The more you marry “in” to a community, the more a religion and culture is continued. This is why ultra-Orthodox Jews, for example, only want to marry other Jews.

I find the decline of religion in liberal democracies, which is often decried, quite fascinating. It strikes me that once people are free to do as they wish they no longer need the social/familial structures imposed by religion, and they no longer need the rationalisations and rules set down by religion to help them accept their surroundings.

My kids can marry whomever they like and be friends with whomever they like. The only downside is that religion can give you a community, and provide ceremonies for life’s important events.

And this is exactly what we need to address!! Rebuilding civil society and the local and neighbourhood community around a secular core, rather than the go-to-church-or-burn core.

I’d agree that we should celebrate everyone’s religious ceremonies - but only because we need more time off!

My grandpa was Protestant and my grandmother was Catholic. They had a very negative reaction from their families when they married. Only grandma’s brother Mick came to the wedding. And then the local priest abused my grandmother for “marrying out” when my father was born. She still believed in God, she was still a Catholic to her dying day (and was buried as one) but she didn’t make her children adopt her religion.

So now my Dad’s “no religion”, and I’m “no religion” as well. Hoorah for no religion! My kids can marry whomever they like and be friends with whomever they like. The only downside is that religion can give you a community, and provide ceremonies for life’s important events.

My Jewish and Muslim friends always give me Christmas presents many years, even when I ask them not to do so. I think they feel sorry for me because I don’t really have any religious festivals to celebrate. I don’t mind. I’ll just celebrate everyone’s religious festivals with them!