Question

What is the point of marriage?

It holds no benefit over those who are not married, so why has marriage been a, "thing" for such a long period?

Answer 1

Well it's been a "thing" for so long because throughout history most religions believed that for a woman and a man to, you know, have a family and all of that, they must be married and committed to eachother. I guess that from that marriage evolved into what we know today, and people see it as a way to prove their love to eachother, it's the beginning of a life together and all of that stuff that comes along with "commitment". It's such a big thing mainly because society has been made to think like that for so long, if you solely look at its benefits, I agree with you it has none over those who aren't married.

Answer 2

Yet married people, tend to live a couple years longer...

Answer 3

I guess that has to do with them being happy together and the fact that happiness plays an important role on the health. If someone's unhappy they're likely to not take care of themselves, attempt to end their life etc.

Answer 4

Part of it is religious, but even if you discount that there is the public declaration of love. Also, marriage is a social construct that deal with legal responsibility and consequences. A form of public contract. If you look at those, you suddenly have three different aspects to it: religious, personal, and societal. They are not all there is too it but do make for some good starting points.

Answer 5

A woman always knows she is the biological mother if she gets pregnant, but the father has no such certainty. This reality is a part of the human condition that every culture has had to answer, and most answered with marriage.

Most marriages are monogamous or polygynous, which ensures that a woman is married to no more than one man. The father of her children can be assumed to be said man if one assumes there was no sex outside of marriage. If you can't secure paternity in this way, it's absurd to expect a man to support a child that is likely some other man's child.

Other philosophical reasons for marriage likely just came after the fact. Marriage happens independent of religion. Marriage can be romantic or calculated.

Marriage still exists today, because not enough people deeply question the act. Instead just do it because it is convention.

The studies about marriage leading to happier or longer life should not be trusted. They are mainly propaganda. It's important to understand that there are few who stand to gain anything by ending marriage collectively, but many who stand to gain by keeping it around. There is not only a big wedding industry, but there is also a divorce industry which the government utilizes mainly for the sake of redistributing wealth.

Answer 6

Thank you, wio. :-)

Answer 7

"The studies about marriage leading to happier or longer life should not be trusted. They are mainly propaganda." \(\leftarrow\) Yah, other studies show the same benefits can be had with relationships that don't involve marriage. It comes down to the quality of the relationships, and not marital status.