I've been thinking back to my question -
Is marriage necessary? And once upon a
time I would have said yes - without
hesitation. Now, I'd have to answer
it depends on what is important to your
relationship. If it involves children -
I'd say - marriage should be considered
if only to provide a certain stability
for them. Other than that - the choice is
a personal one.

I'm glad that I made my choice to get married.
And I'm still married to the same man I fell in
love with. I don't want to
make anyone cringe - only to add being happily married
doesn't happen by accident - and it doesn't happen
instantly. For us, it took many years to achieve.
And it's still a work in progress.

I know there's a fair amount of cynicism about marriage,
especially with divorce skyrocketing. But if almost
half of all marriages break-up, that means that almost
half survive. What's more many people who divorce - do
marry again - so no doubt many will eventually find
that deeper relationship with some one else.

Yes, I believe in marriage - but I guess I have to
agree - its not for everyone.

runner
I get the impression that we are all lost in sin from your point of view - believer and non-believer.

The act of believing in a God to absolve us of that sin is nothing more than selfish and implies that we can go on sinning as much as we like as long as we maintain a belief in God. I would rather a belief in God (for those that prefer to live their life that way) at least assist in making us better people who treat others with respect and dignity. What is the point if it merely just absolves?

Foxy
I think you have it right. Marriage is not for everyone and the way we choose to live our lives is very much an individual choice. I prefer the institution of marriage if it works, it can be a great partnership and a healthy foundation for children. A bad marriage can be just as detrimental to children than a broken family situation.

It may be old fashioned but I think that two adults should be able to work through their problems to make a marriage work - but it does take two and if one partner is unwilling or unable to communicate divorce is more likely.

There are probably many people who should not marry and many who for many reasons don't want to marry, just the same as there are many who we might hope don't have children but they do nevertheless

NO! MARRIAGE IS NOT NECESSARY!
What is mariage? The love, the customs, (mainly religious) and the legal responsibilities and state? benefits from the mariage.
The love consists from many elements as sex, respect, trust, common dreams, values, children etc. all these elements except from the children can change, and the love as sourse from happines can be transformed to opposite, as sourse from suffering, and pain.
WE DO NOT NEED MARIAGE FOR THE LOVE.
We love our children and AND WE SHOULD LOVE AND CARE THEM maried or divorced, maried or as single mother or father.
As atheist I do not understand the religious stories and their role about the mariage. FOR ATHEISTS DO NOT EXISTS THIS LIMIT.
About the legal responsibilities, sure we must apdate the law to reflect the new realities and be fair for men and women, mainly as fathers and mothers.
Howard changed the family law but the changes was against mothers, againats women. For example the income from overtime has not estimated for the child support, the extra work is for him/her self BUT the income from overtime for the parent who cares the child/children has estimated from the social security!
Mainly women care the children, they are the victims from howard;s family law. Changes needed for the tax etc
The legal system about families and singles SHOULD change to reflect the new realities and not victimize the single persons. YES THERE IS A PRESS TO PEOPLE FOR MARRIAGE
It is time to change this unfair, stupid system!
MARRIAGE IS NOT NECESSARY!
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

R0bert, What do ask me? Only Australia and USA do not give paid maternity leave. You can find everything you want in all these countries poor or rich, developed or undeveloped, with respect to human rights or not, with higher or lower standars NO ONE COUNTRY THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT TO REDUCE THE MATERNITY, PATERNITY OR PARENTAL LEAVE, ONLY AUSTRALIANS UNDERESTIMATE PARENTS ESSENCIAL RIGHTS!

Pericles what you want to know? I work 6 days per week, hard work, poor english, no time for analysis but I know, parents who take paternity leave are closer to their children, that children with love from both parents are better students, happier people, that couples with parental leave divorce less, that women who have the support of their husband for their children, are hhappier, not only do not divorce but they have a better carier in the job etc.
NIOU! NIOU! ON THE ROOF, WHAT IS IT? AN ELEPHANT!

Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaid

Oh come on.
Until recently a woman was the property of her husband. Women got mail addressed to Mrs <husbands full name>. The marriage vows were "honour and OBEY". Rape in marriage was the norm. "Just lie back and think of England" anyone? Domestic violence is still prevalent and was endemic not too long ago. Brutal violence was (and sometimes still is) meted out to children in the name of "discipline". Fathers/husbands were, and in many cases still expect to be total lords and masters over their own homes and families. Women still do most of the housework and child raising. Men do very little. Wives cook for men, clean up after them, shop for them, make sure they have clean clothes and also organise most social events for the family.

By the way is this only "western' marriages or are all marriages ok? What about plural mariage as practiced by some of the more backward in the states and some of the "traditional" areas of the middle east? Are harems ok? What about muslim or jewish marriages? Are gay marriages real ones?

Not to mention how seriously do we take marriage anyway. I submit the divorce figures to show just how serious we take it. Not very is my conclusion. Especially when you think of the heartache and damage divorce causes. The religious among us would say that divorce shouldnt be allowed and thus bring even more horrors upon married people. Staying together just because youre married is bound to be a disaster. I wonder why god cant see that.

Some marriages are happy and work but overall it is just a system used by the ruling class (who usually marry their cousins lol) to keep the population under control, give the working man slave a few slaves of his own and to cheaply provide well disciplined children who will grow up to be the next generation of compliant, submissive drones ready to work for and obey their masters.

Sorry FOXY, I had many windows opened on my computer and I send a text to your thread (about paid maternity leave) instead for the Paid parental leave punt.
Believe me I am not a troll! simple I did an honest mistake!
Antonis