Athiest: What are your veiws on marriage?

Question

Do you see it as a religious thing or do you do it out of love?

Being an athiest myself I have been with the same person for 5 years. There seems to be no reason to get married except religious one. I consider him as a husband, we even have one child together and want more. By common law we are even recognized as married. But really..Whats the point?

Bloody...thats an oxymoron..you cant be and athiest and a satanic.....If you believe there is a satan then there would have to be a god to make him right? I think you are just one messed up christian.

Answer 1

Kids and contracts.

If you are both wage earners and you don't own anything in common then there is not much reason to get married except for the contractual aspects. One of your jobs may offer better health insurance, for example or it might be cheaper for one of you to cover both of you under their health insurance if you are married than it is to cover separate policies. Tax benefits can go either way, depending on where you live and what you earn.

There is also an advantage in case of an emergency. If one of you has an accident, "I'm his wife" gets you a lot further into the hospital than "I'm his girlfriend".

Once you start buying bigger things, like houses, marriage as a contractual vehicle becomes more important. You sound way too young to worry about estates but it will play a role at the end of your life as well.

Still, the biggest reason for marriage is kids. If you have kids they deserve the protections that come from your marriage. It's not to say that one of you can't walk out on your kids but it does mean that the consequences of walking out on your kids are bigger and much easier to enforce.

Answer 2

I used to have the same logic that you did. I didn't see the point, since we are both atheists. But finally I decided we should get married, and all I can say is that it does change the relationship for the better.

Nothing creepy or religious going on here, it's just by having a ceremony and committing yourself to someone, we now focus a lot more long term in our goals for life and it actually has allowed me to focus on progressing my life more. If you really love this person, just do it to let the world know you love him. God doesn't have to be a part of it.

Answer 3

I don't see marriage as a religious issue, people were getting married before christianity and other faiths...

I see it as a symbol and a formal commitment of union. It's what happens when you find someone you really want to spend the rest of your life with, and clearly not something to be taken lightly. It's a symbol sure, but it's a powerful one that will change your life.

Also it's legally recognized, which can offer other benefits such as tax breaks. Not saying that's a reason to get married, but it is a benefit.

Answer 4

I'm getting married to make a public and private declaration that I intend to spend the rest of my life with this woman. The truth of the matter is that marriage starts long before a ceremony, but the ceremony gives it a finality that might be lacking otherwise. Though it will not be religious, it'll be a very meaningful ceremony for us.

On the practical side, the legal restrictions of non married couples are pretty sad, so it does behoove one for practical reasons to get married.

Answer 5

I'm not Atheist nor am I Christian I am certainly not Agnostic.The point of marriage is only as valid as the perspective of that person.Though the legal aspects implicate something else entirely.Common law is only recognized by that particular State only.Some States like Arkansas do not recognize common law marriages.Still from a legal aspect a marriage is afforded the luxury of law.Which protects the interests gained through the marriage.In the event of death the spouse is protected by law from all those who would seek to claim ownership of properties and possessions obtained in life by the person who died.In the event of a break up again the law sets standards as to how to divide the assets of the marriage.Unmarried people can make verbal agreements to each other as to who gets what in the event they breakup,though there is nothing but their honesty to hold them to this.As well depending on the reasons behind a breakup it can many times leave people wanting to be vengeful,at this point there is nothing to prevent them from rescinding on their prior word.Marriage as to a ceremony again only gains validity through the eyes of those embarking into marriage.The purpose of the ceremony comes from times before law.By publicly professing love and devotion or simply just saying they are now to be seen as a couple made known to their society that they were spoken for and to each other.It made known the addition of properties and established a line of inheritance.As for the ceremonial aspects certain cultures called it by different names.Be it a binding or unity hand wrapping or what have you most cultures of peoples have seen the sense of displaying to all the coupling of the 2 families.In other cultures polygamy was common practice.Again the ceremony was important to the families who have now become conjoined.Still above all these things there are those who see love as being a reason for a committed relationship.Whether you wish to call that a marriage is entirely up to you.Though if you are living under the guidelines of what is considered a marriage what is it you are actually doing different.A ceremony doesn't have to involve law nor does the legality of a marriage require a ceremony.A marriage doesn't have to be recognized by any particular faith.Though it does need recognition by State for legal protection.The point is calling a person your husband or wife is saying to others that or representing to others that within your mind you are honor bound to that person.You can be married in your mind without ever having to go through the motions of law or ceremony.Though only in your mind can this make you married.I considered myself married to my wife long before getting the license to legalize it.The paper did not change anything about us,nor did it make me feel anymore then I already felt.It merely created a means of protection for my family.

Answer 6

Marriage is out of love.

I got married as a celebration of our love and the joining of our two families together. I might be an athiest, but my family certainly is not. So I figured a ceremony would be a good way for each family to meet each other and consider themselves related and create some sort of solidarity. It was also a great way to get gifts!

Answer 7

Uh, actually, Satanists dont beleive in Satan... but I digress...

I am an atheist. And, I am engaged and very much looking forward to marriage. Im ready to move on with my life - but she is still in university and we need to wait until she is done for financial reasons...

Do I think it is religious, Of course not. Do I think it is important? Well, I think it is something to be respected, which is why I am 35 and have not been married before, nor have I had any children. What are the benefits? Well, tax write offfs for one... Otherwise, Im doing it as much for her sake as I am doing it for my taxes. And for Love!

Answer 8

Well, if you're common law married, there isn't any legal reason. Do you want to be married in a ceremony? If either of you wants to be, then you should follow through with it. If neither of you cares to, then don't.

Humans rarely mate for life, but love is a powerful thing- even in this age of reason. Whatever you decide, I wish you many happy years together in marriage or "in sin", and may your children grow healthy, strong, and clever.

(That last part's sorta like a curse. LOL "May you have smart children". No thanks!)

Answer 9

Atheist here.

Marriage is both a ritual and a contract. If all you desire is the contract, and this suits you and your husband, more power to you.

However, I am strongly ritualistic -- I do not believe in deities but I still do ritual to honor Fenrirulfr (Fenris Wolf of Norse mythology) and Sekhmet (of Egyptian mythology). I find that the psychodrama of ritual provides structure and meaning to things that otherwise are mundane. So when I find the guy for whom I'll give the vow, "I surrender myself and accept what is mine," you better believe there's going to be some ritual involved -- bring leather.

Answer 10

Marriage is the ritualistic union of two individuals into one, and every human culture in history has engaged in some kind of marriage ceremony. It is not a matter of romantic love, or of reproduction, but of submission of one's self to the greater whole of the union. The ceremony is an important step in solidifying the union.