Before I get into this article I wanted to give an update on the podcast situation. Podcasts.com no longer works so I've switched to Podomatic.com. This means that there is a new rss feed, new stitcher feed, and hopefully an itunes feed. I'll be posting the links on Twitter (@SkylarRuloff) when they become available. The newest episode is called "Free War For Everyone."
My topic for today, like my previous article, is not typically brought up in An-Cap circles. Marriage has been viewed as a holy sacrament that never is questioned by anyone. Atheists, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Socialists, Libertarians, the Right, the Left, the old, and the young all view marriage as the end goal in the search of love. I hope to shed some light on this myth in this article.
My topic for today, like my previous article, is not typically brought up in An-Cap circles. Marriage has been viewed as a holy sacrament that never is questioned by anyone. Atheists, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Socialists, Libertarians, the Right, the Left, the old, and the young all view marriage as the end goal in the search of love. I hope to shed some light on this myth in this article.
What Is Marriage?
First, let's get a definition of marriage:
Any of the diverse forms of interpersonal union established in various parts of the world to form a familial bond that is recognized legally, religiously, or socially, granting the participating partners mutual conjugal rights and responsibilities. -Dictionary.com
Now let's break this down.
recognized legally, religiously, or socially
1 As stated many times before, the State is evil, so who cares about legality?
2 As stated many times before, religion is evil, so who gives a fuck about that?
3 As stated many times before, culture is evil, so who ... I think you get the point.
So all a marriage is, is a relationship that is then fucked with by the government, religion, and culture.
Government and Marriage
You know what really improves a relationship? Government!
When you love somebody, and you want to take that relationship to the next level, getting lawyers, tax forms, judges, and really as many federal employees involved as possible will send you to cloud nine.
All sarcasm aside, the government will not improve your relationships. Believe it or not, you can have a loving, life long relationship without changing your tax forms. Honestly, I don't have anything else to say for this section. It's pretty straightforward. If you some how need further explanation, watch the video below. If you still don't get it, leave a comment below.
First, let's get a definition of marriage:
Any of the diverse forms of interpersonal union established in various parts of the world to form a familial bond that is recognized legally, religiously, or socially, granting the participating partners mutual conjugal rights and responsibilities. -Dictionary.com
Now let's break this down.
recognized legally, religiously, or socially
1 As stated many times before, the State is evil, so who cares about legality?
2 As stated many times before, religion is evil, so who gives a fuck about that?
3 As stated many times before, culture is evil, so who ... I think you get the point.
So all a marriage is, is a relationship that is then fucked with by the government, religion, and culture.
Government and Marriage
You know what really improves a relationship? Government!
When you love somebody, and you want to take that relationship to the next level, getting lawyers, tax forms, judges, and really as many federal employees involved as possible will send you to cloud nine.
All sarcasm aside, the government will not improve your relationships. Believe it or not, you can have a loving, life long relationship without changing your tax forms. Honestly, I don't have anything else to say for this section. It's pretty straightforward. If you some how need further explanation, watch the video below. If you still don't get it, leave a comment below.
Religion and Marriage
I've hammered religion enough on this site that I shouldn't have to write this section. If you still believe that there are people floating in the sky and watch everything you do, then you're probably too dumb to understand anything in this article.
The religious aspect mostly consists of the wedding. This is because most people just say they are religious, but really aren't (see podcast #22 You Aren't A Christian). Even parts of religion are thrown away during the wedding. In Christian weddings, the bride and groom are obviously supposed to be virgins since the whole premarital sex thing results in permanent burning in hell.
Culture and Marriage
Cultures affect on marriage stretch far and wide. Arranged marriage is part religious and part cultural, so let's start with that. Here we have a situation where families will force two people (who may not even know each other!) to marry. And can you guess how that culture feels about divorce?
Perhaps an even bigger effect of culture is that it is the main thing that keeps marriage going. (Most) governments can't force you to get married. (Most) religions can't force you to get married. Culture is the engine of marriage. It is the pressure from society to get married.
If you aren't married, then something must be wrong with you. If you have a girlfriend and don't propose, then you are a loser and she's leaving you. If you have kids and aren't married then your kids are bastards. This is how society gets you to slowly conform.
Sure, no one has a gun to your head like the government, or is threatening you with eternal suffering in hell like religion. However, the act of marriage only involves the state and religion; and culture is what powers it. If you have a happy relationship, there is no need to get married. Have you ever had a great friendship that lasted for many years? Did you feel the need to marry them? No, of course not. You just enjoyed each others company. You never thought about doing your taxes or some silly religious ritual together.
So what can you do about this? DON'T GET MARRIED! But, seriously, there are many steps. The most important one is of course, don't get married. You can decide to be more hardcore about this and not go to any weddings, but that could easily end friendships if your friends don't get you're ideas on marriage.
I've hammered religion enough on this site that I shouldn't have to write this section. If you still believe that there are people floating in the sky and watch everything you do, then you're probably too dumb to understand anything in this article.
The religious aspect mostly consists of the wedding. This is because most people just say they are religious, but really aren't (see podcast #22 You Aren't A Christian). Even parts of religion are thrown away during the wedding. In Christian weddings, the bride and groom are obviously supposed to be virgins since the whole premarital sex thing results in permanent burning in hell.
Culture and Marriage
Cultures affect on marriage stretch far and wide. Arranged marriage is part religious and part cultural, so let's start with that. Here we have a situation where families will force two people (who may not even know each other!) to marry. And can you guess how that culture feels about divorce?
Perhaps an even bigger effect of culture is that it is the main thing that keeps marriage going. (Most) governments can't force you to get married. (Most) religions can't force you to get married. Culture is the engine of marriage. It is the pressure from society to get married.
If you aren't married, then something must be wrong with you. If you have a girlfriend and don't propose, then you are a loser and she's leaving you. If you have kids and aren't married then your kids are bastards. This is how society gets you to slowly conform.
Sure, no one has a gun to your head like the government, or is threatening you with eternal suffering in hell like religion. However, the act of marriage only involves the state and religion; and culture is what powers it. If you have a happy relationship, there is no need to get married. Have you ever had a great friendship that lasted for many years? Did you feel the need to marry them? No, of course not. You just enjoyed each others company. You never thought about doing your taxes or some silly religious ritual together.
So what can you do about this? DON'T GET MARRIED! But, seriously, there are many steps. The most important one is of course, don't get married. You can decide to be more hardcore about this and not go to any weddings, but that could easily end friendships if your friends don't get you're ideas on marriage.