A Tribute to Forever: A Walk Down the Aisle of the Evolution of Marriage

1090 Words3 Pages

There are many ways in which one can describe and define marriage. There are legal, biblical and personal definitions, each with its own distinct basis for its definition, but which is the right one? The decision of which definition is the right one depends on where one lives and what one believes. Marriage has evolved throughout history. In today’s society there are many different types of unions that can be viewed as marriage. Today, when one thinks of marriage, they usually think of two people, deeply in love, who decide to bind their lives together through a legal process. Such is not always the case, with “common-law marriages” (as it is not a legal process). There are many reasons other than love that can constitute the bond of marriage. Marriage has different meanings for everyone, depending on the economic situation, era and the culture in which they live. The main idea has always been the same, no matter the situation; people get married for the sake of security. This can be seen through the many different types of unions and their similarities in which they possess.

Marriage or wedlock is defined as a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found. Anthropologists have proposed several competing definitions of marriage so as to encompass the wide variety of marital practices observed across cultures. (By Wikipedia, as well as many other numerous sites, 2011)

One may ask does the above definition thoroughly explain or clearly define any type of union. The answer obviously is no. There are ...

... middle of paper ...

...phanie Coontz. (n.d.). Welcome! - Author Stephanie Coontz. Retrieved November 4, 2011, from http://www.stephaniecoontz.com/books/marriage/

Marriage, a History | Psychology Today. (n.d.). Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist. Retrieved November 4, 2011, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200505/marriage-history

Origins of the wedding ring. (n.d.). Origins of the wedding ring. Retrieved November 4, 2011, from http://www.weddingringorigins.com/

S.E.. (n.d.). The History of Marriage. The History of Marriage. Retrieved November 4, 2011, from http://www.richeast.org/htwm/Greeks/marriage/marriage.html

The Canadian Encyclopedia. (n.d.). The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 4, 2011, from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved December 14, 2011, from http://wikipedia.com

Open Document