Marriage has been a topic of discussion as of late, mostly as it relates to same-sex vs. heterosexual marriage. But I have a different question that has been bothering me for some time. What's the purpose of marriage? I've done a little bit of searching and found various opinions on the matter with quite a range of reasons. To name a few, sexual intimacy, emotional intimacy, finding your perfectly matched soul mate, companionship, and fulfilling God's design.

 If it's just about sex or emotional intimacy, can't you get that outside of marriage? If it's about your perfect soul mate, define perfection (is there such thing?). If it's for a life-long companion, how important is compatibility? If it's about fulfilling God's design, what is that? Have a different reason in mind?

 Will your reasoning stand the test of time? The divorce rate is rather high these days and I have a suspicion that it has something to do with peoples' view of marriage.

What happens when you reach your life goal? What if I'm not content there? Dreams have a sort of romantic appeal not based in reality. But what happens if they become reality and are not what they seemed?

 Beauty. What does it mean? According to dictionary.com: the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

 Does beauty cease to exist when one ceases to find pleasure or satisfaction in something? Perceptions change and the societal standards change, but does beauty change or is it just a factor of our awareness to it? The more you get to know a person the more your perception of them may change. Is that because beauty has changed or because you are more aware?