Is marriage unnatural?

i don't think it's unnatural. i think it's a beautiful thing. aslong as both parties are really committed and not just getting married for the sake of it.

Only if a human marries an animal.

Seriously, while I'm iffy about marriage, the institution does serve a purpose as a tool with which to control population. If everyone mated with whomever they wanted, most of us would've sunken to the bottom of the ocean by now.

Also, if a couple marries out of devotion and commitment to each other, that wouldn't be unnatural. If it's natural to some animals like wolves, swans, eagles, etc. to mate for life, then why can't we?

I think your boyfriend may fear marriage, due to a fear of committment and is using this, quite frankly, old and tired argument to wriggle out of it and maybe even absolve himself in advance for any two-timing or philandering. I could be wrong though. We aren't animals, not in that sense & we do have the ability to be monogamous. It's worth noting that the majority of believers in this principle are a)men and b)cheats - it's as if they're excusing their own lack of morals and self-control by saying this is how people are MEANT to act, but i agree with you - no it isn't! even certain species of animals mate for life, so it isn't even that out of the ordinary in the animal kingdom.
Not that marriage is for everyone, of course; you need to know 100% that you're commited before you take your vows - otherwise, what's the point in taking them at all? I'm married and i don't think it's unnatural anyway.

Marriage may be a bit unnatural for men....but it sure makes him GROW UP

I am married to a wonderful lady...the best choice ever.

We have had some down times, but I have definitely matured and become a better person for the experience.

By the way, that comment came from MY parents

Man is not animal. Having sex outside of marriage is unnatural to man. If man acted like the animal, then what would be the use of his rational sense and free will!

Hi amandolisempre
some animals mate for life and some do not. Each is natural. Human beings appear to be characterized by their diversity and choice. For example can be vegetarian or eat meat, can be pacifist or kill. Culture determines what is seen as "natural". This is a time of examination of norms and so marriage now is a choice. I think part of the dissatisfaction with marriage is a realization it does not guarantee monogamy, happiness and need not even last very long. Anyway my view is 2 people are better off just making their own agreement and then if unhappy just stop. I think freedom binds people much more than institutional rules. You boyfriend appears to be a bit cheeky!
:)

I suppose marriage would seem unnatural to those who lack a religious belief.

I guess we could considered ourselves "animals" however we are extremely complex beings that it seems ridiculous to categorize ourselves with gorillas, dogs, cats, rabbits, whatever... there isn't another creature species (besides humans) who have technology, fashion - or much other emotions such as modesty, guilt, faith and hope (some may disagree and to each their own).

Considering the two opinions stated above... Marriage is completely natural because we were placed on earth to procreate. In the animal kingdom sure they do a lot like us, eat, sleep, mate, etc... HOWEVER, when a male impregnates a female - he takes off and she solely provides for her offspring. With human beings, we sign a contract (marriage certificate) and vow to stay together and raise our children. What is unnatural about that?? It is stating that you are staying committed to the family you create.

In the Catholic religions the belief of marriage is a covenant by which a man and a woman establish between themselves and form a partnership for their whole life and is ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring.

To end this novel (sorry), marriage is unnatural to people who do not want to have children, the sole purpose of marriage is to procreate and contribute to the human race!

Any thing the human mind imagines is natural, the human mind being a natural phenomenon

marriage is pretty much unnatural if people marry for the wrong reasons, like status, money, sex appeal, avoid loneliness, get babies, fear of being old and alone, social pressure, you name it.

marriage is only natural, if the 2 are nothing less than soul mates.

This is a question for the ages, isn't it? I can't say for sure, some people surely strain at the constraints of marriage. But when I look at the couples in my family, all the long lived marriages, I see people who are extremely comfortable, very content and deeply satisfed with their companions. I've watched these marriages since I was a little girl, and they all have humor and a fine sprinkling of good natured teasing and self-mockery in common.

I think that marriage is an unnatural state to some extent. By that I mean that it was really devised as a means of control, to ensure property is maintained within a family and that children (heirs) are locked into a contract.

The instinct to be with a mate for life is not just a human instinct though, there are examples in the animal kingdom where this phenomenon can be observed after all.

Locking anyone into a contractual agreement doesn't represent any kind of freedom of course and therefore a lot of marriages imprison the parties with great misery to follow. Divorce in some cultures is of course allowed but is not always an easy option for couples especially if children are involved.

Personal freedom is not about being restricted by anyone or anything other than one's own morals and self-respect. The safest option is probably not to marry and to have as many partners as you wish, but doesn't work for everyone of course.

There is nothing to beat the safety and love to be found in a good marriage though, but this is also rare and hard to maintain.

If marriage requires some "higher thinking" you could argue that it is unnatural, in that it is man-made.

Animals don't marry in the sense we understand it. They don't even go to church.

Who's to say what is natural or not for the human race? An eternity of bastardisation and corruption of our own species has left us incapable of knowing what our natural instincts truly are and how much of our behaviour and thought is environmentally and culturally instilled in us as a kind of aquired heredity. Marriage is no more natural or unnatural than politics, religion, education, language, housing, clothing, or the miriad other things that our species has created to improve and control our lives and futures.
As a side note, there is no evidence that children raised by married parents are going to grow up to be "functioning adults", any better than a child raised by single parents. It depends on the parents, their beliefs and their ability to successfully nuture a child.

i don't know if i could be married... then again i am generally a disaster when it comes to relationships.

I don't think humans are naturally monogamous. But I don't think that means most engage in f*****g sprees either. From an anthropological view, females fared better by having children with multiple partners because each father provided for their offspring creating more resources for the female and the children.

In the strictest sense of the word, yes. But whoever says everything that's good should be natural? Look at music, art and French fries!

Seriously, I think your bf is pitching for a cop out. If he's gotten you convinced then later he can always say, But baby, you know how I feel that marriage is unnatural. Call him out on it. Tell him you think being monogamous is unnatural so young in life and that you need to play the field. See how he copes with that.

I didn't read all the other answers, so I am sorry if this is a repeat of someone else's thoughts.

Marriage is unnatural in that it is not something we need to survive or even have an instinct to do.

However, for goodness sake, we have a frontal lobe for a reason! I'm soooo tired of people justifying their lack of self restraint by saying "people are animals, there is no reason to deny our true nature." Animals also kill their young and eat their own sh*t; should we do that too? Not to mention, plenty of "unnatural" things are embraced every day, like art, air conditioning, and reality TV shows. If your boyfriend doesn't want to get married because it's "unnatural," tell him to go live in a dirt hut and clean himself with banana leaves. :-p

I think finding one mate is completely natural. Marriage is sort of a confirmation before others that this is your mate. Whats wrong with that.

absolutely not. it is very wonderful and natural with the right person.