 There have been MANY "redefinitions" of marriage over the times. It started out as a contract between two men exchanging goods for goods (goats for a woman) - and a man could have as many of these marriage contracts as he could afford.
Over the years, it has been redefined by who may/may not enter into such contracts, which have been limited to people of different race, religion, ethnicity, etc.
It has only been in the past fifty years in the U.S. that people of different races were legally allowed to marry. There are still some religions that will not endorse a marriage of mixed faith couples and will refuse to perform such ceremonies.
The laws defining who is legally permitted to enter a marriage contract has evolved as mankind gains knowledge, wisdom, experience and compassion.
That which does not evolve will stagnate and rot. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Conservatism: Self-centered mean-spiritedness fueled by ignorance and misguided self-importance.
Bigotry is a social disease.
Legalized same-sex marriage almost certainly benefits those same-sex couples who choose to marry, as well as the children being raised in those homes. - David Blankenhorn is president of the New York-based Institute for American Values and the author of "The Future of Marriage."
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