Like many on this forum, I despise the current marriage systems of the world. I don't like the idea of being "married by" someone, as that would be as if I was agreeing that he had authority to do so, and that his actions meant anything in relation to the marriage itself. I also don't believe that the governments of this world have any right to grant or prohibit marriage, whether to one wife or one thousand. I do not wish to honor their prohibition of marriage... what is known as a doctrine of demons.
However, I also have the issue of being in an area that doesn't acknowledge marriage except by civil authorities. Having kids without such can mean that hospitals will abort the pregnancy in some of these countries, as no one recognizes the marriage and thus consider it evil. There is also the issue of visas and such. The question is, how can an American have something accepted as stating that there is a marriage, without going through the marriage license system?
However, I also have the issue of being in an area that doesn't acknowledge marriage except by civil authorities. Having kids without such can mean that hospitals will abort the pregnancy in some of these countries, as no one recognizes the marriage and thus consider it evil. There is also the issue of visas and such. The question is, how can an American have something accepted as stating that there is a marriage, without going through the marriage license system?