Poll | 09/26/2008 12:00 am

The majority of households are now single. Does this mean that marriage is becoming obsolete?

Read more about: Family, Marriage, Relationships

75 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Steve, “Of all the problems eroding marriage, I do not see gay marriage as even on the list.” Yes, we agree. It looked as though a previous writer was giving statistics that would “suggest” cause-effect here. I just couldn’t let that be said. Glad to know I am not alone.

By Dorothy S on 10/03/2008 10:14 am

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I am pro-marriage for the following reasons (meaning that I think it is beneficial for most people) Married people have a higher standard of living, on average They are healthier than average. They are less depressed than average. They are better educated on average. They have fewer STD’s than average. They are having more sex than their single counterparts. Their children do better in school than average. And if you compare church-going married people to average married people, the averages are even better.

By Bella Mia on 09/27/2008 12:05 pm

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Marriage will never become obsolete, so long as there are those that follow traditions of the heart.

By HA BIBI on 09/27/2008 6:11 pm

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Maybe there are more single households because: The divorce rate is high-not by choice but I’m one of those casualties after 22 years of a horrible marriage (maybe I should consider it a blessing and new found freedom.) There are more women born than men (check birth statistics) Women living longer than men (more widows than in previous generations and better health care keeping us alive longer.) Women afraid to marry (divorced, finances, commitment issues, never met the “right” one)

By debbie b on 09/28/2008 6:54 am

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I checked “other” not because I feel marriage is obsolete or not. Rather my sense is everything that used to be normal or familiar is now changing. I foresee “community” instead of marriage. People coming together regardless of gender, life-style, or profession to hold shared new thought, new values, new beginnings, new ways of thinking. It’s not yet a common view but in the new world that’s slowly evolving that’s where we’re headed. Communion vs marriage, which as another reader said “is just a word.”

By Jo Mooy on 09/28/2008 8:47 am

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This is, of course, a visionary stance and probably not widely acknowledged as a viable alternative…yet… See above a few jumps..Dorothy is on your wavelength….Me, too….

By georgia fatwood on 09/28/2008 12:21 pm

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Georgia, thanks for the support. I am a visionary and am compelled to open portals of discussion on new ways of being and seeing.

By Jo Mooy on 09/28/2008 1:21 pm

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Hello….I see you are a newcomer to this site…so…Hi! Where y’all from? and welcome! Here’s a little something that dawned on me in one of my more “DUH” moments: I can “avagoogle” somebody…click avatar and post a very off thread comment by tucking the note into some long stale thread…that way it gets sent to the intended recipient by way of email alert and doesn’t totally disrupt the train of thought like I’ve just done…..I mean, every now and then there’s something like a recipe or household hint or just a whazzup…..or whatever happened about that? Stick around…phone a friend to join you……

By georgia fatwood on 09/28/2008 1:41 pm

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Jo Mooy GF suggested we are on same wavelength. I am curious, are we? The idea of community means something different to me. I know some men and women share children in a commune-like open marraige. This is a bit too novel for me, but I do not condemn anyone who can safely and non-violently find mutual love. It could be a bit confusing to the children’s adult identity as they mature; but only time will reveal that answer. I was thinking of two individuals finding an exclusive relationship. The only unconventional thought I had was the inclusion of woman with woman, man with man, or woman with man. I think trust is essential between two people and thus being exclusive helps.

By Dorothy S on 10/03/2008 10:09 am

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Again, I am more visionary in my reply than those who have defined marriage in any of the traditional ways. I’m not talking about marriage, whether its between man and woman, man and man, or woman and woman. I am speaking about a global vision of unions; a global vision of people coming together in community to share resources with one another. I hold a vision that if we can truly put down the swords we can solve the many issues facing the planet, whether its hunger, clean water, education, or global consciousness accelerating. You mentioned commune-like open marriages. I see commune-like open groups who share and pool resources in such a way to minimize their carbon footprints and maximize their spiritual selves. My sense is individuals and exclusivity will give way to community and united welfare for groups.

By Jo Mooy on 10/03/2008 2:10 pm

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I don’t think marriage will ever be obsolete, but it’s understandable that less people marry nowadays, because you can live a normal unmarried… in earlier days, one never had that opportunity.

By Ine Drage on 09/28/2008 2:28 pm

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Like the vinyls that we’ve known as records, the rumors of the demise of marriage are more than a bit premature.

By Chris Broersma on 09/28/2008 11:20 pm

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Actually, marriage has become more popular amongst Gays and Lesbians. And, it’s a great way to help regulate birth control. In all seriousness, Dr. John Boswell, Theologian from Hartford, CT researched the early marriages in the church - his\herstoy of marriage… What he discovered was that in the Church it was very common for the ‘early’ monks to be married to one another. In the catacombs they have documentation of this, according to Boswell.

By Ro H on 10/01/2008 11:33 pm

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A friend started a new social network for spinsters: www.happyspinster.ning.com You don’t have to be a spinster to join - it’s great fun and very interesting! We have an “online chat” every Sunday at 2PM (EST) on the site - join us! — “The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” ~ Eden Phillpotts Maureen Sharib Telephone Names Sourcer/MagicMethod Trainer maureen at techtrak.com 513 899 9628

By Maureen Sharib on 01/25/2009 9:33 am