As far as my religion, I am an atheist and an ex-pagan, but that's only slightly tangentially related to my personal beliefs regarding marriage.
I currently belong to a subculture now (BDSM) and have previously belonged to a different subculture (neo-paganism) in which 'common marriages' are accepted and generally understood to be good. That is to say, that two people can marry without needing a court to validate them for it. Their commitment marries them. I don't believe that there is such a thing as an 'illegitimate' family -- two people without a marriage certificate should be able to build a family and be considered as such, and raise a family if they so choose, et cetera.
However practically, I also know that there are things I will want with my current partner that only a legal marriage can provide for (insurance and other legal rights that an unmarried couple don't have access to). I might have philosophical objections to marriage in general, but the fact of the matter is that there can be times where it is difficult to spend your life with someone you love otherwise. Domestic partnerships don't cut it either.
But anyway, I suppose down the road I see myself marrying twice, to the same person -- marrying ourselves as our relationship is defined (I do plan on collaring my submissive someday, hopefully, I think she's the right person!) and marrying ourselves legally, in order to be recognized by the state/country we live in. I just wish the second wasn't necessary.
Edit: Reread the topic and realized I sort of went off on a tangent, lol. Of course I think a marriage requires commitment. But I think it only requires the kind of commitment that you should be willing to put into any romantic relationship to begin with. I'm not a casual person. So if we're in it together, we're in it for the long haul.
