Lawless Heart. These words have been for many years, no one knows who first used them, but they are relevant to this day. The issue of family 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 not an 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.
Marriage history between cousins
There are countless examples in history when marriages between relatives were actively practiced. Moreover, the motives for such acts were often political or financial rather than love ones. The imperial or royal dynasties did not want to see people with different blood in their ranks. That is why marriages between brothers and sisters, aunts and nephews were carried out quite often, because there were not so many representatives of the royal dynasties, and relatives had to be bound by marriage.
History also knows cases of intermarriage 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 treasured their family, their surname, and the arrival of new blood practically meant the collapse of the ideal family. However, in those days a lot of children were born with mental and physical disabilities.
Relationships: a view from genetics
Modern scientists, conducting various experiments, determined that it was kinships that became the main reason for the extinction of the Egyptian pharaoh dynasty. They also constantly repeat that children whose parents are close relatives are more susceptible to various physical anomalies. A vivid example of this is the children of the royal dynasties, who more often than others had various genetic diseases.
Recently, a theory has also emerged about the benefits of mixing blood. The more blood is mixed with the child, the better his health and mental abilities will be.
Modern research
What can be said about the modern world and, for example, an isolated case of a related marriage? Many people wonder whether it is possible to marry a cousin or marry a cousin if the family has not had such marriages before. In this case, scientists do not see anything bad from the side of science, if it is single. The calculations below are only suitable for cousins; for siblings, the statistics are less rosy.
Recent studies by scientists from the United States showed quite unexpected numbers. They concluded that children born to cousins and brothers have a genetic pathology percentage 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 malformations is much higher in people with alcoholism or those who are already over 40 years old.
Expert opinion
Hamish Spencer, a professor at the University of Massachusetts, said that to date, not a single genetic study has given an affirmative answer that marriages between cousins pose a great risk to the unborn child. Moreover, conducting a truly independent and correct study is quite difficult.
The thing is that kinship in the civilized world is more likely an exception to the generally accepted rules. More than 80% of such 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 significantly higher than in other states. Therefore, to give a definite answer, from which the baby is not like everyone else (due to the environment, malnutrition, poor-quality medicine or closely related relationships), is almost impossible.
Is marriage legally possible?
Family law of the Russian Federation clearly establishes cases in which a marriage cannot be registered by law. Close relatives - who is this? Article 14 of the Family Code provides a comprehensive answer to this question. It says that close relatives cannot become husband and wife. These are brothers and sisters (half and full), relatives in the descending and ascending lines, namely: children and parents, grandparents and grandchildren. They cannot marry under the laws of the country. But cousins and cousins are not close, so officially the marriage of cousins is allowed.
Russia is not a unique country in this regard, in all of Europe there is also the opportunity to officially legitimize its relations in this case. Close marriages are banned only in some Asian countries and the United States, but not in all states.
The possibility of weddings in the Orthodox Church
Many couples also often ask if they can marry a cousin and have a wedding ceremony. On the one hand, the Holy Scriptures indicate that only close relatives are forbidden, cousins and second cousins are not related to them. However, it so happened that a large number of newborns were affected due to family marriages. Therefore, getting married in the Orthodox Church is almost impossible. 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 are refused a wedding. They also refuse to half-brothers (common father or mother) brothers and sisters, uncles and nieces, aunts and their nephews. In addition to blood relationship, the church does not crown those who have a spiritual relationship. That is, the godparents of the child cannot be married. However, even in this matter there is a divergence of opinion among the clergy. Therefore, it is likely that in a particular church they will agree to hold this ceremony. Parents and their adoptive children also fall under the ban on weddings.
The consequences of marriage between cousins
In addition to religious convictions and medical indications, lovers are faced with a negative attitude to such a marriage from other relatives. In the countries of the former USSR, such ties 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 a 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 close relationship. Such studies can determine with great accuracy whether it is possible to marry a cousin from a medical point of view.
In the process of examining potential parents, doctors thoroughly examine diseases of previous generations. Genetics also determine how strong the relationship between husband and wife is. After conducting fairly complicated diagnostic procedures, doctors determine how high the percentage of children with serious genetic abnormalities is.
Summarizing
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. We have already found out who this is by law. Cousins and brothers are not close relatives. Consequently, they can formally link their relationship. 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 turned out that the church is very reluctant to crown 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 of the 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 the registration of such marriages.