What is the correct marriage definition? Well, in my own personal opinion - that really depends on you... to a point. Marriage can be defined in the religious sense or in the government sense.

Here's what I mean. From a governmental point of view, marriage is basically just a legally binding contract between two consenting adults. It spells out the rights and responsibilities of each of the parties not only during their marriage but if their marriage should end too.

When you get married, you have various tax and medical decision rights as the spouse. That is the contract between you and your spouse. That can change from one state to the next, but it is still a contract.

Many will argue that the whole same sex marriage debate has no place in the government at all. Since it is just a legally binding contract between two adults, the government has no right to tell someone they can't enter into a contract with someone else, regardless of their sex or any other issue.

Many argue that it would be the same if the government tried to tell two people of different races or faiths that they could not marry. In short, in this scenario, the government is overstepping it's bounds.

Now, the definition from a religious point of view is quite different. Most churches define marriage as a scared binding of two people that God finds pleasing.

It has no real significance from the standpoint of the law; the church doesn't dictate how assets will be divided in the event of a divorce or how much of a tax break you will get when you are married.

Some states even recognize a common law marriage. Basically, this states that after a couple has lived together for a certain period of time they have the same rights and responsibilities as a married couple.

This type of arrangement is not sanctified by the church, but it is recognized by several state governments.

Today we are going through many social changes, as is the case with most generations. There is a lot of heated argument over what marriage is and who should be allowed to marry.

Personally, I don't think we should allow church and government to collide. The separation of church and state is in place so that the government can't persecute anyone for their religious, or non religious, beliefs. Today, when it comes to the debate over marriage, the government is treading in the church's territory.

The church is well within it's rights to deny marriage between two people of the same sex if it goes against their beliefs. The government, however, is overstepping when it tries to tell two consenting adults who they can and cannot enter into a contract with.

And, as for common law marriage, I don't see the point. If the couple wanted the rights and responsibilities of marriage they should get married. If they don't want them, don't get married. But don't expect the protection automatically when you didn't bother to get married.

Author's Bio: 

Everyone has their own marriage definition, I've gone over some of the more commonly held ones in this article. If you would like to read more on how to keep your marriage strong - click here.