Tribe, church, clan. Weren't they government ? Not because they have the permission of people ? What about dowries or asking her father for her hand ? What about the duty of her kinsmen to kill you if you dishonered her and thereby destroyed her marital value ?
So you see marriage has always been backed up by coercive agencies.
Marriage always contains support, legal and property obligations that are enforced by the laws of the society at large and the threat of ostracism. It was never just two people saying they love each other.
Ruh-roh. The "nuke the Ay-rabs" contingent is going to be all over you when they find out that you defend the concept of "honor killing".
Not legitimate government. Any person or persons with sufficient force can exert power over others, that is not legitimate government, it is power.
What about dowries or asking her father for her hand ?
Many groups of people belived in the ownership of other human beings. They therefore sold them and bought them. That is illegitimate power.
What about the duty of her kinsmen to kill you if you dishonered her and thereby destroyed her marital value ?
Slavery often inspires defending what the slave holder conciders property.
So you see marriage has always been backed up by coercive agencies.
Many bad things, including slavery, are backed by force.
It was never just two people saying they love each other.
Nonsense, people are married because of promises made to and before GOD. Not people with guns.