This is pretty open ended and we could probably come up with a million reasons. I'm very pro-marriage. I think a big reason the western nations became as big and successful as they are is because the foundation of western society was monogamous marriage/commitment by two people to each other no matter what. They worked, bought houses, raised kids. That model was the bedrock of society and a key contributor to how strong of a people western nations became. I also think that abandoning that traditional definition of marriage is now contributing to the decay of western society. All bets are off these days. Traditional marriage for life to the same person is almost unheard of. So much so that when someone hits a 30, 40 or 50th anniversary there is a HUGE deal made of it. Why? Because so few make it to those anniversaries anymore.
When should a marriage breakup? When 1 of the parties will no longer commit to it. You don't always have to be in love. It's not going to be a fairy tale every day. Life will get in the way. You'll get into the parent business. There will be stressful jobs, busy schedules, etc. Jobs become an escape from the "oppression" of home life. There you get to hang out with other adults and have adult conversations. Sometimes those lead people astray.
I used to say if there's adultery then you should end it. I said that the betrayed spouse could never get over such an extreme act of cruelty by the wayward spouse. When I experienced it I learned firsthand that it really is the worse pain a human being can feel. What made it worse is that my wife is religious. She believes in God, that 10 commandments, and all that jazz. That's what really blew my mind. How can someone who thinks adulterers are going to hell commit adultery? Oh well, what's done is done.
Anyway, I'm a living hypocrite. I was very cut and dry about cheating and yet I'm married to a cheater and I haven't divorced her. This whole thing has changed my worldview about a lot of things. Sadly, it has caused me to lower the bar for humanity.
I think the motto of all western nations in 2017 should be "If you can't live up to a standard, then lower the standard" because honestly, that's what we do.
