Is it okay to date your third cousin? Since third cousins share only a very small percentage of their DNA, there is no issue with third cousins dating from a genetic perspective. According to an article by The Spruce, marriage between second cousins and more distant cousins is legal throughout the United States.
Is it bad to marry your third cousin?
The researchers suggest marrying third and fourth cousins is so optimal for reproduction because they sort of have the best of both worlds. While first-cousin couples could have inbreeding problems, couples who are far-removed from each other could have genetic incompatibilities. (Children of siblings are cousins.
Is it a sin to have a relationship with your cousin?
Must first cousins be forbidden to marry? In the Bible, and in many parts of the world, the answer is no. But the answer is yes in much of church law and in half the United States. This Levitical law is found in Leviticus 18:6-18, supplemented by Leviticus 20:17-21 and Deuteronomy 27:20-23.