It’s not to have children. There are plenty of children born outside of marriage (just ask Texas) and plenty of people get married with no intention (or ability) to have children.
It’s not to raise children. There are plenty of children raised in single parent homes.
It’s not to share finances. There are plenty of married couples that file separate tax returns and have separate accounts.
It’s not to satisfy religious obligations. There are plenty of atheists and areligious couples that are married and there are plenty of religious people who are not married.
To me, it’s a commitment. It’s a choice. It’s a statement about one’s love for someone else. That’s all. But then, isn’t that pretty darned powerful?
It is a legal agreement as well… with certain privileges and responsibilities based on the concept, but those are all after-the-fact things.
The concept of that commitment has nothing to do with children, the law, religion, or anything else. Marriage is an expression of love.
That love may be between a man and a woman. A man and a man. A woman and a woman. And there’s no reason that love can’t be between a man, a man, and a woman. Or three women. Or any other combination of consenting adults.
Yes, there are laws in place to protect minors, because they are not emotionally and mentally prepared for such commitments. There are laws against marrying animals (though it has happened) again, because they are unable to consent.
Legal arrangements between people are contracts. Legally, marriage is a contract. Why a contract be written between two same sex people or multiple people? Why can’t a contract have a specified end date? Why can’t a contract allow for other people?
The only reason for this not exist is religious inertia. But then again, in Christianity, Jesus was married to the church.
Should we throw open the flood gates and let people marry whomever they want? As long as it is between consenting adults, then I don’t have a problem with it. Let people live their lives and love who they will. Should they choose to commit to each other, then let them do so. Should they choose to end that commitment, then let them do so (I’m not going to comment on the higher divorce rate among the religious here… oops, I just did).
People change. Times change.
