Marriage implies different meanings based on the time and place of the culture and people concerned. Some notions about marriage are clear for some people and absurd for others. None of the notions are either right or erroneous, but only refers to different forms of marriage. Thoughts of one culture should not be forced on other cultures. The viewpoints vary, that is, some believe in multiple marriage partners while others believe in having only straight marriages yet others believe in certain age restrictions. It is impracticable for governments to permit their people get into all forms of marriage according to the likings of people. Certain known specifications are needed for legal contracts to have legal value. Making one type of marriage legal leads to isolation and standardization of marriage ultimately results in codifying traditions into static legal codes and making them sluggish as society transforms. (Marriage: www.vexen.co.uk)
Thus, legalized forms of marriage lead to looking upon illegal marriage as wrong. In other words, we get prejudiced toward our own form of marriage and come to think any other form as wrong or irrelevant. Hence, those who opted for romantic marriage will be considered as thoughtless or silly by those practicing arranged marriages. But romantic couples see themselves differently, that is, they probably see arranged marriages as cruel, substandard and repressive. Both people do not understand the different meanings of different forms of marriage. The quarrel between both these people will not come to a conclusion as they are arguing about totally different things. Marriage refers to different things in different cultures. Western marriage used to be executed wholly under Christian clergy and is completely under the control of Christianity. The mammoth restrictions of remarriage and women inferiority in marriage are largely due to Christianity.
In early Christianity marriage was not a strong doctrine of love, but one of fear. St. Paul, whose huge writings on the topic of marriage and women are well-established in the Bible under various books and letters, wrote that marriage is a last alternative for the hopeless man who could not hold back himself from sex. The ideal was to remain single, but marrying a woman was best done if one cannot help oneself. This dysfunctional theology of sex was one of the worst things to occur to marriage. It is only since the Enlightenment and Reformation that more a sensible, positive, basis of marriage has been brought to the front. (Marriage: www.vexen.co.uk)
Marriage, as we know it nowadays, has developed over the centuries, as is the case with other social institutions. Marriage has increased its intricacies with regard to joining of man and woman as societies have become more refined and civilized. Many practices greatly soaked in both custom and tradition; religion and civil law have died away as new ones substituted them. The genesis of marriage shows that marriage has evolved through three broad stages: marriage trough force or capture, marriage by means of purchase or contract, and marriage by mutual love. The oscillation of control between religion and civil controlled the marriage. Presently, marriage is governed by civil law and ecclesiastical canon law. No one can break away from the laws of the State even though adherence to canon law depends on one's belief in a particular religion. Those marriages carried out in the presence of a priest, rabbi, or minister may also become unacceptable if those marriages are not registered with the State as well. For instance, in New York, a valid marriage license is required for a marriage Official to conduct a ceremony. The influence of Christianity on modern marriage has made it more formal and spiritual. Other than this religious character, slices of the old customs stay in the fashionable memory. Old-fashioned traditions come back as symbols, unifying the old with the new and which make modern marriages as romantic and colorful. (A Compilation of Customs and Traditions regarding Marriage)
Marriage comprises of many changes and challenges and is the largest step that anyone makes. It is considered that the marriage of a Christian with great care and it is an occasion of great celebration. Marriage among two Christians is an event of great public celebration of God's grace and blessing. Only if at least one of the couple is a practicing Catholic, the marriage can take place in church buildings. In other words, for a person to get married in a church, he must have...
Defense of Traditional Marriage by Ryan T. Anderson Issues addressed The article is based on a topic that is widely discussed in both the political, legal and even the religious fronts. It looks into the issue of marriage and what really defines marriage in the context of the contemporary society. The author also looks into the various arguments that are put forth by other people and groups concerning the issue of
Homosexuality and Marriage Argumentative Response Controversial debates have been on the rise on whether gay marriages should be allowed in the society. Marriage is a key institution in the society. There are many reasons for marriage that may not apply to homosexuals. Gay marriages should not be allowed because marriage is traditional and morally for heterosexuals. This will cause a lot of chaos in the society, which will destroy the institution of
Same Sex Marriages Should Be Legally Sanctioned Some of the most pervasive problems that exist within American society today are the problems of prejudice, stemming from fear of what is different and seems to be alien. Only by making what is alien seem to wear a more familiar, human face, can such deep-seated hatred be uprooted and destroyed. Prejudice, and the violence that is the result of such hatred, is particularly
Introduction to Marriage and Abusive RelationshipsIn many marriage environments, abuse takes the form of domestic violence that comes with control or posing threats to the partner. It takes more specific formats like physical violence, which features violence such as beating and hitting and gradually becoming a frequent behavior.[footnoteRef:1] Secondly, sexual abuse is equally common where one partner forces themself to the other. Psychological abuse is also predominant in marriages. One
There are many reasons for accepting the rights and legitimacy of gay couples to marry. The most important of these is the right to personal freedom. The misunderstanding that homosexual stereotypes project are an element that prevents the understanding of gay marriage. Appendix: Source: http://pewforum.org/docs/index.php?DocID=39 Bibliography Bidstrup. K. Gay Marriage: The Arguments and the Motives. 2004. Accessed February 9, 2005. http://www.bidstrup.com/marriage.htm Card. O.S. Homosexual "Marriage" and Civilization. Accessed February 12, 2005. http://www.ornery.org/essays/warwatch/2004-02-15-1.html DEBUNKING STEREOTYPES: ABOUT
They are therefore not determined or restricted by factors such as norms, morals or external principles. A concise definition of this view is as follows: Constructivism views all of our knowledge as "constructed," because it does not reflect any external "transcendent" realities; it is contingent on convention, human perception, and social experience. It is believed by constructivists that representations of physical and biological reality, including race, sexuality, and gender are
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