[Asheis]

Marriage doesn't really serve the same purpose in our culture (western, Americanized, and other "love" cultures) that its served for much of history.

The very real problem with our marriages is how weak they are. Marriages in other cultures (while being very symbolic) are also a VERY functional practice. In western culture, we don't really treat them this way.

Basically, what marriage historically comes down to is both expanding a family's social alliances (e.g. if you get in trouble one year with your crops, I have an obligation to help you out because your son is married to my daughter), or providing a link that will keep two people together so they can provide and take care of a child or children.

When you marry for love (I'm a terribly romantic person, so this is what I’ll marry for) you're essentially taking a gamble. Which in arranged marriages you don't have to worry about, because you're marrying someone for their ability to provide for you and your children. You're also marrying their family, in case you come into some trouble.

I'm not sure exactly how long it is, but after the first two years, the chemical response to "love" cuts off, and you're on your own. This means that after those first few years, your chances of divorce basically skyrocket. That's exactly where the typical "love marriages" tend to fall apart.

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With that background aside, my main points are thus: Marriage is an important binding agreement that isn't entirely symbolic (in every culture, married people have responsibilities that go along with being married), and that the reason for so many divorces in "love" cultures is because the hormones stop pumping. Love marriages are a VERY recent thing in the world.

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I know I'm going to get married. I'll do it for love, but I won't forget the real purpose it's supposed to serve.

Hah... I really dig the cultural anthropology classes i've been taking at my college. You learn all sorts of neat things.. ^.^