Is it ok for a man and a woman to live with each other wihout being wed

by fearnotruth22 45 Replies latest jw friends

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  asleif_dufansdottir

  Is it OK?

  Well, it's perfectly fine with me, I don't care one way or the other what people do. And I think religion's opinions on the matter are a crock, generally.

  I do agree that it's a legal arrangement for the care and maintenance of children, and the distribution of assets, but there are other things to consider:

  • health benefits, if your employer doesn't give them to your partner unless you're legally married...
  • legal rights to make healthcare decisions in the case that you're unable (would you rather have your live-in boyfriend or girlfriend telling the docs what to do, or your dub family?? Because if you're not legally married, in some cases, the hospital won't even let you visit if the 'legal' family objects)
  • legal rights to make funeral arrangements, etc (unpleasant but might be important to you)
  • ...there are other things...

  All of the above and more are part of the reason the gay community has fought for recognition of their relationships.
• 

  garybuss

  
  
  It's the tax free transfer of property issue that prevents government's from allowing same sex marriages and marriages to relatives. Say I have a ten million dollar business I want to leave to my daughter. I can't gift it to her without tax, I can't will it to her without 8.5 million being taxed, and I can't marry her and make her my heir. But I can marry a complete stranger and divorce her next year and I may agree that she can have the ten million dollar property as hers in the divorce agreement . . . all tax free to us both.
  
  The marriage restrictions are to restrict the tax free transfer of property. Just thought I'd throw that out. GaryB
  
  
  
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  fearnotruth22

  It seems as the practical thing to do. It seems insane for someone to have to stay alone indefinitely, having the option available to be with someone in a relationship. But I think of the guilt feelings having a jw background and also looking at what the Bible says about that.How could one rationalize it being taught that it is wrong? In NYit is a crime to have sex with someone that one is not married to. The law is not enforced but it is there in the Penal Law
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  fearnotruth22

  I look at these sisters n the org with pity those that wwill remain old maids or ones that are old maids with no possibility of sex or a companion in "this system" or even in the next because of Jesus words in the Bible about the ressurected. You cant win. What a hassel. Too bad for the lonely that put on a facade of happiness that comes from listening to singleness assebly talks, and the joys of attending meetings and going out in service, One of the fundamenral tthings about being happy is a relationship and sometimes marriage is not possible so then why not live together?
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  Purple

  Umm hate to say that statistics show in Australia that the piece of paper dosnt make the bond stronger. Only 40% of people are worrying about getting married and then 2 out of 3 end up in divorce. I persoanlly know of many relationships where they lived together happily for many years, got married and then broke up within a few years. Having been married for 18 years I struggled because of the piece of paper but in the end it didnt mean anything. However that piece of paper is costing me hundreds of dollars now. In AUstralia after 11 years of marriage you are entitiled to 50% of everything BUT if you lived together its only 6 years. How unfair is that?

  I personally think marriage as an institution is on the way out, reflecting the major shift in society away from tradition, commitment and so on. Long term married couples are cute and everybody loves them but how hard was it and what was the pressure to stay together no matter what? How many shattered lives are around becasue of marriage???

  Okay so obviously I am against marriage because of a very bad experience of my own. I have also seen many bad marriages and people put up with it because they are too afraid to leave and such. Why live in misery?????

  Hey if you are in a great marriage then good for you, but realise theya re the exception today rather than the rule. People who live together also have bad relationships and break up, but the breaking up is not as hard legally speaking I mean, not emotionally, but if you are worrie dabout the break up before you are together then I would question whether you should live together anyway.

  However I would only ever live with someone and have a clear understanding of it we ever break up then.......

  Hey once bitten twice shy.........
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  Singing Man

  If you both are able to have children for hell sakes get married for the sake of any future children. Marriage is for muture people who care for the other more than the one.