Is marriage a social construct? | Namibia (2024)

Is marriage a social construct imposed by society, or is it established by the Divine Cosmic Entity—God?

Merriam-Webster defines marriage as "the state of being joined as spouses in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law."

 

According to history, the first marriage occurred in 2350 BC, in Mesopotamia, and has remained popular and practiced by the Greeks, Hebrews, and Romans ever since.

 

However, according to Christianity—a religion that widely practices marriage and believes that sex is only applicable after a marital union—marriage is defined as "a God-ordained, covenant relationship between a man and a woman."

 

According to the Bible, the first marriage took place in the Garden of Eden, when God created Eve (the first physical woman) from Adam's ribs, whom Adam took as his wife.

 

Edward Phillips provides what may be the first English dictionary definition of marriage in his New World of Words (1706): a Civil Contract, by which a Man and a Woman are joined together, for mutual Society and Help, the lawful begetting of Children, &c.

This definition defines marriage as a written contract, agreement, or consensus between a man and a woman that is recognized by state law.

 

Marriage has significant benefits for couples, such as companionship, unity, and a change in lifestyle.

 

Couples benefit financially from each other as well as from marital tax deductions.

 

It reduces the effort required to raise children while strengthening family bonds, resulting in the creation of healthy and long-lasting homes and societies.

 

Although marriage has some drawbacks, such as spouses revealing their true personalities (true colors), which they attempted to conceal prior to the marriage process.

 

These problems (mostly unmentioned) arise when couples decide to marry and begin living together. Nonetheless, the benefits of marriage outweigh the drawbacks.

 

Some religions, cultures, and regions prohibit cohabitation before marriage, whereas it is common in other groups and cultures.

 

Marriage is not a social construct; rather, individuals in society advocate for transformational change so that marriage can meet their personal preferences, even if these standards ignore the true nature of marriage.

 

As a result, claiming that marriage is a social construct diminishes the significance of this sacred union.

 

This idea destroys the original purpose and precept based on the existence of marriage, which was originally designed by the Marriage Architect.