Marriage

[Relambrien]

I caught a snippet of a CNN broadcast about declining marriage rates in the U.S.--rates are 20% down in the last ten years--just now. Following that, there was a discussion about why this could be, what are the repercussions, etc. Now, that was a CNN thing and I know the Internet doesn't like CNN, so what are your thoughts on this?

Here's what I'm thinking. At least one half of marriages in the U.S. end in divorce, and that's deterring younger couples from marrying. What's the reason for this? I don't think a less-responsible society combined with needs for instant gratification are completely the problem, rather, I think people's standards have risen a lot.

Think back to before the 1920s in America, casual dating was almost nonexistent. You had one relationship with one person your entire life, and that was the person you married. Even if there were arguments and strife, your oath to God necessitated that you remain together and forced you to resolve the issue.

Then the 1920s came along and people began to have casual relationships--dating didn't mean you would marry. With this, people had a choice about who they could have relationships with so they began to expect more. If a relationship wasn't working out, end it and find a better one.

I think now that trend is working its way into marriage. The whole "oath to God" thing isn't nearly as important, and with the accessibility and social acceptance of divorce, ending marriages today could possibly be compared to ending dating relationships from the 1920s. People get into a relationship and it's working out, so they get married, but then problems arise. However, rather than work 100% to solve these problems--and if they're irreconcilable, live with them--just get a divorce instead. The end result is a much higher divorce rate that turns away younger couples from the concept of marriage.

I've also heard assertions that cohabitation rather than marriage gives an economic benefit, but I can't honestly say I know anything about that. Additionally, some people claim that the lack of a formal "marriage" decreases stress in a relationship, since there's no set rules or standards to adhere to, thus making problems easier to solve.

What does marriage give, anyway? A chance for couples to express their undying love through a formal joining under the eyes of God? If that's it, then why do couples -need- a formal ceremony to know they love each other dearly? Is God used as an omnipotent third-party, giving validation to the couple's claims of devotion?

What do you all think? Should marriage be as important as it is traditionally considered, or is this decreased focus a good thing for society?