SAC-Wk122 — Is Cohabiting called Marriage?

If someone lives with a woman and bears children without paying her bride price, do we say they are a couple or married?

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If someone lives with a woman and bears children without paying her bride price, they are just a couple. Married is when the man has paid the woman's bride price and done the necessary things. I have seen a man and woman who both live together and bear children and got married in their late 40s after having many children.

The man decides to pay the bride price of the woman and do the necessary things because of the pressure that he kept facing which is to tell us that if someone lives with a woman and bears children without paying her bride price they are only known as a couple. Those who aren't aware may be calling them married men and women, but those who are aware will be calling them couples.

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What's your view on cohabiting? Is it a shortcut to getting married?

My view on cohabiting is that it is a shortcut to getting married especially for those who are willing to get married but lack the finances to get married.

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My view on cohabiting is that since it is a shortcut to getting married people who have cohabited for more than 2 years as a couple should be encouraged to get married.

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Are there advantages or disadvantages of cohabiting?

Yes, there are advantages and disadvantages of cohabiting.

Advantages of cohabiting:

• Financial Benefits: Partners save money to improve their lives.

• Testing compatibility: Partners get to know and understand each other better.

• Building stronger relationships:** Stronger relationships are built during the stage of cohabiting.

Disadvantages of cohabitation:

• Lack of legal protection: Partners aren't protected legally which means whatever happens to the woman the man would be held responsible.

• Financial disputes: Couples who cohabit may find it difficult to separate their finances, leading to disagreements about money.

• Emotional challenges: Cohabiting couples may find it difficult to navigate boundaries, leading to conflict or a loss of privacy.

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Is it good to sexually test the person you want to marry before considering marrying them? What's your viewpoint?

Biblically it is not good to sexually test the person you want to marry before considering marriage. Although with the way things are going in the world where people are now more interested in being in a relationship, I think it is good to sexually test the person you want to marry before considering marrying them to avoid future problems.