What about marrying your second cousin?

[Fatolia]

I thought about throwing this out there. According to the Bible and American law, it is both legal and ethical to marry someone who is our second cousin by blood. However, I have 'sister'-type relationships with many of my second cousins, and proposing to them might be, lets say, a bit awkward, especially when both our grandmas are sisters. What do you think?

I kind of ask this with a bit of tongue-in-cheek because one of my second cousins is none other than Margo Harshman (Tawny Dean on the old Disney series Even Stevens). It would be interesting joke fodder at some point...

 

[fishstix]

I think I'd find it rather awkward personally. I consider second cousins to be fairly close relatives. And there's still a risk of inbreeding depression showing up in offspring, even if it is legal.

 

[B®ent]

I used to have a crush on a 2nd cousin of mine. Had we been raised close, I don't think that would happen. We first met as teenagers at a family reunion.

Personally I would be uncomfortable with marrying a 2nd cousin. But I don't see anything wrong with it.

 

[Diane_Windsor]

I would not marry any of my first cousins-three of them are already married anyway . As for the other . . . . we don't get along that well. Seriously, I have a certain mindset (somewhat influenced by American society) about my first cousins that I could never be romantically involved with them. I grew up with my first cousins-we played together, we fought one another, etc. Essentially, I view my first cousins the same way that I view my brother.

However, I do not have that same mindset with my second cousins, so it wouldn't bother me in the least. I only see them at family events (i.e. weddings, funerals, renunions, etc.), besides I probably wouldn't recognise one if came up and asked me for a date lol!

In fact, since my mom was adopted I could very well end up marrying a second or even a half first cousin without even realising it-although the chances of that are slim to none lol. If I do happen to marry a half-first cousin of mine (really, what are the chances of that ever happening) then I probably would not have a big issue with that since I have not grown up with them.

I think I'd find it rather awkward personally. I consider second cousins to be fairly close relatives. And there's still a risk of inbreeding depression showing up in offspring, even if it is legal.

The risk of children of cousins being born with abnormalities is not much higher than the general population. This site about Cousin Marriages has some medical stats, and there is a recent study (within probably 5 years) documenting this.

For those interested I found the following article: "The Biblical Perspective on Cousin Marriage".

Cousin Couples-website geared towards kissin' cousins.

Speaking of marriages between close relations Dr. Phil had a couple on not too long ago that were half siblings, and they weren't from Arkansas or West Virginie neither . They did not discover it until after they were married for more than a year. What a cruel twist of fate huh? The wife is really struggling with it-and I really can't blame her.

Diane

 

[MrDude]

Uhmm....marrying anyone blood related seems pretty weird and screwed up to me.

 

[Diane_Windsor]

Uhmm....marrying anyone blood related seems pretty weird and screwed up to me.

If we are all descendants of Adam and Eve then we are all blood-related

dw

 

[Sketcher]

I hear that's legal in some states.

Technically, there's nothing Biblically wrong with it, but man.

 

[the_man]

That's still a little too close for me.

 

[mina]

too weird

 

[MrDude]

If we are all descendants of Adam and Eve then we are all blood-related

dw

Don't be a smart-alec

 

[BeautyForAshes]

Marry a second cousin? ->

The dating scene isn't THAT bad, is it?

 

[hazeleyes80]

I've heard that it's not biologically safe to marry anyone closer than a 5th cousin. Any closer than that and there is a higher risk of genetic abnormalities. From what I've heard, the more similar the genetic makeups of a married couple are, the greater the risk of having the same recessive traits which can lead to the genetic problems in their kids.

 

[JPPT1974]

I've heard that it's not biologically safe to marry anyone closer than a 5th cousin. Any closer than that and there is a higher risk of genetic abnormalities. From what I've heard, the more similar the genetic makeups of a married couple are, the greater the risk of having the same recessive traits which can lead to the genetic problems in their kids.

That does seem to make a lot of sense as other genetic things can take place as well as trouble for the children.

 

[Diane_Windsor]

Don't be a smart-alec

I'm sorry that you feel offended. It was only a joke.

Diane

 

[kelco]

Fatolia I need to ask you, did you ever live in West Virgina? J/K

 

[MrDude]

I'm sorry that you feel offended. It was only a joke.

Diane

I wasn't "offended".

 

[Holdinfourth]

Do you hear Dueling banjos often in your area?

Personally I am not a big fan of inbreeding, but whatever floats your boat brother. I am usually really supportive and stuff, but this one kind of caught me offgaurd. I have no idea what to say!

 

[Fatolia]

I suppose the question is whether 'inbreeding' is second cousin or less. The Jewish people often married those who were relatives. I'm not quite up on my "biblical scholaridity," but Boaz was Ruth's kinsman-redeemer I thought which meant they were in the same family.

 

[Diane_Windsor]

I wasn't "offended".

Then why did you write "Don't be a smart-alec"? I took that comment as being very rude.

Diane

 

[Fatolia]

And NO Kelco, I'm a HOOSIER!