It has always been a business contract and always will be. A legal document. Making a promise to someone has nothing to do with it. Love is wonderful and should not be used as a tax shelter.

Biblical marriage is a sacred bond between one man and his 300 wives and 700 concubines.

Marriage used to be a contract to tie families together, where wives were considered nothing more than goods and chattel. I really enjoyed reading Elizabeth Gilbert's book about this - Committed.

I would say every man is a god and every woman is a godess which means we make choices to marry or not to marry.

As long as a state or governmental entity in a free society gives a benefit to it, then is not any other entities right to deny others something that the government gives as a benefit some. Churches who say marriage is their sacred right are fools.

I guess it depends on your definition of "magical". Not trying to be cheesy here, but there should be something beyond language in a marriage. I think. I'm divorced. Clearly, I don't know what "it" is.

Yup. Well said.

I might add that there is no sanctity to it. It is a social contract, commitment or agreement between two individuals.