Marriage: Blessed union or Man-made institution?

[scorpiobaby]

I understand human need for companionship, intimacy and connection. However, are we really intended to bind ourselves to one person for the entirety of our existence? I find, personally, I desire anonymity in equal parts to my desire for a warm body next to or just around me. Frankly, I don't think I am the only person to experience wishing their SO or DH, even, would just leave...even for a moment...to allow you a moment for private and personal solace.

I have read things about it not being "natural" to be with one person. Not sure if marrying oneself to another person 'til death part them is a result of nature vs. nuture. So, I'm curious...please...weigh in...

 

[SelahOco]

I think there are trade offs with being married and being single. Even the bible doesn't mislead us on this point. To paraphrase: "It's better to marry than to burn," "Be single if you can stand it, but if you can't get married so you don't sin," "unmarried people can focus on God, married people must focus on spouse/family."

I think it's different b/c I don't have kids. When I need space, I can have as much space as I need. When you're married with kids...solace seems a little harder to come by. I think it's just a choice with benefits and tradeoffs....

"It's not good for man to be alone," either. So, I think most people choose a spouse over single life.

ETA: If having more than one partner wasn't a sin, I'd probably have a good span of Hoe-Years. But eventually, I think you'd want to settle down with that ONE person you can trust and love.

 

[SvelteVelvet]

However, are we really intended to bind ourselves to one person for the entirety of our existence?

To answer the question in your title, I believe marriage is a bit of both a blessed union and an institution structured by man. I believe with everything we have choices and free-will to do whatever we please in this life, whether it's thought to be intended or not. The fact that God made one woman for Adam and not five for him to jump to when he got tired of Eve says something, IMO. I don't agree when it's said that is not natural for humans to be with one person. That implies that we are to mate like animals. For me it feels unnatural to love more than one person. I'm naturally drawn to mating myself with one individual and building a family with one individual and most people who get married, male and female share this same sentiment.

There is no one way to be married, if you are a person who needs space once in a while then I'm sure that IF you decide to marry you'll marry someone who understands, respects, and allows that. Each marriage is what each person makes theirs out to be.

 

[anon123]

I understand human need for companionship, intimacy and connection. However, are we really intended to bind ourselves to one person for the entirety of our existence? I find, personally, I desire anonymity in equal parts to my desire for a warm body next to or just around me. Frankly, I don't think I am the only person to experience wishing their SO or DH, even, would just leave...even for a moment...to allow you a moment for private and personal solace.

I have read things about it not being "natural" to be with one person. Not sure if marrying oneself to another person 'til death part them is a result of nature vs. nuture. So, I'm curious...please...weigh in...

Well, there are other forms of marriage than one-to-one. In our culture it's monogamous, but there have been many traditional societies where marriage is one male to multiple females. A very tiny number where one female to multiple males. Though it depends on what you call "natural" with humans, it seems likely that our species has polyganous (one male to multiple female) roots as evidenced by the size difference between males and females. Species that have males that are noticeably larger than females tend to be polyganous.

 

[Farida]

Marriage, IMO is a divine institution, limited by human nature.

I feel the same away about being a parent. There's the ultimate parent, but all parents are limited by their human weaknesses.

 

[tiara76]

marriage was around before the institution itself was formed

people had been bonding and forming loving unions, ceremonies and celebrations with each other way before the instituion of marriage was established.....it wasn't a legal bonding, it was a soul bonding, the institution itself was formed as business arrangement, more so than a love arrangement, GOD was threw into the mix to make it seem like thats what he wants people to do when people who aren't marrying for love or soul connections marry anyways and they legally bind that person to the other....these days there are still consequences for breaking your contract, back in the day it was alot harsher..esp for women you could be killed for not honoring your vows.........I definitely agree the foundation of marriage is a divine act of love, not a legal bonding to someone that comes with consequences........mpo of course

I do not think monogomy is natural, although i think its possible.....

yes we do have natural instincts just like animals...to me however I don't take offense to that because nature, animals, and natural instincts and tendacies are all a part of the divine creation...man has long since made a distinct separation of nature and spirit, which has been one of our many downfalls.....when people connect to mind body and spirit they do tend to act differently than just that of nature....but nature is a part of us...when we aren't connected to spirit we act more natural, even when we try not too.....

I definitely know its possible to love more than one person at a time even in the romantic way

 

[divya]

Marriage, IMO is a divine institution, limited by human nature.

I feel the same away about being a parent. There's the ultimate parent, but all parents are limited by their human weaknesses.

I believe this is the one of the best explanations of marriage that I have heard. I agree.

 

[SvelteVelvet]

Marriage, IMO is a divine institution, limited by human nature.

I feel the same away about being a parent. There's the ultimate parent, but all parents are limited by their human weaknesses.

Totally what I was trying to say. Well put!