[bdeaner]

I was not suggesting there is a causal relationship between a bride dressing like a slut and the failure of marriage in contemporary society. I think it's actually a sign of something much deeper, along the lines of what you have pointed out. It's the symptom of the de-sacrilization of marriage, on the one hand, and a misunderstanding of the true function of marriage, on the other. Double failure.

First, marriage isn't about being madly in love with another person. That's the easy part. Marriage is about creating and sustaining a family, and in that function serving as the foundation of culture and society. When marriage loses its place and function, then the next step is the loss of the sacred aspects of the ceremony that marks its beginning: an outward sign of the degeneraiton of the meaning of marriage, sacramentally. At that point, what's the big deal with gay marriage? Heck, why not marry a goat if that's what you're into?

[pieceofthepuzzle]

I understand, and agree. I do, however, think that the part about being ‘madly in love’ with each other is crucial and not necessarily the ‘easy part’. i think it’s a lot easier to be madly attracted to each other. Love, true love that cherishes the soul of another human being and that involves a willingness to be giving without expecting in return, is much harder to find.

[LibertarianLiz]

First, marriage isn't about being madly in love with another person. That's the easy part. Marriage is about creating and sustaining a family, and in that function serving as the foundation of culture and society. When marriage loses its place and function, then the next step is the loss of the sacred aspects of the ceremony that marks its beginning: an outward sign of the degeneraiton of the meaning of marriage, sacramentally. At that point, what's the big deal with gay marriage? Heck, why not marry a goat if that's what you're into?

Boy, have you summed this up beautifully. Much better than any pundit I have heard on the subject. I believe my generation (baby boomers) have done pretty much everything they could to destroy the sanctity of marriage with the "anything goes" aspect that they used on everything else in life. Also, the attitude that one can take thinking that if it doesn't work out, just get divorced. Just another option, no tragedy.

When I married my husband, he was definitely wanting children and I wasn't so sure. One thing he said to me, though, really stuck: "If poor single women are the only ones having children, we (as a society) are in deep trouble." As I see the results of more and more single women having children, the more I see his wisdom, and know that he was right. (BTW, we have two daughters.)

[Slings and Arrows]

Causal, no - correlation, perhaps?

[metmom]

First, marriage isn't about being madly in love with another person. That's the easy part. Marriage is about creating and sustaining a family, and in that function serving as the foundation of culture and society. When marriage loses its place and function, then the next step is the loss of the sacred aspects of the ceremony that marks its beginning: an outward sign of the degeneraiton of the meaning of marriage, sacramentally. At that point, what's the big deal with gay marriage? Heck, why not marry a goat if that's what you're into?

Excellent.