3a, theological agreement (consensus), and societal unity?
What role do confessions play for members of the group in interconfessional and intraconfessional movements toward greater visible unity?
What are the styles of religious practice which hold communities together or keep them separate? Is there actually a common reformed practice, theological tradition, polity or ethos which holds us together or keeps us apart from others? Is there one that joins two theologies together?
What are some of the actual expressions of fellowship occurring on the local level, and how can we share and evaluate them to our mutual enrichment?
What initiatives ought we to take next vis-à-vis eastern sects of various religions in the Middle East?
What initiatives ought we to take vis-à-vis couples married across two religions and those intending to cross religious barriers?
No effort was made to formulate anything like a position-paper on any of these large questions, since the purpose of the previous workshops was exploratory discussion. There were however discernible trends to our discussion, for example on how we may see the relation between koinonia, shari3a and consensus as exemplified in proposals presently before the Christians, Muslims and the Jews in the West. |
|
|
zys
Lebanon
35 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2005 : 04:42:27 AM
|
I am totally with interconfessional marriages because this will help merge better the lebanese groups into one society and will on the long run ease the tensions between different sects of the lebanese people. This is the door towards a real secular state.
________________________________________________________________________
I pledge allegiance for the lebanese flag and the republic it represents: united citizens with no religious & ethnic segregation, in one country under God, indivisible, free and fair.
أقسم بالولاء للعلم اللبناني والجمهورية التي يمثلها : مواطنون متحدون من دون تمييز مذهبي أو عرقي في أمّة واحدة خاضعة لله غير مقسـّمة, حرّة و عادلة |
 |
|
|
The Whip
42 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2005 : 1:52:39 PM
|
Pax,
Can you give us please an update on the incentive initiative in this regard? I have submitted the proposal to Sen. Lugar and Biden's offices.
The plans for NPO are going as planned. We are expecting to hold a fundraiser event in early September and we begin solliciting applications in January 2006.
I would like also to hear from the members of this forum, their opinions on the matters you highlighted. |
|
|
|
Reformist
20 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2005 : 12:08:17 AM
|
Civil marriage is incredibly important to the overall secularism of the state.
Marriage is one of the main pillars in the sectarian barrier that prevents our people from becoming one.
By proposing civil marriage, we are encouraging greater interaction between the various communities of Lebanon, which will deepen the understanding and allay any old misconceptions and fears of one another.
This initiative has our full endorsement, and if any support is required, we are happy to deliver.
http://www.reformlebanon.com |
|
|
|
PaxLibano
France
39 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2005 : 6:04:02 PM
|
Brief update on the incentive plan:
- A grant/loan program to facilitate the merger (civil marriage in a foreign country until we can get it in Lebanon). Loan if no kids are born to the marriage within the first 5 years or if they divorce in the first 5 years.
- Housing loans and low interest financing packages.
- A gift/grant per child of the marriage.
- Plans to provide grants/loans to support children through the age of 18, including schooling, food and clothes.
- Married couples have to be of different religions (categories): recognizing 4 categories in Lebanon: Christian, Muslim, Jewish and non-religious (secular, atheist, agnostic, etc.)
- Form a specialized committee to oversee application process.
- Committee to be formed by Decmber 05; Application process to begin by January 06.
- Work to facilitate civil marriage in neighboring countries or off the Lebanese shores (boats, floats).
- Find formulas that will be acceptable by the various religious communities in Lebanon to facilitate inter-confessional mergers.
On the questions I put forth to you, let us take them one at a time:
What are the ways into greater visible unity of the Lebanese society, and what are the factors of form and substance which hinder or help that movement?
These ways are many and of course they include marriage. I would like to hear your opinion on other ways too (joint schooling, playing etc.) but I will focus on marriage:
For when a child is the fruit of the merger of 2 people coming from 2 different religious background, that child will learn about both backgrounds and will learn to respect them. That child will be a citizen embodying in himself (or herself) the meaning of national unity. |
|
|
|
mehio
Lebanon
10 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2005 : 12:09:39 PM
|
This is a No No. I am all for unity of Lebanon and for all of us living in peace together, but why do you guys have to take it to marriage?
Let each religion marry according to its beliefs. No need for civil marriages and stuff. I think personally it is a heracy. |
|
|
|
Jean
Lebanon
50 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2005 : 11:22:51 PM
|
This sounds great Pax. Tell me where do I sign in. I am all for programs that strengthen unity and keep families here in Lebanon.
I think this kind of program will give hope to couples who in many cases face family desertion and social taboos. It is time someone offer them a hand of support.
Mehio: Why are you opposed to it? Are you saying that if 2 people love each other and really want to marry each other but they happen to be of different religions, they should not be allowed to get married? Why?
I think it is happening today in Lebanon. If you can afford it, you will go to Cyprus or Europe and get married. If you can't afford it you get frustrated because no one will support you. This incentive program will really help those couples. |
|
|
|
Reformist
20 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2005 : 06:26:49 AM
|
Depriving someone the choice to marry someone regardless of their religious background is depriving a right, which is unacceptable in a democratic country.
Religious institutions can continue to practice their beliefs regardless, however the state is not a religious institution and has a responsibility to all its citizens. The state must provide a civil marriage authority that will recognise the union of a couple, and grant them the financial privileges and status attributed to all married couples. Anything other than that is discrimination.
We officially support civil marriage and it is on our website http://www.reformlebanon.com/civil_marriage1.htm
PaxLibano,
As for your question, may I emphasise that producing a society in which every Lebanese feels equal, every Lebanese feels free to live their own lifestyle, every Lebanese feels secure, and every Lebanese feels they BELONG to Lebanon, an entire reform program must be implemented that tackle every aspect of Lebanese life, including political, economic and social.
In reference to social reforms, education is probably the most pivotal. The schools of Lebanon need to adhere to a single education system, and every Lebanese should receive the same education wherever they are in the country. When we begin breeding generations that are full of knowledge and awareness, then the tribalism will simply die off with the older generations.
As I said, you cannot simply look at one aspect and hope that it will simply cause a domino effect. Lebanon in its entirety needs change from bottom up and therefore we need to look at a whole range of issues that are preventing Lebanon from prospering and uniting, and civil marriage and education are but a few selected items from the basket.
On ReformLebanon, we have attempted to tackle a variety of issues that we deem important to change.
|
|
|
|
PaxLibano
France
39 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2005 : 7:41:39 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Reformist
...an entire reform program must be implemented that tackle every aspect of Lebanese life, including political, economic and social.
Dear Reformist,
I agree with you. But we cannot do it all at one time and dicuss it all in one topic. All the things you listed are needed. I chose to focus on marriage.
Currently in Lebanon, the state does not offer civil marriage. How do we help couples with mixed religious backgrounds? Do we wait for the state or do we take the initiative in the private sector? A state program for civil marriage will be welcome. But until then, we are putting together a private initiative to help "GROW LOVE" instead of hate and war between the different religious communities in Lebanon. The program we are proposing will offer procedural and financial support for mixed couples who seek civil marriage and need to go outside Lebanon to do it (in the form of help with paperwork and grants or loans). We even propose to support financially their children growing in Lebanon through a certain age.
This is a practical proposition and one that can start today. We can't wait for the government to take action.
I'd appreciate it if you would limit the discussion in this thread to the issue of marriage in Lebanon. Thank you. |
|
|
|
Reformist
20 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2005 : 05:16:41 AM
|
PaxLibano,
I understand what you're saying, but where would the money to fund these programs come from?
I am all for it, but so long as it's practical and realistic.
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Inter-Confessional Marriages
Forum Locked
