As Marriage and Christianity, Leaving Society Together



The majority of weddings have not been in churches for years. Couples just don't see the church as central to this big event. Gay couples are not welcome in the majority of churches, so that's out. Now a survey is telling us marriage as an institution is not seen as an important event in young peoples' futures. Christianity unwisely tied its survival to the institution of marriage and the sands of time have are burying it.

I've been watching pod casts of women in conservative branches of the Amish. While there is some courtship the young men and women are suggested by the family and leaders. This is the "government" in Amish life. Couple are paired according to the interests of the family and community. Government, not the church, ran marriage in ancient times. Government marriage was the tradition, thus the true "traditional marriage." That is, today's marriage in a Christian church is not genuine traditional marriage. 

In today's society, the legal marriage license and the economic rules that go with it complicate life. It could be said the license and marriage ceremony make each party more committed to the relationship. With 50% of weddings ending in divorce the case for longer relationships is weak. There is nothing wrong with the license followed by marriage, I been married for 62 years. It's just not always essential and society can function with less of it. 

For the churches of Christianity, however, there is a need for children to replace deaths. The cash flow is hurt when membership declines. It would be in the church's best interest to endorse couples of all kinds and try to keep the children as paying members. 

A smart church would deemphasize marriage.    

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