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Ditto to almost all of the 10 letters posted so far. I'd like to bring up the collateral issue of all those legal privileges conferred by marriage: power of attorney, inheritance of property, hospital visitation, filing taxes jointly, survivors' benefits and pensions, medical decisions, family health insurance coverage, and of course guardianship of minors.
These are not religious issues. The standard argument that these privileges are only granted by society to facilitate the raising of children would be more believable if childless couples were denied them until/unless children came along. Try taking these rights away from your D.I.N.K. friends and see where that gets you!
I hope that this restructuring of our cultural symbols, led ironically by progressive churches, can help us see these rights as civil rights justly available to all equitably whether we be married or single.
P.S. I'm married 30 years and father of 3 single adults
