Is there a purpose to marriage?
Hello, Starchild here.
As you all may know recently gay marriage has expanded and now I believe that gays may now have the right to get married in all 50 states. So it got me thinking. Why do people get married? I understand it's a union between two lovers (at least I hope so), but the loves should remain the same before and after the marriage. So, what purpose is there to marriage?
Yes
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No
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No, not the only way, but it is one way, and probably the best way. Marriage also offers a more stable home environment to bring up a family. The children will feel more secure in a family unit which has parents who have demonstratively entered into a legally binding contract of mutual love. Side: Yes
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i believe marriage is an official public statement and/or milestone in a relationship dedicated to expressing commitment and love. it has some legal and financial (depending on your government) significance as well. otherwise i would say it is a highly overrated tradition which is far too often idealised, often mistakenly. sure, humans are social creatures perhaps needing companionship, but marriage seems to be further indoctrinated than religion itself. Side: Yes
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It's original purpose was to bind the woman, and her property, to a man. He was responsible for her and she was dependent on him. In this country, alone, dogs had more rights than women and children until the 1950s in most states. As women have become more emancipated, marriage is becoming a symbolic arrangement between two people who want to acknowledge to the world that they are committed to each other. As half of marriages ultimately end in divorce, it bears little consequence anymore. Side: Yes
It’s a lot easier to walk away from a relationship if there is no paper. And that’s NOT just a mother's advise! See, most idiots think marriage is a "religious mandate, or a religious institution," “an establishment of a foul, mean, overbearing, sex hating religious theocracy that enforces conformity. But that is not what the “piece of paper” is. It’s actually a valuable legally binding contract. Although most religions honor marriage, and take marriage vows very seriously, with weddings at every religious institution celebrating the "Covenant of Promise and the Exchanging of Vows." But this is where most people get their only idea of what marriage is. It looks like a cool party, but then there’s annoying meddling from churches and the legal constraints required by government papers and red tape. So visibly on the relationship timeline, that piece of paper really didn’t change the relationship from before to after on the relationship timeline. So its easy to think, “the piece of paper doesn’t change anything, and means nothing,” and it actually almost sounds insightful. It's a romantic notion, like age is just a number and your as young as you feel, and marriage is just a piece of paper, but the love is the glue. The freestyle nonconformists adopt views like... " We don’t need a piece of paper to prove our love, or to keep our life long promises." And it sounds perfectly romantic. The "Covenant of Marriage," may be more understandable if called the "Contract of Marriage." But that’s not as sexy, or sound as romantic as “Covenant of Promise” but in realty is a “Legally Binding Contract of Marriage.” “Marriage Contract” would give a more accurate definition of value in the paper. If we understood marriage as a “contract” we would have a better understanding on what the “paper” actually means. On 1 hand it protects each of the sweethearts in the event of needing survivorship benefits, and on the other hand, it also promises obligation of both individuals to 1 joint legal partnership with each other. A partnership on everything from children to finances, to property to everything. So if you both trust in your partnership and love each other, then for the security and benefits that you can give each other through the terms of a marriage contract, you agree to obligate yourselves to each other, by a legally binding marriage contract. The ideas of marriage, and of family can be religious or society's acceptable cultural norm. But the "piece of paper" is a written contract executed by consent and signatures of 2 individuals to form 1 contractual marriage partnership.
A marriage contract carries legal binding contractual weight. Like any other legal contract, it carries protections and consequences according to the terms of the contract. Some terms of the marriage contract are determined by State Laws, and also some Federal Laws. Some couples add other contract clauses called "prenuptials" and it is agreed to by both parties prior to signing the marriage contract, and those terms supersede the contract terms of the State. Its appropriate at times, especially 2nd marriages. But when it comes to prenuptials most of us think a "just in case of failure clause" isn’t very loving or romantic. State and Federal laws are also under obligation to honor terms of the marriage contract according to their marriage laws regarding taxes, survivorship income and benefits, estates, inheritances, health benefits, social security, finances, real estate and more... Also, State and Federal Laws protect the rights of each party, both separately and together. State laws also have standard proceedings to make fair determinations in the event the marriage contract is breached, or the "partnership" moves to be dissolved by the force of 1 partner or by mutual agreement, equitably dividing things like custody, property, financial assets, and even future earnings. Side: Yes
Marriage is the ultimate partnership. And for that reason alone it is not for everyone. Because not everyone can live up to that partnership nor wants it. But to those who do, and those who both contribute to and build on and enjoy the partnership, it is a beautiful and loving thing as well as a tremendous sense of security and satisfaction. I'm very happily married and we have kids. I wouldn't change a thing. But back before I met my wife I spent many years engaged to a different woman. That woman really liked the security of receiving help from a partner (me) but had no interest herself in contributing or growing or even ever committing. I would sometimes rationalize we didn't really need to be married because like you said we could still be in love and together even if we weren't married. But eventually she cheated and I left. And cheating was simply the last straw, because I knew what I'd truly been missing and needing all those years with her was a real partnership. And I realized then that just loving someone is almost never enough in life. You really do need a partner. A real partner. And that's what a real marriage is capable of giving to you. It doesn't work for everyone. It does work for me. Side: Yes
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In terms of the purpose you seek, there is none; at least none relevant to the federal government (completely ignoring fraud here). Being married is like being a Pacific Islander, you check a box and you sometimes get benefits that may not be available otherwise. Bureaucratic tools and what not. Most people are probably thinking of purpose like offspring and love, but those have separate check boxes. Side: No
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