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Marry first cousins

Discussion in 'Pastoral Ministries' started by Jim1999, May 18, 2010.

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  1. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    It is legal in all Canadian provinces and in most states, but would you perform a wedding of first cousins?

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #1 Jim1999, May 18, 2010
  2. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Only 25 states allow first cousin marriage and of those, 6 allow it only under certain circumstances.

    Since I don't perform weddings, I can't quite say but I guess if it's legal, pastors should do it. Is there any biblical commands for/against cousin marriage?
     
    #2 annsni, May 18, 2010
  3. Thinkingstuff

    Thinkingstuff Active Member

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    No. I mean Abraham married his half sister, Isaac and Jacob married their cousins, and by the time we get to Joseph we finally get some normalacy in the bible. Yuck!!!!
     
    #3 Thinkingstuff, May 18, 2010
  4. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    I couldn't. I can see the counseling session now. I say, "Now, Billy Bob where did you meet Sue Ann?" "Well Pastor, I met her at our family reunion last spring and it was love at first sight." Plus, I can't help but what I think sometimes when I go to Wal-Mart and see some of the folks walking around. Inbreeding is not a good idea.
     
    #4 sag38, May 19, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: May 19, 2010
  5. labaptist

    labaptist Member
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    If I were a pastor I would warn them of the way socitey views such marriages but if everything else were ok (They were Christians, etc) I would perform the wedding. There's no biblical injunction on marrying cousins and in some cases the Bible seems to even encourage it in Numbers.
     
    #5 labaptist, May 19, 2010
  6. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Would you do the same thing for an interracial couple?

    I know we recently had a thread on that, but I cant find it off hand. Seems several said we should not worry about interracial marriage at all.
     
    #6 Salty, May 19, 2010
  7. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    This question came up about a year ago. Lets say a couple gets married, and adopts a child. In a few years, the couple has their own children, two or three. The question that came up is, would the adopted child be allowed to marry a cousin (in those states that do not allow it) or even a sister or brother since there is no biological connection? I had no idea. Anyone have any idea?
     
    #7 saturneptune, May 19, 2010
  8. Mississippi John

    Mississippi John Member

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    Now that's a tough one for me Jim... I'll think on it and git back to ya soon.
     
    #8 Mississippi John, May 19, 2010
  9. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    In those states that allow marriage between first cousins, often a blood test is involved, so I would suspect an adopted child would qualify for marriage.

    Wisdom enters into the picture, in my mind. We are hard pressed to find biblical opposition, but the Roman Church forbade it in the 14th century and the catholic churches followed suite, including the Church of England and the Lutheran churches.

    Having said this, the Church of England overlooked the ruling in favour of aristocracy, the Lords, etc, and royalty who often married first cousins to maintain lineage.

    I still don't know what I would do if faced with the circumstance. In favour of doubt, I would prolly refuse to marry anyone so related by blood.

    Cheers, and thanks for the honesty,

    Jim
     
    #9 Jim1999, May 20, 2010
  10. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    There is no injunction against such marriage in the OT. Probably this is because the people living in that time had no real understanding of genetics and the potential dangers in producing children from such a union. It is genetics that led to the banning of such marriages this is still true.
     
    #10 Crabtownboy, May 20, 2010
  11. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    But if the Lord thought that marriage was a bad thing between cousins, he would have forbidden it. Even if Iseral did not understand the reason.
    Likewise - did the Children of Iseral understand why ..."Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof:..." (Lev 11:4) ? Or did they just simply obey the command of God?
     
    #11 Salty, May 20, 2010
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