by betty warner

Created on: July 11, 2008   Last Updated: January 19, 2009

The whole issue of marriage has become one of the most confusing one of our times. It is hard for me to choose a side for this debate. I never would have thought that I would ever have to answer such a question. From my childhood the matter was very simple. You meet a man or a woman and fall in love and get married. That was it. Just living together was really unacceptable or rebellious and oftentimes reasons for family shame. Many wanted and unwanted quests have come to partake in the marriage union or marriage "bed". It is unclear which deviled it. Religious doctrine, politics, science, or the moralities of personal choice have all taken up shop over this ancient tradition. I read somewhere that man shall be destroyed by his own traditions.

It is interesting that all of these players have sound and solid bases to draw from, but at the same time they lend themselves to interpretation. This insures that the debate will be never ending. Religion is at the core of one's belief system. It is not very amenable to change. Given certain societal factors or events these believers can begin to change their views. Politics is a vehicle that is instructive and does apply particular penalties and forms of protection for the "other" thinkers in our society. It certainly can put the economic spin on things. Politics weathers the storm with its "which ever way the wind blows"attitude as long as the wind is blowing in the right direction.

Science has catapulted this debate to eye popping and heart pavultating heights. With its engineering prowess and fly- in-your- face attitude towards spiritual explanations we are even more confused or mesmerized. It has now helped to challenge our psychological and visual senses leading us to question our understanding of feminine and masculine identity. You know science though. It states that something is a fact according empirical evidence, maybe. I am sure that the religious and legal communities just love it. Traditions and changing values based on great many things that support and develop new kinds of behaviors and the degree to which we place their acceptance on the morality scale. In the final analysis, people will choose and work it out somehow. That is the basic nature of the human.

Marriage is a blending of the mind, body, and spirit to experience the issues of this life. Whether it is with two people or four people, male or female (if you know what that means) it is to be honest and directed towards high and long-lasting harmonious goals. Hopefully, this on-going debate will lead us all to think that regardless of all other circumstanceswe are people first and that is what is most important.

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