[apartment 6]

the sacrament
Ever since christian mentioned that he's adamantly opposed to marriage, i began thinking about why he felt that way. What's a marriage license anyway? Silly term.

Most ancient societies needed an organized method of perpetuating species and keeping track of property rights, so they created the idea of the contract of marriage. In fact, the notion of love as we know it today was not associated with marriage until medieval times :: Even now, societies such as those in India and Indonesia arrange marriages.

So what does marriage mean in Western society? With a 50% divorce rate, we all know that a piece of paper with a Federal seal does not guarantee longevity in a relationship. Can't people stay in love for 50+ years without having to sign a contract to officiate it?

As mentioned before, marriage used to have utility. The function of handling property rights have been transferred to lawyers, however, and marriage has thus evolved into a symbol of a bond between two people. This bond does not materialize by virtue of a marriage contract. Rather, Love is exchanged --not a sort of romanticized other worldly gift that happens to fall upon two people. Hollywood and pop culture, however, seem to speak of it as though it were indeed of such origins.

Will two people love each other more once they're wearing rings? Love does not blossom because of an officiality. I don't think people should be getting married under the guise that it grants permanency--you'd be fooling yourself. Perhaps, obligation is all that it grants. But who would ever want to feel obligated?

I don't understand the purpose of marriage. What's wrong with staying with someone for a very long time--even until death. If i find the right person, i will love them the same whether or not they're wearing a ring. I don't need a ring to make myself feel better about the stability of a relationship.