Did the author even care to allude to gay marriage and marriage inequality? I can't think of another issue so critically related to the author's opinion and he completely disregarded it and put forth a blatantly heterosexist attitude about the institution of marriage. Why bother with marriage if not everyone can access it?

This article is simply the most ridiculous thing I've read all week. I think in every paragraph the author makes it apparent how completely uneducated he is concerning the topic of sexuality and "human happiness." I feel completely at a loss at how people of this neurological numbness can publish articles in the UW Daily.

The author makes the cheap assumption that the single life is somehow debilitated in comparison to a marital lifestyle, and marriage leads to more happiness. I'm going to attempt to show why that is simply foolish.

Mr. Dennis goes on record to say that people are born with the innate desire for marriage. Ludicrous! If anything, sociology, anthropology, psychology and common sense show us that people are born with the innate desire for COMMUNICATION and NETWORKING. To say that that equates to a traditionally accepted religious institution is to completely disregard the huge contribution of social precedents and constructions.

The word "us" is used a bit too often in this article. The author should've been more careful about word choice; there is no inclusive "us" prefaced for this article. I know he sure isn't talking about the majority of any vast population except, perhaps, the Christian Coalition (which, for your information, has a higher proportional divorce rate than the entire democratic party).

I would like to point out that marriage in and of itself does NOT lead to a better life for children. No sociologist would agree that marriage equals better childhood. A positive, nurturing atmosphere is preferable, NOT marriage necessarily.

The author's assumption that casual sex is actually a cry for a marital union shows that he isn't quite the analyst he thinks he is. If people were seeking marriage, it would make more sense to me that sexual outings would probably be more monogamous. Is that a trend? Hardly. Maybe casual sex is actually just a cry for enjoyment on a Saturday night. Or, maybe it is done as an act of true, genuine love?

Even the way Mr. Dennis addresses casual sex is between "a guy and his girlfriend." Is he a part of this century?

He then quotes sociologist Waite again, probably out of context, that emotional fulfillment is directly linked to marriage. Try telling that to the thousands of divorcees, or children or spouses who have been victims of domestic abuse, or all the single, successful business persons who are living their dream. Try telling them that they aren't quite content because they haven't filled out a marriage contract.

The author quotes a "former groupie." Well, I can quote a million former wives and husbands who will talk about the stress and agony marriage can put someone through.

I find it interesting that the next source he quotes is from a Catholic sociologist. If it isn't obvious how a Catholic feels about this, I'm glad that he used this source to help point how out important it is that sex be kept within wedlock.

I feel that I need not say much more. The individual who wrote this post is truly uneducated, wearing blinders to the rest of the civilized world. Why should we just accept that marriage is, of course, the answer? Marriage certainly is NOT the answer; there is no one answer for every person.

This Mr. Dennis kid should probably try reading arguments opposing his argument to see if he even knows what he's talking about.

Of course the author knows what best for every single person. He is a white, heterosexual, conservative American after all. Of course marriage is innate. We must all get married to someone of the opposite gender. It's in our DNA and should be required by law. Of course the ultimate happiness and fulfillment in life comes from marriage – particularly for women. Fifty percent of marriages in the US don't end in divorce. That's a lie and anyone spouting such nonsense should be charged with heresy. Speaking of heresy, all marriages should be religious. Period. There are absolutely no cultures that exist anywhere on this planet with a different and valid view point on sex, sexuality or marriage. This author is ALWAYS right.

What I always find interesting--and distressing--about Dennis's viewpoint is the inability or refusal to consider the fact that a) everyone is different and b) people change over time.

While I applaud him for his refreshing advocacy of Britney Spears' decision to legitimize her Vegas one-night stand by marrying prior to it, I must point out that some of us are not courageous enough to plunge in all the way on our first time. I congratulate Dennis for knowing both himself and his wife (I assume he is married) well enough to be assured of enduring marital bliss for the next sixty years, but I hope that he can find in his heart the ability to forgive those of us who need more time to discover ourselves and our partners first.

Unlike Britney and so many other young Americans leaping to get married to their first (and second, and third) crushes to legitimize sexual exploration, I hope that my future marriage will be my one and only. I'm practicing--not playing--even now, and am more convinced every day that my boyfriend of seven years is the only one for me. I look forward to marrying him in the future, knowing without a doubt that I will spend the rest of my life with him.

"The difficulty of marriage should not be a roadblock, but should instead be the narrow path that leads to fulfillment and ultimate happiness."

If marriage is the only path to fulfillment and happiness, I have some really bad news for some members of the clergy.

Props to Brandon. This is a well written piece and I thoroughly agree. :-)

I completely agree with everything this article is about. I also read the article you referred to by Dawn Eden, but I believe you put things much better. Too many of these comments, imo, don't understand the point the author is trying to make. I have been with my boyfriend for a couple years now, and although we are not married (as we're still in college) we made the decision that we'd have sex when we were ready--and that when we do, it *will* be, as you put it, "playing at marriage." It is so because we are and always have been completely faithful to one another and wouldn't have it any other way.