Non-Christians: What does "marriage" mean to you?

Question

Self-explanatory, I think.

Sorry, the question is self explanatory, not marriage.

Ah, so many people making assumptions about my thoughts and beliefs when the question clearly includes none of these.

Answer 1

Marriage is a LEGAL institution. By that, I mean that it is recognized by the law. It is the government's recognition of two adults who identify as spouses.

Now if you want to ADDITIONALLY attach religious significance to to the marriage, or do something else to make it more personal and meaningful to YOU, fine. You're free to do so. Just as others are free NOT to do so. That's why we have Justices of Peace, army chaplains, and countless other people who can conduct a secular (let alone non-Christian) wedding ceremony that's still just as legally-binding as one performed in a church.

Answer 2

Hello,

Firstly, I am a non-Christian, non-Religious, and a Free Thinker.

Secondly, I believe in unions of every sort. Regardles of Gender or Sexual preferences.

Thirdly, traditional marriage was made legal centuries ago by the established or institutionalized religions, and the State, for the following reasons:

* To ensure social and collective stability within the collective group, tribe, village, or parish.

* To ensure that taxes could be collected, and the fileds tilled for the Land Owners, Nobels, Church, and Kings.

*By making the union between a Male and a Female legal/mandatory, the authorities could be assured of taxes, children to work in the fields, servants to serve the masters, and the bankers to get rich from Loans & Mortgages.

Therefore, without the institution of marriage being LEGAL, many children would not have financial support, proper up-bringing, some form of Education, and there would be more Mass-iliteracy!

BringBaka

Answer 3

Marriage is primarily an economic arrangement, an insurance pact. It differs from the ordinary life insurance agreement only in that it is more binding, more exacting. Its returns are insignificantly small compared with the investments. In taking out an insurance policy one pays for it in dollars and cents, always at liberty to discontinue payments. Marriage and love have nothing in common; they are as far apart as the poles; are, in fact, antagonistic to each other. No doubt some marriages have been the result of love. Not, however, because love could assert itself only in marriage; much rather is it because few people can completely outgrow a convention.

That marriage is a failure none but the very stupid will deny. One has but to glance over the statistics of divorce to realize how bitter a failure marriage really is.

Answer 4

i would hope it means the same thing to everyone regardless of religious beliefs..... I am a good person because i want to be a good person not because i am fearful that God will punish me when i die. Marriage means being faithful, loving, understanding, putting someone elses needs before my own, forgiving and many more things that i am sure are the same as the "Christan's". What a ridiculous question! This is why "non Christan's" want to stay non-Christan's, because of stupid crap like this. Just because i didn't have someone bless my marriage means that i think a marriage is completely different than what you think it is? So apparently the "non Christan's" must look at marriage as a free-for-all and we are the only ones that cheat, lie and get divorced.... sorry honey, those Christan's that get married in a church get divorced just as often as anyone else does.

Answer 5

First, I would like to say, this is a bit of a dumb question.
Okay, I am a non-Christian.
Marriage is about sharing your life with someone(preferably your best friend, I know mine is) who shares similar goals, views and moral code. Its about a higher degree of respect and consideration and this mean sometimes doing or not doing things you may not see as a big deal simply for the comfort(mental or physical) of your spouse.

There is no "I" in love.

Its a partnership(or should be) and not about one person being over the other. I like my husband to be a dominant figure, this dosnt mean he isnt my equal or he gets to abuse me. We share major decisions and there isnt "his job" or "her job". Im a sahm so obviously I do all the parenting and cleaning when he isnt home but he comes home right after work and is also a parent, he dosnt plop down on the couch and he dosnt go out, leaving me and the kids alone. Marriage is about putting family first. Infidelity not only hurts your spouse but if the cheating is found out about, you have risked tearing apart the stable family life of your children because if you divorce because you dont know where you belong. Im not against 3-somes and such but thats to be done as a COUPLE only.

Answer 6

For me, there is no holy union, no religious connotation. It is a legal union sanctioned by the government that spells out rights and obligations. It comes in many forms around the world. Slightly more personal than a business partnership but governed in much the same way. Traditional religious marriage assumes faith, but is not necessarily recognized legally without the legal formalities. What it really boils down to for me is forming a close personal partnership with another person that becomes a legally recognized union.

Answer 7

A physical and spiritual union,hopefully binding two otherwise lonely souls together for life,to support and love each other. A mate. My marriage didn't work out - but I've always regretted that. I wish I'd tried harder. Problems are inevitable,but when you're young they all seem insurmountable - might as well throw in the towel. Plus,it was what my mom wanted (she hated him). Marriage means what those traditional vows said - "in good times and in bad". I believe in marriage,and appreciate it - but a lot too late I'm afraid. I don't see the question as relating to religiosity,by the way.

Answer 8

To me marriage is a commitment between two consenting adults. A commitment of mind, body and soul. It means that he and I both are committed to being faithful to each other on many levels. It means we have expressed our feelings for each other and are hopeful that over the years our love will deepen, mature and grow even more beautiful.

It is a commitment between each other and our Creator or God, but not a commitment between each other and the government!

It means we will raise our children together, and try to be the best parents we can possibly be.

Marriage means compromise and talking things out and not just giving up when things get rough or someone does not get their way!

Marriage is binding and beautiful. It means great sex and the freedom to be who we are on a sexual, mental and physical level because of trust!

Marriage means a lot to this non Christian!

Answer 9

marriage is the commitment between two people. Doesnt matter to me if they are the same sex, race, religion. If you are committed to another person and you put that other persons feelings and wants before your own then you are blessed to have a good marriage. Marriage is also knowing that you are not alone in this world,. That you have someone there to turn to. Marriage is knowing that in one persons eyes you are loved unconditionally and completly with all of your faults Marriage is knowing where my best friend is all of the time (my husband). Marriage is all of this and yet so much more.

Answer 10

Im a non-christian because Im not married. Why should I believe in a lazy God who won't take care of the needs of his followers. Marriage to me is an insult because I feel to old and the courtship part of my life is over. I would benifit nothing from marriage and I don't need it for sex. If a woman wanted to care for me she should have done it by now, and now that I'm secure financially I don't want to get involved with gold diggers. sex buddies are better anyway and safer than casual relationships. this was written by a 35 year old agnostic.

Answer 11

What isn't self explanatory is why you think non-Christians have a different meaning of marriage.
Did you know that Jews have the lowest divorce rate of any religious group in the US? Do you think they don't understand marriage or that only Christians do? Your question isn't self explanatory at all.