Introduction
There have been arguments regarding as to whether it is good for couples to live together before getting married. This subject has elicited various opinions with some claiming the living together before marriage is not good. There have been reasons given for this stance. Those supporting this act have also given their side of the story. In this paper, I am going to present the arguments that have risen from this subject, exploring both sides. I will be looking at the argument that living together before marriage proves some point and that it is an opportunity for both couples to get a preview of what marriage life is. On the other hand, I will also examine the arguments against this act. Here, I will look at the biblical argument, the suggestion that it dilutes the marriage, the consequences of breakups ant the need to be patient.
Arguments in support
There has been an argument that couples are supposed to live together before they get married so that they can familiarize themselves with what they are set to get into. Those propagating this argument insist that there is more liberty in today’s social issues and that it should be left to the desecration of couples to choose what they want to do with their lives. I have a feeling that by living together before marriage, the couples indicate how they are compatible and the strong trust that exists between them. This is because before marriage, each couple always has free space for him or herself and one can do whatever he or she wishes at this point. Moreover, by staying together, this shows that the couples truly love each other and are keen on living together.
Through living together before finally moving into marriage, the couples get a chance to learn more from their partners as there are certain traits that are best learnt only when people live together. I think that through living together before marriage, the couples will get to know almost everything about each other hence make a choice before marriage. Marriages that are as a result of living together before marriage are usually stronger and well bonded as the couples are privy to the traits of each other. Consequently, by living together before marriage, couples get to have a preview of what their marriage life will be and to get prepared for living in a marriage life. By living together before marriage, certain traits like spending habits, organizational and cleaning traits are seen by both couples. Such traits are usually very important for a smooth life between two people. Such behaviors can only be known when people live together. Despite the fact that the matter of two people living together is not a light matter, it is important for the purposes of each individual to know their partner well before they finally agree to get down into a legal relationship bonded by marriage. (Knox & Schacht, 2012)
Argument against
Just like all the other arguments, there have been those who have strongly opposed the act of couples living together before getting married. The most common opposition to the same has been based on faith issues. It has been assumed that it is sinful for two people to live together before getting married as marriage is the only justification for the living together of two people. Such people argue that people should first be bonded together through marriage before settling down. It is observed that there is a risk of people getting unfaithful and engaging with other partners while in a relationship that is bonded with marriage. This is seen as usually ending up in a disappointment for both the partners’ friends and families.
Some has indicated that there is no excitement in marriage left especially after all the interesting tings are already done by a couple before being legally married. By living together before marriage, the couples get to do a lot of things together including doing laundry together, eating together, eating together among other things. In the event that these couples decide to get married, there will be nothing more interesting for the two to engage in. after having their honeymoon, the couple will return to their house but with nothing new to engage in as they had already engaged in a variety of interesting things that they would have done after getting married. (Rathus, 2011)
There have also been arguments that couples should exercise patience as nit costs absolutely nothing. Furthermore, cohabitation is supposed to be done by individuals who are sure and who have already made up their minds that they are going to get married at some point.
Conclusion
Living together before marriage has been a controversial issue as exhibited by the above arguments. However, I think that the issue as to whether couples should live together before marriage should be left at the description of the two couples to decide. As much as I see nothing wrong in couples living together before marriage, I am for the idea that one should only move in to living with another only after having made a decision that that is the person that he or she is going to get married to.
References
Knox, D. & Schacht, C. (2012). Choices in Relationships: An Introduction to Marriage and the Family. New York: Cengage Learning.
Rathus, S. (2011). HDEV. New York: Cengage Learning.
