Originally posted here by rapier57
Actually, marriage for love is a relatively recent manifestation. In most societies, marriage was arranged by parents for their children for the reasons of power, money, social status, political connections and convenience.

Only the desperatly poor could be allowed to marry for love, or what passed for love among the desperately poor.

This dredges up an old English professor's "Love Lecture." But, that is a story for another time and place.
Right, I believe it was sometime around the 1600s that marriage for love became popular. However, in western culture it's the predominant ideal (and I recognize that doesn't make it "right"). I tend to like that concept of marriage better than the others presented. They just seem shallow, and hallow. There is very little to put one's faith in if you're a godless heretic like myself. Concepts like love and idealic marriage are just one of the few things that I compensate with.

God, why the hell am I lurking the web. It's nearly 4am and I have yet another 16hour work day ahead of me...ugh. Cheers.