English Language Discussion Forums

Egyption Arrow · #1 10-Apr-2008, 20:27

In the name of the Merciful Allah,
Hi guys, could you please help me with this paragraph:" Aurelie's marriage, three weeks away, will take place in a church, but for reasons of convention, not faith. " Just because I'm getting married in a church, that doesn't mean my marriage is going to last any longer," she says, still breathless from a bout of sit-ups. "God? That's for the day of marriage."
Let me ask first about the Aurelie's first utterance, what I can get that making her marriage in a church is not the only cause to get it successful, do I get it wrong? Also, if you understand any thing about her question"God?", please tell me. And, thank you in advance.

**Anglika** · #2 10-Apr-2008, 23:13

Aurelie, who seems to be a doubter about faith, does not believe that a marriage carried out in a church will last any longer or better than a marriage in a registry office. She will go with being married in church, but not because she believes in God.

Egyption Arrow · #3 10-Apr-2008, 23:57

I'm always grateful for you, Anglika. I still don't understand the question: "God?" If you're concerned about the whole context, Aurelie was doing some exercises in front of the cathedral, where she would marry, I don't know why, probably to reduce her stress of this event. Besides, "That's for the day of marriage", as I guess, was said to express that going to church this day is for the day of marriage no more, do you agree?

**Anglika** · #4 11-Apr-2008, 00:02

"God? That's for the day of the marriage."

"God?" is essentially a rhetorical question, and she is not seeking a direct answer to it.

To paraphrase = Religion so far as I am concerned can be reduced to the ritual of the marriage service.
So yes, your interpretation is right.

What is the book?

Egyption Arrow · #5 12-Apr-2008, 22:47

Sorry, Anglika, my reply is late. This excerpt is from an article written for Newsweek magazin on the faith in Europe, several years ago.
To be sure I got you wright, this rhetorical question expresses how atheist she is,ok?

susiedqq · #6 12-Apr-2008, 22:59

You said she was exercising in front of the church. How did you come to that conclusion?

The sentences read like she was being interviewed - perhaps it was in a gym or exercise workout place.

Egyption Arrow · #7 12-Apr-2008, 23:16

Right now I don't have the magazin. But tomorrow, by god willing, I'll write you the whole passage that relates to Aurelie.

susiedqq · #8 12-Apr-2008, 23:43

An atheist does not believe in any God. An agnostic has no feeling on that issue, one way or the other. This girl does believe in God.

She is just saying that on the day of her marriage, she will be married in a church, in front of God. But she is not sure how that will help her in the next days and years, after the marriage ceremony. She says that being married in the church is no guarantee that the marriage will last or be a good one.

Apparently, she lives in a country where she is allowed to make those decisions (who to marry and whether to marry in the church, and the role of religion in her future life)

**Anglika** · #9 13-Apr-2008, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by susiedqq

An atheist does not believe in any God. An agnostic has no feeling on that issue, one way or the other. This girl does believe in God.

She is just saying that on the day of her marriage, she will be married in a church, in front of God. But she is not sure how that will help her in the next days and years, after the marriage ceremony. She says that being married in the church is no guarantee that the marriage will last or be a good one.

Apparently, she lives in a country where she is allowed to make those decisions (who to marry and whether to marry in the church, and the role of religion in her future life)

Did you find the article?

Egyption Arrow · #10 13-Apr-2008, 20:34

Outside the cathedral's carved doors, a crowd watches a bizarre rite of passage. To celebrate the final days of freedom before her wedding, Aurelie L, wearing aerobics gear, surrounded by cheering friends, armed with bowling pins, scuba flippers and weights, is exercising in front of Notr Dame. Aurelie's marriage, three weeks away, will take place in a church, but for reasons of convention, not faith. "Just because I'm getting married in a church, that doesn't mean my marriage is going to last any longer," she says, still breathless from a bout of sit-ups. "God? That's for the day of marriage."
This is the whole paragraph from the article I told you about, under the title" Lost Faith", dated July 12, 1999.
By the way, I still don't know, what is the point of this rhetorical question: "God?"?