Dude, they'd been saying that since the liberalization of divorce laws that came about more or less at the same time as Vatican II, I think.
Dunno about the USA, but in Canada, common-law is recognized. And what's worse than a loyal couple living common law (if you're somehow against that concept and think a piece of paper or a church service is somehow necessary or magic) is actual married couples who cheat or have an "open" relationship, which makes the whole idea of "marriage" a mockery. And don't get me started on how silly the fucking wedding industry has become. Anyone with half a brain should just elope and use the money they save on the wedding on a goddamn house.
which makes the whole idea of "marriage" a mockery
Marriage was a mockery from the moment it ceased to be an agreement made with God and became a government recognized tax scheme.
Heck, we can go back further and say marriage was dead the moment a bunch of hedonistic "artists" started hyping up "passion and romance" as the most important part of couplehood.
The modern conception of "love" is actually a nightmare. Love is a continual choice. Or a description of an established state of being (see Fiddler on the Roof). It is a component in marriage, but probably doesn't even crack top 5 in importance.
Dude, they'd been saying that since the liberalization of divorce laws that came about more or less at the same time as Vatican II, I think.
Dunno about the USA, but in Canada, common-law is recognized. And what's worse than a loyal couple living common law (if you're somehow against that concept and think a piece of paper or a church service is somehow necessary or magic) is actual married couples who cheat or have an "open" relationship, which makes the whole idea of "marriage" a mockery. And don't get me started on how silly the fucking wedding industry has become. Anyone with half a brain should just elope and use the money they save on the wedding on a goddamn house.
Marriage was a mockery from the moment it ceased to be an agreement made with God and became a government recognized tax scheme.
Heck, we can go back further and say marriage was dead the moment a bunch of hedonistic "artists" started hyping up "passion and romance" as the most important part of couplehood.
The modern conception of "love" is actually a nightmare. Love is a continual choice. Or a description of an established state of being (see Fiddler on the Roof). It is a component in marriage, but probably doesn't even crack top 5 in importance.
It basically boils down to "being able to put up with each others' bullshit while also being able to work together to run a functioning household."
Which, barring mental illness, is a choice, rather than a magic field.