“Is Marriage “Just a Piece of Paper”?”
Of course it is NOT...When a man is required by law(s) to forfeit real estate and pay his former spouse alimony, child support, lose custody of children, etc., plus legal fees involved in divorce or be sent to jail, how can it be just a piece of paper???
In every long-term cohabitation situation I’ve personally known, it boils down to the man being unwilling to legally commit. Eventually, the woman decides to stay with him anyway and she’s the one who’s saying, “oh, it’s just a piece of paper.” But in the beginning, she’s the one who wanted the commitment. She settles when he won’t.
I would suggest that marriage be strictly a church covenant. You would get married in the church, synagog or whatever of your choice. At the same time you fill out your government partnership paperwork for taxes , benefits from SS and inherentance and responsibility of any children.
You can do the partnership without the ‘marriage’, but not the reverse.
This takes government out of that aspect of our lives.