Civil Marriage: An Institution whose time has past?
Abstract Marriage law is very much in the news. Court rulings have dramatically redefined marital law in the last fifteen years. Even church associations are not immune from this shift. But was it necessary, and is it the way forward? The question researched in this paper is the impact of attempting to codify into law what has traditionally been a religious rite, both on the institution of marriage itself, but on individual liberties as well. The paper will progress through the history of marital law and the rational used to establish those laws. I will demonstrate a cause and effect in redefining marriage and advance some statistics regarding these laws, and conclude with information about how, from a legal view, the traditional definition of marriage can be reinstated. Keywords: same sex marriage, religious freedom, cohabitation, civil partnerships, redefining marriage Redefining Marriage through the Law? Literature Review: Final Assignment Introduction