Atheists and marriage

[KichigaiNeko]

It's a partnership

MOST important fact!

[pocaracas]

It's a partnership

MOST important fact!

Oh, I forgot a detail about the partnership thing.
It's not just about getting the right partner.... it's about being the right partner for the other person, too.
If that means "just be yourself", so much the better, but it rarely is like that... so expect some compromises.... and try not to keep a tally on who has to compromise the most, that's just petty!

[genkaus]

What do you mean marriage only exists because of religion? I don't remember any religious texts inventing marriage, they simply put a lot of rules around something that already exists.

Hmmm... did religion invent marriage? Or did the idea come from somewhere else? As far as I know, the idea predates written history, so religion inventing marriage is entirely possible. In fact, it makes sense. The earliest role of religion was as a way to impose social obligations and marriage is a way to do that.

[Tonus]

I only ask because marriage only exists because of religion. I've spoken to some people who are atheist and they think it's a load of bullocks, won't consider it even. I've spoken to others who said just the same as you.

I think the concept of a social commitment can be practical, and there do exist species of animals that mate for life. Perhaps where religion has gone off the rails is not in codifying the social commitment, but in demanding that it be permanent. Thus you get many people who stay in broken or unhappy marriages that should probably have gone their separate ways. Being bitter and miserable because you're with someone you've grown to hate and believe that you must stay together could certainly compel a child to avoid marriage when he grows older.

[Kayenneh]

I agree with all the points Kichi made.

And to add a small part, I want Scruffy's surname. It's hell to live in Finland with a Swedish surname (almost no one can spell it properly!), so taking his name will be a tiny benefit for me too

[LastPoet]

I dedicate this music to all the wives out there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEqhGBugC7o

ETA:

[Captain Colostomy]

If marriage is an institution, does that mean it's willing proponents are insane? After almost 20 years of wedded bliss, I'm inclined to say 'yes'.

[LastPoet]

Define 'bliss' Captain

[Captain Colostomy]

Define 'bliss' Captain

'Battered Husband Syndrome'. :p

[Zazzy]

My partner and I have been together for almost 12 years now. He would like to get married and I resist. It doesn't have anything to do with atheism; it's because I don't see why I should fix something that isn't broken and neither of us needs the rights and privileges of marriage (for instance, my honey is last person I'd choose to make end-of-life decisions for me, because he'd never be able to pull the plug on me).

Also, a smaller reason is that I feel badly about joining a club my gay friends can't join. When gay marriage is legal in all the US, I'd feel better about getting married, and at that point probably will, since it's important to my love.