What Constitutues a Biblical Marriage?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by SiblingRevelry

I wondered if someone was going to post that picture of marriages in the Bible.

I'd also note that until after the Civil War, slaves were not permitted to contract marriages recognized under law, because they were property. So the slaves came up with their own rituals (e.g., "jumping the broom") to mark their own relationships. It didn't matter to the slaveowners, if they wanted to break up families, for whatever reason, they did, and there was no law stopping them. I have to wonder about the long-term impacts of a couple hundred years of constantly looming familial destabilization. It's not something that changed overnight, either. Up until 1967, interracial marriages were illegal in many states.

(I still remember my shock when I found my family's surname on a list of names to be scrutinized by Virginia county clerks when issuing marriage licenses, in order to catch people who were trying to marry across the color line. I also know that some of my ancestors would move a few states away and then marry across the color line, in a place where they weren't known. It's a weird feeling to imagine your ancestors getting married in defiance of law.)

So marriage laws are not always just. Many men today refuse to marry because of the legal implications. An article I read stated that never before in history has a man stood to loose so much (up to 40% of his income in some cases) by marrying a woman.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Aquila

So marriage laws are not always just. Many men today refuse to marry because of the legal implications. An article I read stated that never before in history has a man stood to loose so much (up to 40% of his income in some cases) by marrying a woman.

It is the loss of income on TOP of half or more of his assets -regardless of how the ex is doing. This doesn't even factor in child support. It is amazing how many women complain about their NBA ex's not paying 30-60 grand a month in child support (and only paying 10) when their children obviously need it!