Genesis 2: 24 Marriage

Marriage has been defined as “the legal status, condition, or relationship that results from a contract by which one man and one woman, who have the capacity to enter into such an agreement, mutually promise to live together in the relationship of husband and wife in law for life, or until the legal termination of the relationship.” (Marriage, n.d.) In 1973, Maryland became “the first state to pass a statute banning marriage between same-sex couples.” (Freedom to Marry, 2015) After much debate, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled for a ‘Freedom to Marry’ in all states, even against the states who still had a ban on same-sex marriage. (Freedom to Marry, 2015) Obviously, even with a federal ruling and over thirty years, there is still a

The definition of marriage has changed over time. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the United States defined marriage as a union between a consenting man and woman, of non-African decent (Stahlberg, 2008, p. 443). This, however, changed after the civil war. In 1868 two consenting adults of opposite gender could marry someone of the same race, but this was also restructured in 1967 to allow marriage of all consenting adults of opposite genders regardless of race (Stahlberg, 2008, p. 443). Today, the law looks very different. Recently, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marriage (gay marriage, 2015).

On the third of January 1996, an act was established to define and protect the instruction of marriage during the second session, which was called the ‘Defense of Marriage Act’. This act made it that the United States passed a federal law that defined marriage for federal purpose of the union of a single man and a single women, which allowed states to refuse the acknowledgement of

Marriage is universally understood to be the legal union between a man and a woman. This acknowledgement, however, has recently generated dispute and controversy in certain individuals, primarily homosexuals and supporters of homosexual marriages. This opposition, due to this mainstream view, exists because certain states such as Minnesota deny same-sex marriages.

Traditional wedding vows state, “I, (name), take you (name), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part”(Callaway). Marriage is defined as two people bond together legally under the protection of laws. Couples are able to express and establish their life long relationships officially, publicly, and permanently. Due to the fact that homosexual relationships are increasingly more accepted by the public, gay marriage has become one of the most controversial topics throughout the US. The fundamental human right of marriage should not be limited to a man and a woman;

We define marriage as either a.) “the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law” or b.) “the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage” (Merriam-Webster). Although, until June 26th, 2013, federal law did not recognize the latter definition until Edith Windsor, surviving wife of Thea Spyer who left her entire estate to Windsor sued for spousal rights. Due to the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which states the word ‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife (United States Congress)”, when Spyer passed and left her entire estate to her wife (who she married in Toronto, Canada in 2007, in which same-sex marriage was legalized since June 2003) Windsor was unable to claim spousal exemption on the estate tax, which their legal marriage said she deserved.

traditional man and woman marriage, which usually consists of a man and woman around the

According to Jennifer Roback Morse, marriage cannot be private because “Marriage attaches mothers and fathers to their children and to one another” (Morse). The husband should be the father to all of their kids. They are the only ones that can be their parents. Some marriages do not have children, but everyone has parents. If the government did not make people have marriage licenses, it would be just a friendship and would not mean as much as it would if couples were married. She believes that churches should not decide marriages, because it would cause issues with relationships that have different religious views. We cannot avoid the fact that marriage is public, and will most likely always be

can taken place in the other States of America. The marriages will continuing as before in the 36 States

Marriage has been defined differently throughout the centuries. Today Merriam-Webster defines marriage as, “the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law” (“Marriage”). Due to the recent Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and Transsexual or LGBT movement, Merriam-Webster also added a second line to the definition reading “The state of being

Wedding ceremonies are often held in a variety of religious chapels for the couple based on their belief. On the other hand, many relationships are accepting a new common trend as couples are now living together, as if they are indeed married but without a legal certificate nor have gone through any ceremonial traditions.

To understand civil unions, people must understand the history, benefits, laws and relevance of a civil union. Civil unions are relatively still a new concept in the United States that is slowly becoming an irrelevant notion. Commonly same sex partners are the ones who would use a civil union. Due to the changing laws to marriage the need for a civil union is becoming unnecessary. There are many benefits to civil unions but one that stand out is the dissolution of a civil union. The dissolution of a civil union can be easier than a divorce, or just as difficult as a divorce. The benefits for a civil union pales in the comparison to the benefits of marriage. Civil unions may vary from state to state the most important thing about a civil unions they are only recognized in the states in which the partners are registered in. Standard heterosexual nuptials are not only recognized federally they are also recognized internationally. Homosexual marriages are very similar to civil unions which are only recognized in select states, are federally recognized, international recognition depends on the country especially if homosexuality is illegal such as Russia. Although the history of civil unions have a history that goes as back as far about 600 years as describe by Allan Tulchin’s Journal (Tulchin). As for the United States In 1982, the Village Voice newspaper provide its employees in a civil

Religion and the Bible encourage, and perhaps demand marriage from two individuals to create them as one. The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him (Genesis 2:18)".  "That at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate (Mathew: 19:4-6)". Why does religion place such an importance on a union of marriage? An answer is suggestively related as to why automobile and health insurance companies provide a discount on their policies when filing married. According to State Farm Auto Insurance, two married individuals are much more likely to accept upon themselves responsibility, maturity, and a longer healthier and more satisfying life. Insurance agencies believe your life will be more structured and meaningful, to provide you with a policy. Living alone or entering and departing unstable casual

Calling something marriage does not make it marriage. Marriage is a legal contract between a man and a woman. It is the institution that establishes kinship and relations in the family. Marriage is mostly recognized by a state, organization, religious authority, local community, or peers. Marriage is for procreation, education, the unity, and well-being of the couple. Some say marriage is for two people who love each other and ready for commitment. Nevertheless, in the bible times, couples were not allowed to choose the one him or her married. Therefore, the person he or she married was not the person him or her loved. Divorce was not an option; the couples had to learn to love the person they married. Stating this, marriage is not all about love and emotions, but the purpose of marriage. Marriage is unique and universal. (Rauch) Marriage of homosexual couples would not provide the same benefits of a heterosexual couple. Homosexual are not allowed to produce children. They must have vitro-fertilization or surrogacy. Same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry, because marriage is for a man and a woman, all religion is against gay marriages, and gay marriages are the slippery slope for other marriages. (Ferguson)

Historic change in American matrimony is especially pronounced in three areas: the equalizing of the respective rights and duties of wives and husbands, the dissolution of marital prohibitions based on race, and the evolution from state-defined grounds for divorce to couple-defined no fault divorce. The most recent area of debate is whether the state should sanction marital consent between same-sex couples. Although such a prospect is unthinkable to some, earlier forms of legal marriage are equally unimaginable now.