Since we are trying to define marriage, why don't we start with a definition of 'traditional marriage'.

What is 'traditional marriage'? Does it vary from culture to culture? What are the implications of 'traditional marriage' on modern society? I keep hearing this phrase 'traditional marriage', and what it means to me might not be the same as others.

When I think of 'traditional marriage', I think of the typical 1950's relationship. One man, one woman, two kids. The man goes out and earns the living while the woman stays home and tends to the house and to the children. While it's a warm fuzzy image, it's no longer reality. With divorce rates jumping through the roof, average incomes stagnant, and increasing teen pregnancy rates it's easy to see the threats to 'traditional marriage'.

I can draw a direct link between the need for two working adults being required to make ends meet and the weakening of 'traditional marriage'. I can draw a link between the increasingly mobile society and a weakening of 'traditional marriage'. What I cannot seem to link to the weakening of 'traditional marriage' is an expansion of the legal definition of the institution.

We should be working towards a living wage where each family unit can have one primary worker that supports the family instead of requiring two. We should be working towards improving the quality of our relationships by spending time with one another instead of vegging out in front of the television. We should provide adequate legal support that encourages reconciliation over separation. We should do all of these things but we should not try to limit access to the benefits of marriage because traditional or not, it's a union of love based upon a foundation of trust. But that's just my opinion. *shrug* I've been wrong before.

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Jesus Was A Liberal

If a certain course of action makes the mouth-breathers furious, then that’s a good policy. – The Practical Environmentalist

'Traditional Marriage' includes that of one man, one woman in holy matrimony. It may or may not include children (although traditionally it usually did include children). Marriage in the Bible is that of a man and a woman cleaving to become one flesh. That is a God instituted definition of Marriage.

I think the "traditional" stems from the fact that in most normal/natural instances, a "family" starts with a man and woman coming together as a couple and starting out to take on the world. There are many variations on the social support for that unit, and there may be circumstances that create disruption to the "system", but the male/female combination is pretty much universal all the way down to plants. "Traditional marriage" only describes the makeup of the gender involved IMHO. But what the actual people choose to do with the union is a totally different issue altogether. Individuals are prone to many varied behaviors.

"Tradition" is just a fancy word for "it's always been done that way."

By itself, a pretty flimsy reason to keep "doing it that way."

Especially when most things have not ALWAYS been done a single particular way, least of all marriage.

Traditional marriage and family units have been shown to be stronger and more advantageous then those that are not. Children raised in the more traditional family systems are generally more successful and happier later in life than those who are not. Marriages who put 'family first' generally have a stronger foundation than those that do not.


Townhall.com::Sensible Family Values Endangered::By Kathryn Jean Lopez

so what?
the children of upper middle class white protestants are shown to be more successful later in life.
so?

That's obvious, Tris. We should immediately pass laws against those of lesser income having and raising children.

Likewise, non-protestants should be forced to turn their children over to the state for redistribution to protestant families.

It may sound a little harsh, but it's all for the good of the children!
Only a person who hates children would be against sensible policies such as these.
You don't HATE CHILDREN do you? Well, DO YOU?

That all sounds good, but what does any of it MEAN, beyond the simple and obvious truism?

I mean, plants that are watered generally have stronger root systems than those that are not. The plant cares very little about the sexual orientation or income level of the person holding the watering can.

Disqualifying anyone from parenting based on anything other than their parenting skills is just silly at best, and a human rights violation at worst.

I am not saying that at all. The subject here was Traditional Marriage in which the OP was questioning and attempting to poke holes in. I do realize that not all children will be raised in a traditional family 'model'; I was only stating that the traditional family 'model' generally does better in society that one that does not.