[DAnconia55]

You are missing that the marriage contract is really a three party contract, not a two party contract. In exchange for recognizing the husband and wife's marriage contract the state puts obligations on the parties to the contract.

Hey, I got a novel idea. Let's go back to making marriage entirely a religious ceremony. And get the interfering slave manufacturing government out of the picture...

[VRWC_minion]

Hey, I got a novel idea. Let's go back to making marriage entirely a religious ceremony.

I too held the same idea once. After further thought I wondered why such a concept as a 3 way contract where ths state is a party came about. There had to be practical reasons.

Then I saw that the state has a vested interest in many aspects of the marriage contract which include the children's welfare and a dependent spouse.

If we remove from marriage the obligations imposed upon the spouses, the state will be forced to accept these obligations. In addition to the huge financial cost the social costs will be extensive.