I don't think it matters these days. The concept of nuclear family, permanent partners, children's harmonious upbringing, has changed in the modern era.
When we started as children, we find our selves in an egocentric world where our parents protect us from the real world. As we grow older and reach puberty, hormones kick in that change our focus and drive. Reaching the breeding age, the nesting instinct, social responsibility for the male, we form pairs, have sex and breed the next generation. When life expectancy is low, infant mortality high, you breed prolifically to counter the inevitable losses. The society developed the marriage bit. Bloke goes out hunter gathering, woman stays home/shelter a continuously pregnant baby factory. Husband usually short lived from dangerous occupation. All this essential to the group societies continuation.
Having had a couple of children in my time it was interesting to note the perspective change that accompanied it. Initially as a hedonistic western youth the world revolved around me, I did what I wanted. Getting married seemed like a social custom you do when you hook up with another hedonist. Then the breeding occurs one partner is no longer earning money, I have to work harder, friends disappear. focus changes to baby. Then you notice that an entirely new hidden aspect of life, invisible during the hedonistic stage manifests it self. It is as if we are never really individuals, instead we are halves, continually looking for our other half. Some find it and form the "one" ie a MF pair. (Although it seems sterile MM and FF are available today). This "one" then breeds accompanied by change of focus priorities and friends. The nurturing home environment is a priority for child rearing. So we can get a few children on the way before we drop dead or are killed.
Today we have long life expectancies, low infant mortality, the emphasis for nuclear family has disappeared. Children are brought up commercially by creche, both parents have to work to make ends meet, women through contraception that works, choose and decide their own breeding program.
The whole ball park has changed. I think the breeding phase needs the cohesion of the "one" pair with as much child parent interaction as possible. but once they have left the nest, is all that structure really necessary, should we all divorce and try different relationships, some fun with others after years of monogamous relationship during child raising. If not why not?
As you get older sex loses its interest, no longer a dominating driving influence, it becomes a minor component, where good company and intellectual discussion is just as stimulating. Whilst we all dream of trashing about with a beauty queen or prince charming the reality is sex is basically pretty much the same, if you close your eyes, hot, wet, sweaty and often boring. Although some are definitely more accomplished than others in this variation of gymnastics.
Eventually we become old and decrepit so the chances of picking up a new "Chickie babe" are pretty limited. The ones who will care are your children and the other half of your "one" pair.
So we live in an age which has phases that were unavailable, unknown when the religious texts were written. Longer life, low infant mortality, the pill, a health system and medicine where never around back then.
Given all this I would recommend a new phase to life - break free and explore new relations after the breeding phase. lets have mandatory divorce at 45, if you are real keen you can marry your own partner again, or move on and have fun. The main problem with this is that the person you tie up with, brings their own baggage with them into the relationship, often as bad or worse than that you believe you are breaking free of, so is it all worth it.
My point is given the changed social circumstances, is it now permissible to become polyamorous later in life after the stringent monogamous breeding phase? Afterall what great man did not have a mistress or two. Is Jane Austins rule of thumb correct, that a women should be half a mans age plus 7?
Cheers
