Can I marry my cousin? Marriage between cousins - consequences

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

You can't command your 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 related marriage was sharply discussed 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. At the same time, the motives for such actions were more often political or financial than love ones. 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 were quite often carried out, because representativesthere were not so many royal dynasties and relatives had to be tied in marriage.

History also knows cases of marriages between relatives because of 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.

Kinships: A Genetic Perspective

Modern scientists, conducting various experiments, determined that it was related marriages that became the main reason for the extinction of the dynasty of the Egyptian pharaohs. They also constantly say that children whose parents are close relatives are more susceptible to various physical anomalies. A vivid example of this is the children of royal dynasties, who had various genetic diseases much more often than others.

Recently, there has also been a theory about the benefits of mixing blood. The more blood mixed in a child, the stronger his he alth and much better mental abilities.

Modern Research

What can be said about the modern world and, for example, a single case of a related marriage? Many people wonder if it is possible to marry a cousinsister or marry a cousin, if the family has not had such marriages before. In such a case, scientists do not see anything bad on the part of science if it is singular. The calculations below are only valid for cousins, for siblings the statistics are less rosy.

Recent studies by US scientists have shown quite unexpected figures. They concluded that children born to cousins have a percentage of genetic pathology at the level of 1.7%. This figure is only slightly higher than that of ordinary couples. At the same time, the risk of having a child with congenital deformities is much higher in people suffering from alcoholism or those who are already 40 years old.

Expert Opinion

University of Massachusetts Professor Hamish Spencer said that to date, no genetic study has given an affirmative answer that marriages between cousins pose a great risk to the unborn child. Moreover, it is quite difficult to conduct a truly independent and correct study.

The thing is that family 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, family marriages are quite common. In these disadvantaged countries, the percentage of children with physical disabilities is much higher than in other states. Therefore, give an unambiguous answer, from which the baby is not like everyone else (due to ecology, malnutrition, poor-quality medicine, orclosely related ties), almost impossible.

Is marriage legally possible

In the family law of the Russian Federation, cases are clearly established in which marriage cannot be registered by law. Who are close relatives? Article 14 of the Family Code provides a detailed answer to this question. It says that close relatives cannot become husband and wife. These are brothers and sisters (half and full), relatives in descending and ascending lines, namely: children and parents, grandparents and grandchildren. It is they who cannot marry under the laws of the country. But cousins and cousins are not close, so officially the marriage of cousins \u200b\u200band sisters is allowed.

Russia is not a unique country in this regard, throughout Europe there is also the opportunity to officially legalize their relations in this case. The ban on consanguineous marriages is only in some Asian countries and the United States, but not in all states.

The possibility of getting married in the Orthodox Church

Many couples also often wonder if it is possible to marry a cousin and have a wedding ceremony. On the one hand, the Holy Scriptures indicate that marriages of only close relatives are prohibited, cousins and second cousins do not apply to them. However, it so happened that a large number of newborns suffered due to consanguineous marriages. Therefore, getting married in the Orthodox Church is almost impossible. This is a very problematic situation whereit is difficult to give a definite answer, it is recommended to find out about the wedding directly from the priests in a particular church.

In most cases, couples in love are denied weddings. They also refuse half-blooded (common father or mother) brothers and sisters, uncles and nieces, aunts and their nephews. In addition to consanguinity, the church does not crown those who have spiritual kinship. That is, the godparents of the child cannot be married. However, there is a difference of opinion among the clergy on this issue. Therefore, it is likely that in a certain church they will agree to conduct this ceremony. Also under the wedding ban are parents and their adopted children.

The Consequences of Cousin Marriage

In addition to religious condemnation and medical indications, lovers face negative attitudes 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 a future family. There is a special genetic examination that can determine the risks of possible deviations of a child born in a closely related marriage. Such studies can determine with great accuracy whether it is possible towhether to marry a cousin from a medical point of view.

During the examination of 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 rather complex diagnostic procedures, doctors determine how high the percentage of children with serious genetic anomalies is.

Summing up

So, summing up the question of whether it is possible to marry a cousin, we can say the following. Only close relatives cannot marry each other. Who it is according to the law, we have already found out. Cousins and brothers are not close relatives. Therefore, they can bind 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 in 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 so happened that the church is very reluctant to marry such couples.

Comparing all the facts, we can say that marriage between cousins is a very personal matter. However, there are no serious reasons preventing this. Most problems are foreseen precisely because of the local mentality, since the vast majority of citizens of Russia and other CIS countries are extremely negative about registering such marriages.