Lawless Heart. These words have been around for many years, no one knows who first used them, but they are still relevant today. The issue of consanguineous marriage was hotly debated both 200 years ago and in the modern world. There are always two points of view in any dispute. This question is no exception. Opponents refer to the genetic deviations of children from such a marriage and its unnaturalness, while supporters believe that marriages between relatives, in particular cousins, are a completely harmless phenomenon. Let's try to figure out whose point of view is closer to the truth.
History of marriages between cousins
There are countless examples in history when marriages between relatives were actively practiced. Moreover, the motives for such actions were more often political or financial than love. Imperial or royal dynasties did not want to see people with other blood in their ranks. That is why marriages between brothers and sisters, aunts and nephews took place quite often, because there were not so many representatives of royal dynasties and relatives had to be married.
History also knows of cases of marriages between relatives due to family beliefs, in which it was believed that money should not leave the family. But only a small number of nationalities had such motives.
There were other reasons for such unusual marriages. Aristocratic families greatly valued their family, their surname, and the arrival of new blood meant almost the collapse of the ideal family. However, in those days a lot of children were born with mental and physical disabilities.
Family ties
Concern for the health of offspring also underlies the condemnation of family ties. This is the primary reason why marriages between relatives are not encouraged. Meanwhile, throwing away all these beliefs, you can marry a second cousin, or even a first cousin. At this stage of family ties, incest does not occur. If all your doubts about getting married come down to fears for the life and health of your future children, this problem is completely solvable at the present time.
Option – artificial insemination; in the end, you can adopt a baby in an orphanage. The law prohibits the formation of family ties with:
- blood father;
- son;
- sibling;
- grandfather;
- grandson.
If you want to marry your cousin or second cousin (and are not afraid of the judgment of the rest of your relatives), feel free to buy rings.
By the way, you can even lead your second cousin down the aisle; the Orthodox Church allows this kind of marriage. But cousins, uncles and nieces will not be able to get married. You will have to decide: to live in love without God’s blessing, or to give up happiness, succumbing to outside influences.
Expert opinion
University of Massachusetts professor Hamish Spencer said that to date, not a single genetic study has given a positive answer that marriages between first cousins pose a great risk to the unborn child. Moreover, it is quite difficult to conduct truly independent and correct research.
The thing is that consanguineous marriages in the civilized world are rather an exception to the generally accepted rules. More than 80% of these babies are born in third world countries. There, consanguineous marriages are quite common. In these disadvantaged countries, the percentage of children with physical disabilities is much higher than in other countries. Therefore, it is almost impossible to give an unambiguous answer as to why the baby is not like everyone else (due to the environment, poor nutrition, poor quality medicine or close family relationships).
Possibility of getting married in an Orthodox Church
Many couples also often wonder if it is possible to marry a cousin and conduct a wedding ceremony. On the one hand, the Holy Scripture states that marriages of only close relatives are prohibited; first and second cousins are not included in them. However, it turned out that a large number of newborns suffered due to consanguineous marriages. Therefore, it is almost impossible to get married in the Orthodox Church. This is a very problematic situation, where it is difficult to give a definite answer; it is recommended to find out about the wedding directly from the priests in a particular temple.
In most cases, couples in love are denied a wedding. Also denied are half-brothers and sisters, uncles and nieces, aunts and their nephews. In addition to blood kinship, the church does not marry those who have spiritual kinship. That is, the child’s godparents cannot be married. However, on this issue there is a difference of opinion among the clergy. Therefore, it is likely that a certain church will agree to perform this ceremony. Parents and their adopted children are also subject to the wedding ban.
Is it possible for godbrothers and godsisters to get married?
- There are no legal or religious obstacles to the marriage of a godbrother and a godsister All that binds this couple is one love for two. They are not born into family ties, but only after a while they become family. The absence of incest gives them the opportunity to give birth to healthy children, and this is the most important thing.
- In the Orthodox faith, spiritual kinship is important . The godfather and mother are considered spiritual relatives of baptized children, therefore there is a ban on marriage between siblings and godparents.
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Consequences of marriage between cousins
In addition to religious condemnations and medical indications, lovers face a negative attitude towards such a marriage from other relatives. In the countries of the former USSR, such connections were not practiced at all, so this is alien to the average person. Very often, a couple receives a large portion of criticism from people close to them; sometimes family drama can reach a critical situation.
Modern medicine is capable of many miracles, and in this case it can also help the future family. There is a special genetic examination that can determine the risks of possible abnormalities of a child born in a consanguineous marriage. Such studies can determine with great accuracy whether it is medically safe to marry a cousin.
In the process of examining potential parents, doctors thoroughly examine the diseases of previous generations. Genetics also determine how strong the relationship between husband and wife is. After carrying out fairly complex diagnostic procedures, doctors determine how high the percentage of children with serious genetic abnormalities is.
Genes are stubborn things
What do we have with the union of two people who are radically different in their origins? First of all, a number of gene differences, which together destroy the complex of genes created over more than one millennium. That is, the child “takes” a little genes from his parents, creating a new gene complex, which, alas, does not always turn out to be as viable as possible. The reason is the absence of a centuries-old process of adaptation. The historical territory of residence of the nationalities to which the husband and wife belong, or more precisely, its remoteness, plays a huge role.
A child, in whose genes the synthesis of two different gene complexes has occurred, for a full existence, also needs an appropriate habitat, modeled taking into account historical territorial features. The more differences there are, the harder it is for descendants to adapt, which entails an increase in childhood morbidity and even mortality. The most dangerous union in terms of the health of the heirs is considered to be a marriage between representatives of the white and black races.
Summarizing
So, to sum up the question of whether it is possible to marry a cousin, we can say the following. Only close relatives cannot marry each other. We have already found out who this is according to the law. Cousins and brothers are not close relatives. Therefore, they can link their relationship officially. From a medical point of view, the risk of having children in such a marriage with physical and mental disabilities is slightly higher than that of ordinary couples, but this percentage is not critical.
According to the Holy Scriptures, marriage with a cousin is not prohibited in Russia, but historically it has happened that the church is very reluctant to marry such couples.
Putting all the facts together, we can say that marriage between cousins is a very personal matter. However, there are no serious reasons preventing this. Most of the problems are expected precisely because of the local mentality, since the overwhelming majority of citizens of Russia and other CIS countries have an extremely negative attitude towards the registration of this type of marriage.
Union with a foreigner: a look through a psychological prism
You can marry both a foreigner and a person belonging to a different race. There is a misconception that such marriages do not end well. They say that our women cannot adapt to a completely new way of life, accept other people’s traditions, culture, and chosen one’s mentality. You can't generalize so categorically. There are many examples when marriages of this kind were absolutely successful; there are many cases when family realities shattered the dreams of our girls and women about a comfortable, carefree life. But, you see, with the same situation you can “get married” within the boundaries of a nationality or race. Statistics are a stubborn thing; they say that not all marriages between Russians or Ukrainians are long-lasting and happy.
We are talking only about the moral side, about mentality, the psychology of relationships. But those who do not accept mixed marriages motivate their negative attitude more globally. It is believed that children born from such a union have very low vitality, they are sickly and often retarded in development. Public opinion is divided, because the issue is controversial and ambiguous. When considering it, we will rely not on emotions, but exclusively on the existing achievements of genetic scientists.
