I have a question…
Yes, my love? Ask your question.
Were your Taiwanese friends who got married at that chapel, Christian?
No.
Oh, so they were all your Taiwanese Buddhist friends?
Yes.
So they’re Buddhist… but they got married in a chapel?
Is it a real Chapel though? It’s just some glass and tables and chairs. What difference does it make?!
(Laughing so hard at this)… You don’t think it makes a big difference?
I would be totally weirded out if you’re saying right now that you need a traditional chapel with like a priest or whatever — then we are incompatible. I thought you were Atheist. I have a Christian cousin. I have Christian friends. Yes, I’ve been to Christian weddings in real chapels — that’s not for me.
Oh… so… this “Chapel” is like…
An aesthetic chapel. The Taiwanese Buddhist friends get married there for the photos. It’s absolutely gorgeous photos. The LIGHT for the PHOTOGRAPHY is AMAZING at that VENUE. It’s Chapel aesthetics, without the religion. I don’t know how other people who get married there take it — surely there are Christian Australians who also get married in that Chapel and bring their own Spirituality into it. But this is the way I’ve observed it with Taiwanese Buddhist friends. They even bring Buddhist quotes into their services. It doesn’t matter to us. Buddhists are super chill. If you want a wedding with Chapel aesthetics, go ahead!
(Still LAUGHING at this)…!!!!
Why is this so amusing?
(Can’t stop laughing)
Okay then? So it’s a good thing?
(Nodding and still laughing)
What…?!?!?!
(Deep breaths from laughing) I just know some Christians who were a bit weirded out but when you explain it like that I don’t think they have much to say.
Why not?
Because — I’m Atheist — but I have other family who are Christian. Who would’ve been really disappointed if I didn’t get married in a “Chapel” — so they will apply their own lens of Christianity onto that Chapel. To us, it’s just glass and tables and chairs. To them — we have been blessed. At least we got married in “some” Chapel — even if a modern, minimalist one.
Oh… okay… there is a Christian cross outside of that Chapel…
There is?
Yeah… I kind of try to ignore it…
(LAUGHING SO HARD)
I don’t really want to take a photo in front of that — or we have to bring our own BUDDHA! And take a picture with Buddha in front of the cross!
(This is sooooooooooooooooo funny to him) Okay… we’ll BYO Buddha!
Okay? But Buddha has to be… a respectable Buddha. You better ask my Mum about this…
Oh?
She’ll get offended if you pick the wrong Buddha or handle the Buddha in those pictures the wrong way.
Okay — and MY side of the family will get offended if we DON’T take any pictures in front of that cross!
Oh… okay… fine…
Yeah. They’re still very Christian… even though I’m not…
I don’t remember your older brother being Christian at all…
He’s not either. But the rest of them are…
Virgo Sun Pisces Moon 