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Originally Posted by Chris T
'Marriage' is at least two things in our society today. In part, it is a binding legal contract under which two people form a partnership that brings certain legal privileges and responsibilities. But there are all kinds of legal partnership that have a similar effect and none of them is known as 'marriage'. That term arises from the religious aspect of it, which stresses both the spiritual and physical side of the union - two bodies, one male, one female, literally joined together to make a whole (in Christianity at least).
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But neither of you have managed to point out what the legal privilages of marriage are these days. We can find lots of examples of the legal responsibilities it rightly or wrongly brings (we could ask Ray Parlour for examples of these). But privilages, tax breaks - not unless you are over 65, greater state benefits - no probably worse. What are these miracle legal privileges that Marriage brings. The last 20 years of Govt. have managed to remove them all IMHO.
The above is not to say Marriage is not worthwhile, but it is not something you enter for financial reasons, but relegious, emotional and spiritual reasons (and to be able to live in the same country).