Marriage originated as a social contract rather than a purely religious ritual. In early human societies, it primarily served practical purposes like forming alliances between families, securing property rights, and ensuring lineage and inheritance. Even then, its purposes violated many aspects of freedom and human rights, especially for women, who were often used as tools for negotiations.
Over time, secular legal systems began to separate marriage from its religious roots, especially during the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing more on personal choice, equality, and civil rights. However, religious narratives around marriage as a sacred, lifelong union still influence many cultures today.
Religious influence on marriage emerged as organized belief systems developed. In ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece, marriage had both legal and ceremonial aspects but wasn’t deeply tied to morality or spirituality. However, with the rise of religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism, marriage became increasingly spiritualized and moralized, often seen as a divine covenant.
Nowadays, in Albania and most Balkan countries, marriage usually doesn’t take place in a church or religious temple but either in the groom’s or bride’s household, often celebrated with food and Balkan folk music. Meanwhile, in Greece and, I assume, other Christian countries, marriage typically requires a church ceremony conducted by priests as representatives of God. Many people I know were married in churches mainly because their parents requested it. However, some choose a simple civil marriage at the town hall, which is much cheaper, costing around 40-50 euros.
Christianity, particularly through the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), formalized marriage as a sacrament around the 12th century CE, emphasizing its indissolubility and divine purpose for procreation and union. This shift gave religious authorities greater control over personal relationships and social order.
I personally oppose marriage: “Να ζείτε ελεύθερα, να συζείτε ελεύθερα” (Live freely, cohabit freely).
Spot on.
Very well put.