Explore Eastern Religions

Marriage, apart from the kisses and the exchange of wedding rings, is an institution that embodies different sets of laws that restricts several elements that is considered as a violation of human ethics. Restrictions are placed on marriage by society for reasons of passing on healthy genes, to keep property concentrated, or (in some historical cases) because of prejudice and fear. Restrictions include the age, gender, kinship, and social status. Age Restrictions The age and other requirements vary between countries. The marriage age should not be confused with the age of majority or the age of consent. The marriage age in a country may be below the age of majority and the age of consent that applies in that country. Most commonly, the legal age of marriage is 18 years of age, although this may still require parental consent. Additionally, the age at which a person is legally permitted to engage in sexual activity may be below the marriage age. Gender Restriction Same-gender marriages has lately become accepted in some countries around the world. In response to changing social and political attitudes, some jurisdictions and religious denominations now recognize marriages between people of the same sex. In some jurisdictions these are sometimes called civil unions or domestic partnerships, while some others explicitly prohibit same-sex marriages such as with Christian views of marriage that still deem same-gender marriage as a violation of the code of marriage. Kinship Restrictions In most societies, marriage between brothers and sisters has been forbidden. In many societies, marriage between first cousins is preferred, while at the other extreme, the medieval Catholic Church prohibited marriage even between distant cousins. The marriage laws of all modern countries restrict the relatives a person is allowed to marry, though the degree of prohibited relationship varies widely. All mainstream religions prohibit some marriages on the basis of the consanguinity (lineal descent) and affinity (kinship by marriage) of the prospective marriage partners. The standards, however, vary between religion and culture. Social Status Restrictions Many societies, even some with a cultural tradition of polygamy, recognize monogamy as the only valid form of marriage. Polygamy, in which a person is married to more than one spouse at one time, is illegal in many countries, but accepted by other societies such as with Muslim countries. For more information visit to our site at http://philippineweddingplanner.com