Marriage is different from commitment though, right? You can have both but you don't have to have marriage in order to commit and raise healthy children. In the Netherlands for example, it is more common for couples to cohabitate and raise their children that way....they don't see the point of the document or party. For a long time there were all sorts of notions about why priests cannot marry. Historically it's because the Catholic Church did not want their land entailed away to children of priests if the children did not choose the priesthood. Historically, marriage evolved in order to for people to acquire in-laws....that was a very important source of power back in the day....combining two powerful families.

I'm all for marriage if individuals choose it and want it for themselves. What I disagree with are the myths in society as to why it developed and why it continues to be pushed on young folks ($53 billion industry in the U.S.).

With regard to raising children, marriage remains the "norm" or desirable in many societies but rates of parental child abuse and neglect are still very high.

Are you saying that institutionalized marriage contributed to the development of childhood vaccines @openeyes?