Is Cohabitation Immoral?

[pugbug]

Not at all, but I can't understand couples that cohabitate for several decades and never marry. I don't disapprove, but the lack of desire to go the full distance kinda perplexes me.

Well, for some it's not the full distance, possibly just a point within a long line of events. For some couples, the full distance is having x number of kids, or it's living together for x amount of years. If they already have all that, an official marriage (as opposed to becoming common-law) may seem pointless. What works for you may not work for others.

What is it exactly that perplexes you? I'm curious.

[pugbug]

No, but I can tell you from personal experience that it leads to many dramatic problems couples can avoid if they wait until they're married to live together. It also devalues the marriage which becomes simply something that happens throughout your history of living together rather than the start of your life together. Many relationships where couples live together before marriage end prematurely. This happens in marriage too, but at least married couples get that far.

Please elaborate on your points, because right now, it doesn't make that much sense.

How can cohabiting devalue your marriage? If you realize too late that your marriage doesn't work and it ends in divorce, wouldn't that devalue it far more than cohabitation beforehand?

Yes, many relationships that involve cohabitation before marriage end prematurely, but many also last a long time and result in marriage. Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater! Also, if you have any statistics that support your claim, please show them.

I'm glad you acknowledge that marriages can end prematurely (ie. in divorce), but I still don't understand why that's better than cohabiting beforehand. Why would divorce be better than cohabiting?