Marriage

Marriage is a union formed between a man and a woman, ordained by God. Marriage is considered a sacrament by Roman Catholics[4] (but not most Protestant denominations). In a few times and places, other forms have existed, such as polygamy (multiple spouses).

In most cultures, marriage is regarded as a life-long commitment to another person, under any circumstances. Frequently this involves a public commitment ceremony (called a wedding) to each other and, if the participants follow a religious faith such as Christianity, Judaism or Islam, before God. When people do not or cannot maintain that commitment, and the marriage ends in divorce.

In most countries, married couples are treated as a single economic entity, and when one partner dies, the other may inherit all of their property in a simpler system than would be required without the marriage.

African-American marriages were not legally recognized in the United States until after the Civil War, and mixed race couples were only allowed to marry in all areas of the US after a 1967 decision in the United States Supreme Court. Before that time, 16 states prohibited interracial marriage. Disapproval of interracial relationships was once justified as divinely ordained and public opinion polls taken in 1968 indicated that 72% of Americans disapproved of interracial marriages.^{[Citation Needed]}

Same-sex couples are not allowed to marry in many areas of the world, although in recent years some countries have allowed some sort of "domestic union". Some observers have stated this may cause the destruction of traditional foundation of society in those countries. By the end of 2004, "domestic unions" were recognized in most Canadian provinces and part of Canadian federal law C-38. Same-sex unions are also recognized in Spain and South Africa.

Marriage in the Bible

The Old Testament clearly allows polygyny which is still practiced in parts of Utah. (Gen. 4:19, Gen. 16:1-4, Gen. 26:34, Gen. 32:32, Exodus 21:10, Dt. 21:15, Judges 8:30, I Sam 1:1-2, II Sam 12:7-8, I Kings 11:2-3, I Chron. 4:5, II Chron. 11:21, II Chron. 13:21, II Chron 24:3.)

The Old Testament allows for the purchase of wives (Gen. 29:18, I Sam. 18:25-27).

The clearest description of marriage in the Bible comes from I Corinthians 7:1-16:

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Christianity

In most branches of Christianity, marriage is a life-long religious union between a man and a woman. However, many Christian groups claim that celibacy is more holy than marriage, and some, such as the Shakers, have gone so far as to prohibit marriage.

Mormonism

Historically, Mormonism has practiced polygyny (more than one wife). It stopped being a part of mainstream Mormonism in 1890, but some fringe groups still practice it.

Islam

Islam allows Muslim men to have up to four wives. The Qu'ran says(4:3): "Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one."

Before Islam, it was common for a man to have many wives. The limit of four imposed by Islam was a way of controlling the situation. A Muslim may marry up to four women only on condition he deals justly with all of them. For example, he must provide each with separate living accommodation. Since this is difficult, most Muslim men in practice do not have more than one wife.

The reason for allowing multiple wives was for the welfare of widows and orphans. Muslim men are required to be financially responsible for the members of their family, and this was a way of ensuring that there was somebody to take responsibility for widows' and orphans' welfare.

It also allowed for a man who wished to father children to take another wife if his first wife was barren, and allowing the first wife to choose whether to continue in the marriage. A Muslim man is not allowed to marry another woman without the knowledge and consent of his wife, and the wife has the right to ask for divorce if she does not agree.

Civil marriage

Civil marriage is a legal contract. In the state constitutions of almost all states^{[Citation Needed]}, this contract must be between one man and one woman. It gives each member certain rights and obligations. Most commonly, these include power of attorney, inheritance rights, sharing finances, and rights in relation to any children they may have. With the advent of no-fault divorce, most of these rights and obligations can be terminated by either party at any time for any reason.

Although not going as far as Holland and Belgium in making same-sex unions legal, the Scandinavian nations and the United Kingdom allow same-sex couples to gain the same benefits accrued in marriage by registering a legal commitment, although they are given fewer advantages than men and women receive automatically upon marriage. Germany, France, Andorra, New Zealand and several parts of Australia have different forms of civil union. Different names are given to civil unions in different legal jurisdictions, including civil pacts, civil partnerships, life partnerships, registered partnerships, domestic partnerships, significant relationships, reciprocal beneficiary relationships, and stable unions.

In the U.S. there are over a thousand federal benefits to marriage but none to same-sex civil partnerships. Couples registering same-sex relationships receive some state benefits in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont. Rights accruing from same-sex marriages contracted in other states are respected in Rhode Island, and some restricted benefits are available to same-sex partners in Hawaii and Maine.

See also

• Marriage ceremony