Do you think marriage requires love?

Question

I'll be honest. Love and marriage go hand in hand. And I definitely want to be married to a man that I love. But I don't think that both are quintessential to the other (romantic love and marriage, at least). I believe that the institution of marriage is about a commitment to a partnership, even a religious one, that although ideally contains romantic love, does not need it to survive.

Besides, especially these days where that commitment isn't as seriously taken as it was, how many people have been fooled by their notion of love? Arranged marriages, on the other hand, are mostly based on a mutual understanding that they're obliged to stay together (even though it's for the sake of their respective families)

whoa, you guys have given great answers so far.

ok... so would anybody here want to be in arranged marriage? as i said before, i don't believe that a marriage actually *needs* love (though its nice to have it). the important thing (for me) is that you're committed, even if you don't love that person. besides, i think that boundaries are here for a reason, and that it's a good thing to follow my family's boundaries and choice than to follow my own recklessness (assuming i've lost my mind)

of course, it's great to believe in love.
^^

Answer 1

You make great points and I believe more people need to think these things through before marriage. You are on the right path.

Marriage is a legal arrangement. It also creates a new family structure for those two people involved. When me and my wife got married, we did not have a bucket to pee in. My aunt asked me how I was going to make it and I said, "through love". There has been a long road since then, but at least I was not used for money or visa verse. I've got to say that it was More than love going into the realm of insane infatuation, both ways. We never would have made it, especially being so young, if we had based our marriage on anything else. What I'm saying is, Don't give up on love, because money trees run dry.

With love,
Married man of ten years

Answer 2

marriage is a union of two people and nowadays you are right its not as strict as it's used to be in the old days. However that gives a flexibility to decide if you've made a mistake, and a lot of people do take initial attraction for the sign on ever lasting love. I think that marriage does need a spark to ignite the passion and make the union interesting for both people involved. But at the same time there has to be a common understanding and some shared values accross the board.

Answer 3

Great question. It definitely takes more then the romantic notion of love where everything is comin up roses. It takes the love that has unconditional, acceptance, forgiveness, and all that. Which we mortal humans are bad at. For some it is an arrangement, either way it is whatever you are gonna make it.

Answer 4

Bravo!!! clap clap clap clap

I completely agree with you. Love is an act of the "will" not something you just fall into! And the words HONOR AND CHERISH should be more of a staple for marriage then "LOVE"!!!!!

In my opinion true love is when you wake up next to a wrinkly old(after 50 years of marriage) man and you still have the hots for em!

Answer 5

Of course not. Just as there may not be love outside of marriage, there may not be love inside a marriage. But a marriage without love can be pretty awful. Then there are situations where you can love someone but realize in advance that marriage is not possible.

Answer 6

I will say that a happy marriage requires love because if you were to lose everything but each other than you would still be happy

Answer 7

yes you are so right, i do think that we must be camp able to get married living together with someone is very hard and we must get along to do just that inti of itself, plus mar rage is something that we must think long over before that final answer.

Answer 8

yes, it takes love to make a devoted marriage that last.

Answer 9

ummmmmm..............yes