For me, marriage is more about a life long commitment than it is about love. Love is important but in many relationships it is fickle.
A life long commitment, that's sincere, true and constantly renewed has staying power through the ups and downs, and can remain even when the love seems like it isn't there.
Love is an emotion and emotions can change based on circumstances but the goal with marriage is to state that you will remain together regardless of the changes that occur.
If a person is against marriage I can imagine that they might want to do something else to state their life long commitment, but I don't see a need to invest a new method of stating a life-long commitment when we already have marriage.
If you can't or won't get married, which is itself a symbol of commitment, covenant, and promise, then how can you say, you have committed to your partner?
com·mit·ment
/kəˈmitmənt/Submit
noun
1.
the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.
"her commitment to her students continued undiminished"
2.
an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.
"business commitments"
synonyms: responsibility, obligation, duty, tie, charge, liability, burden, pressure; More
I will agree that you can behave as if you are dedicated, you can come home everyday, not cheat, etc, but you are not committed in the sense of having a restriction upon your freedom.
To be married is to say 1) I will behave as if I am dedicated to you, AND 2) I agree to restrict my freedom of action, which means in this context that I will not cheat, nor leave you, until death do us part.
So I strongly disagree that marriage is unnecessary.
Also, it has always seemed ironic to me that people denounce marriage while still defending the idea of "committment", it seems the same as having a friend you cherish but never telling them so. Because the act of marriage is a public declaration of precisely the thing you say you want to offer "committment" and yet you are not offering.
Like a person who likes a friend, but never tells him/her so. Might they know you like them? Sure, will they ever know the full extent of your feelings? Probably not...
For me, marriage is more about a life long commitment than it is about love. Love is important but in many relationships it is fickle.
A life long commitment, that's sincere, true and constantly renewed has staying power through the ups and downs, and can remain even when the love seems like it isn't there.
Love is an emotion and emotions can change based on circumstances but the goal with marriage is to state that you will remain together regardless of the changes that occur.
If a person is against marriage I can imagine that they might want to do something else to state their life long commitment, but I don't see a need to invest a new method of stating a life-long commitment when we already have marriage.
*I don't see a need to INVENT a new method
If you can't or won't get married, which is itself a symbol of commitment, covenant, and promise, then how can you say, you have committed to your partner?
com·mit·ment
/kəˈmitmənt/Submit
noun
1.
the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.
"the company's commitment to quality"
synonyms: dedication, devotion, allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, bond, adherence, attentiveness
"her commitment to her students continued undiminished"
2.
an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.
"business commitments"
synonyms: responsibility, obligation, duty, tie, charge, liability, burden, pressure; More
I will agree that you can behave as if you are dedicated, you can come home everyday, not cheat, etc, but you are not committed in the sense of having a restriction upon your freedom.
To be married is to say 1) I will behave as if I am dedicated to you, AND 2) I agree to restrict my freedom of action, which means in this context that I will not cheat, nor leave you, until death do us part.
So I strongly disagree that marriage is unnecessary.
Also, it has always seemed ironic to me that people denounce marriage while still defending the idea of "committment", it seems the same as having a friend you cherish but never telling them so. Because the act of marriage is a public declaration of precisely the thing you say you want to offer "committment" and yet you are not offering.
Like a person who likes a friend, but never tells him/her so. Might they know you like them? Sure, will they ever know the full extent of your feelings? Probably not...
Whatever...