Originally Posted by Steinhauer

Yes, lots of non religious people are married. That is because governing bodies began regulating religious rites of passage, marriage being the one they could profit the most from. After governing bodies regulated marriage, which is inherently religious, it became secular.

States have always regulated who, and who cannot, get married. Before governing bodies became involved, it was families who made that decision, with the blessing from the mosque, temple, church etc.

The pilgrims fled to the new world when King Henry the VIII decided he did not like what the chuirch had to say about marriage, and appointed himself head of the church and began oppressing the religious. He tried to redefine the principles of marriage too - much like Obama is trying to do.