When Is It Permissible to Marry?

[SalixIncendium]

My brother and sister-in-law, who are Catholic, were required to partake in a pre-marriage interview with the pastor of their church which was a process of multiple meetings that, as I understood it, was a form of the Church signing off on the marriage as a legitimate sacred covenant.

With such a high divorce rate in many nations, do you have a barometer in which it's morally permissible to get married? Does your religion have a similar process to Catholicism? If so, what is it?

 

[Sunstone]

Permissible? I'd say that a major condition is you have not falsely represented yourself to your prospective victim partner. And I don't think it's permissible to marry someone you have coerced, tricked, or trapped into marrying you unless her name is Rival. Then all bets are off.

 

[RedDragon94]

I think age and income both contribute to a person's ability to get married. Neither should be dispensed with.

 

[Orbit]

I think age and income both contribute to a person's ability to get married. Neither should be dispensed with.

Plenty of poor people get married, though recently there is a demographic trend that higher income people get married at higher rates.

 

[RedDragon94]

Plenty of poor people get married, though recently there is a demographic trend that higher income people get married at higher rates.

Which makes sense because there's more stability.

 

[Enoch07]

My brother and sister-in-law, who are Catholic, were required to partake in a pre-marriage interview with the pastor of their church which was a process of multiple meetings that, as I understood it, was a form of the Church signing off on the marriage as a legitimate sacred covenant.

With such a high divorce rate in many nations, do you have a barometer in which it's morally permissible to get married? Does your religion have a similar process to Catholicism? If so, what is it?

Being a non-denominational Christian.

Marriage imho has always been between the 2 people involved and God (if they are Christians). I never really understood why I need a "holy" man to justify that.

Legally yes someone has to approve a marriage license for the legal part. But that is different.

When I make a promise (vows) to my wife it is up to me to keep it, and she is responsible for keep her promise (vows) to me. Under God we promise (vow) to keep to each other and treat each other with love and respect. It's easier said than done of course. Marriage is very challenging and not for the faint of heart.


Disclaimer: This is how I personally feel. It is not how I think other should feel/live. Therefore I do not judge others if they disagree with it, and do differently.

 

[Frater Sisyphus]

Outside of consent and age (which shouldn't even have to be said), if both partners don't have a solid job - aka money coming in, then getting married and buying a house is useless. Getting married and moving back in with the parents is also....not advised.

I don't personally think marriage is particularly relevant if circumstances aren't right.

If both persons believe that marriage is the way to go for their relationship but they can't actually afford to put in the work to get themselves a stable living situation, then I would strongly advise against it.

I also think it is pathetic to get married for religious reasons, both arranged....and the typical "we want to have sex but not break the commandments" reason - them trying not to be "sexually immoral".

People don't realize how big of a leap marriage is, practically. I see/hear of people breaking up for all kinds of reasons all the time, some people aren't made for each other in the long-term - even if they fancy a bit of bedroom fun together.

Depending on where you live, owning a house is getting dearer and dearer every year. I wonder if it will get to the extent that the current young generations won't be able to even afford a house when they're adults

 

[Grandliseur]

My brother and sister-in-law, who are Catholic, were required to partake in a pre-marriage interview with the pastor of their church which was a process of multiple meetings that, as I understood it, was a form of the Church signing off on the marriage as a legitimate sacred covenant.

With such a high divorce rate in many nations, do you have a barometer in which it's morally permissible to get married? Does your religion have a similar process to Catholicism? If so, what is it?

Even when I belonged to a denomination, I could have gone to the city office and married - if the occasion had been there - without the church's blessing. There was never to my knowledge any teaching about this when I was young.

 

[dfnj]

My brother and sister-in-law, who are Catholic, were required to partake in a pre-marriage interview with the pastor of their church which was a process of multiple meetings that, as I understood it, was a form of the Church signing off on the marriage as a legitimate sacred covenant.

With such a high divorce rate in many nations, do you have a barometer in which it's morally permissible to get married? Does your religion have a similar process to Catholicism? If so, what is it?

The biggest danger to marriage in this country is not homosexuality but divorce!

 

[sun rise]

I think the biggest question is to be thoughtful about what marriage will really entail. Sometimes a third party, be it priest, rabbi, psychologist or whomever can be helpful.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

My brother and sister-in-law, who are Catholic, were required to partake in a pre-marriage interview with the pastor of their church which was a process of multiple meetings that, as I understood it, was a form of the Church signing off on the marriage as a legitimate sacred covenant.

With such a high divorce rate in many nations, do you have a barometer in which it's morally permissible to get married? Does your religion have a similar process to Catholicism? If so, what is it?

My ex-wife is (was?) Catholic, so I went through a Catholic marriage preparation course. To their credit, they only spent about a quarter of the class time on religious stuff and spent the rest mainly on conflict resolution and finances.

It didn’t work for us - we ended up getting divorced 7 years later, but I do think that the course was a good idea and probably reduced the likelihood of divorce for most of the couples there.

... but what I thought was absolutely toxic about the Catholic approach were their unhealthy positions on sexuality. Personally, not only do I think premarital sex should be allowed, I almost think it should be a requirement for marriage. This insistence on virginity at marriage from many denominations cheapens not only marriage but also the couple entering into the marriage. Marriage is too important an institution for people to rush into it just to get laid.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

The biggest danger to marriage in this country is not homosexuality but divorce!

In my case, the biggest danger to marriage turned out to be the Catholic Church... or at least my inability to accept its teachings.

 

[Aupmanyav]

With such a high divorce rate in many nations, do you have a barometer in which it's morally permissible to get married? Does your religion have a similar process to Catholicism? If so, what is it?

Yes, we have a 'barometer'. The parents make the readings and not religion. And the divorce rates are much lower. Parents check behavioural and financial situation in each other's families before they agree to the marriage of their children.