"marriage" is the paradigm institution of a civilized society!?! really?

[bridgit]

i always though it was whatever institution, or amalgam of institutions that guaranteed potable water, handicap access, library systems, a living wage, afforable health care, freedom, liberty, the right to assemble...you know...the yada-yada stuff

go figure :shrug:

[SoCalDem]

1. I have a sneaky feeling that waaaay waaaay back

"marriage" (the legal version) was created to put down on paper, the fact that a particular woman "belonged" to a particular man, and was little more than a property declaration..

People have been pairing off to combine genes since humans first stood up and walked on two feet. No "paper" necessary..

The legal terminology that created marriage came much later and probably was put there to insure that only LEGAL progeny would inherit stuff when the "owner", a.k.a. Dad , passed on.. The illegitimate progeny was shut out..

The secular marriage was a record-keeping device, and the church marriage was a celebratory ceremony... There is room for both, but the secular marriage should include ANYONE who wants to be recognized as a LEGAL couple.. Leave the doctrine stuff for the church marriages..

There are millions of people who never married in a religious ceremony....are they not really married? Why should a modern secular society (hanging on by a fingernail) be forced to have a secular legal event comply to religious doctrine and be shunned if it does not measure up to THEIR beliefs?

[StellaBlue]

2. Yep.

Marriage, IMHO, is an economic contract. No desire to participate whatsoever. If it works for you, great. I don't see the point. (and, yes, I have been in a longterm relationship with someone that didn't work out and, yes, I did get financially screwed. on the other hand, I didn't have to hire a lawyer or have it drag on for months or years. i just left.)

[bridgit]

3. correct!! they are really married, and if 'they' were to believe in the...

words coming from their own mouths; this nonsensical right-wing gibberish, they might have to admit...that we are married in The Eyes Of God 1st...the rest is just man's law

:hi:

[Flirtus]

5. you're right, of course, and add to establish inheritance of accumulated

wealth to legitimate children. Which is the reason anyone wants to be able to establish anyone as their rightful heir, and it really isn't fair that non-married people (like me) have to go to such expensive lengths to approximate the rights of married people.

(on edit, i really should read more better before i answer stuff.)

[Philosoraptor]

4. Actually, there's no such thing as marriage, until divorce occurs.

In the old days, the real, real old days, before lawyers and written contracts, folks just said, "we're married", and that was it, and if you fell out of love, you'd say, "we're no longer married".

But then along came religious restrictions and regulations, lawyers, and written contracts and marriage became a nightmare for millions of people.

But ultimately, it's an agreement for two people to stay exclusively together or whatever.

If no one ever signed the marriage certificates again I guess society as we know it would collapse, as it would if two dudes got hitched.

[bridgit]

6. that sounds right to me...

:thumbsup:

[crazzy]

7. Potable water isn't going to raise our kids!

[bridgit]

8. and a ban on gay marriage will...

:eyes: i'd rather my kids be clean