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What Religion Made Marriage?

Published in Marriage Origins 2 mins read

Marriage was created by Pagans. This ancient practice predates many of the world's major religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.

The Ancient Origins of Marriage

The concept and practice of marriage emerged long before the establishment of most formalized religious systems known today. As the provided reference clarifies, "Marriage was created by Pagans." This indicates that its roots lie in the diverse, pre-Christian, and often nature-based belief systems and cultures that existed across various regions.

It is crucial to understand that marriage is not an institution that originated with Christianity or other Abrahamic faiths. The reference explicitly states, "It's not a Christian religious institution." In fact, the practice of marriage was well-established and deeply ingrained in human societies long before Christianity, Judaism, or Zoroastrianism were founded.

Dispelling Common Misconceptions

There are often misconceptions about the religious origins of marriage. To clarify, here’s a breakdown based on historical context:

  • Pagan Origins: Marriage originated within various pagan traditions. The term "Pagan" generally refers to diverse pre-Christian, polytheistic, or indigenous religious practices that varied significantly across different cultures and geographies. These early forms of marriage often served societal functions such as establishing family units, ensuring lineage, transferring property, and forming alliances.
  • Not Christian: Despite its strong presence and significance within Christianity today, the institution of marriage did not originate with it. Christian traditions later adopted and adapted existing marriage customs, incorporating them into their religious frameworks and sacraments.
  • Predates Major Religions: The practice of marriage existed long before the creation of major religious systems like:
    • Judaism
    • Zoroastrianism
    • Christianity
    • And most other structured religious doctrines.

This historical timeline underscores that marriage is a fundamental human social construct with very ancient, pre-religious roots, later integrated and sanctified by numerous faith traditions.

Historical Context of Marriage Origins

To illustrate the timeline of marriage's emergence versus the foundation of major religions, consider the following:

Aspect Original Creator/Era Later Influences/Adoptions
Origin of Marriage Pagans (ancient, pre-Christian cultures) Various religious systems, including Christianity
Time Period Long before most existing major religious systems Continual evolution and adaptation over millennia
Nature of Practice Primarily social, economic, and familial institution Often imbued with spiritual and religious significance by later faiths

This table highlights that while many religions have embraced and shaped marriage within their doctrines, its foundational creation predates them.