I’ve just finished reading most of Marriage and the Family in the Middle Ages, by Frances and Joseph Gies; about one-third of the book was devoted to life among the nobility, and so I skipped past those chapters. But the rest is very good, especially because it takes the time to set the stage by describing the marriage and family patterns among the groups that fed into medieval society, mainly Greeks and Romans and Germans and Christians.
It turns out that those pre-medieval patterns of marriage were very much different from what we see as normal today, and that many of the important shifts came during the Middle Ages, usually in response to shifting economic circumstances…..
Whatever your views on gay marriage — whether you are a supporter who believes that gays should have the same rights as heterosexuals or whether you are more religiously inclined and object to gay marriage on biblical grounds — one thing is for sure: This has absolutely nothing to do with rescuing the institution of marriage.
We straight people don’t need help from gays in destroying marriage, having done an admirable job of it ourselves, thank you very much. And the reason that marriages continue to decline in the United States is that rather than discussing how we can shore up this most vital of all social institutions, we have instead chosen to focus on a convenient scapegoat: gays.
Christian organizations, political and others, make regular mention of the fight against the immorality of gay marriage. No doubt, right, but is gay marriage really destroying ‘traditional’ marriage?
Both the family and the Church stand in the way of socialism’s triumph, former US Senator Rick Santorum told Christians gathered for the 17th International Week of Prayer and Fasting last week. The pro-life champion warned attendees, however, that both institutions are under heavy attack from Obama-administration policies.
On any given day, Pat Merkley helps clients with everything from registering for Social Security and accessing housing to providing marriage counseling to women trying to bring harmony to their polygamous family’s home.
Of the past year, I have noticed that non-fundamentalist Mormons, and even non-Mormons, as starting to speak in near favor of polygamy (Husbands having more than one wife, not women having more than one husband, I mean, we have to have standards and all.) During a recent conversation on this blog – no I am not linking to it – the commentator suggested that polygamy is no longer allowed by the LDS because ‘our’ religion makes it against the Law. Further, suggests that polygamy is easily biblical, because we have patriarchal examples of it (I mean, sure, while Abraham is our example of Faith, would you really follow his moral example complete?)
I realize that this is not the view of many Mormons. I know several Mormons, and they are generally of a very respectable character, Glenn Beck notwithstanding. This is not a slight against them, nor a slight whatsoever, just an exploration of the mainstreaming of polygamy.
So, in the interesting of that commentator, I am posting a link to a story that hit the newswires earlier this week. This is a young family, a man who is married to one sister, officially, and one unofficially. They have children, friends, and seem to be generally pretty public about their lifestyle.
To me, while polygamy is entirely unbiblical, it is also something rather, well, selfish. You know what we call men with two wives or partners right? Lucky. Brave. Bold. A man’s man.
You know what we call a woman with multiple husbands or partners?
While sisters are known for their love of sharing, Mormon siblings Katie and Priscilla Churcher have chosen to share more than most in their choice of husband Travis.
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – CBS is treading into potentially controversial reality TV territory again.
The network has ordered a new series from the producers of “Top Chef” that puts lovelorn singles into arranged marriages.
The show introduces four adults in the 25-45 age range who are eager to get married but have been unsuccessful in their search for a mate. Their friends and family select a spouse for them, and the newly paired couple exchange marital vows. The series follows their marriages.
Seriously, made instead of attacking gay marriage, the Religious Right Wrong could spend some time and energy on promoting a healthy Traditional marriage. I am going to make a prediction – if this show makes it to air, it will be huge. This is a sickening concept, really – but what is marriage in the eyes of society? A political battleground, perhaps? A property exchange? A tax credit? A tv show?
The Robot Pirate Ninja, more commonly known as Roy has issued a video summation of his argument in defense of gay marriage, and in a sense, homosexuality, or rather the ability to love whom one wishes to love. I have attempted, rather feebly, to offer a video response of my own. His response has a bit of profanity in it, or I would post it. It is your choice to view it, and if you can stand the brutal words, then watch it. I have attempted to answer his points as I see them. I do hope that this is not the end of the conversation.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
(James 4:17 NKJV)
So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” (Luke 4:16-19 NKJV)
Jesus said to him, “”You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:37 NKJV)
Aug., de Doctr. Christ., i, 22: Or otherwise; You are commanded to love God “with all thy heart,” that your whole thoughts — “with all thy soul,” that your whole life — “with all thy mind,” that your whole understanding — may be given to Him from whom you have that you give. Thus He has left no part of our life which may justly be unfilled of Him, or give place to the desire after any other final good [marg. note: alia re frui]; but if aught else present itself for the soul’s love, it should be absorbed into that channel in which the whole current of love runs. For man is then the most perfect when his whole life tends towards the life [marg. note: al. bonum] unchangeable, and clings to it with the whole purpose of his soul.
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height– to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19 NKJV)
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV)
But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. (Jude 1:10 NKJV)
These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. (Jude 1:19 NKJV)
whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame–who set their mind on earthly things. (Philippians 3:19 NKJV)
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13-18 NKJV)
I have attempted to included the scriptural references that I mentioned, but I might have missed one or two. I have never done anything like this, and I am not sure how well it will go over. Please keep the comments to the subject matter and not the speaker. Some of us blessed with more brains than looks.
Of the past year, I have noticed that non-fundamentalist Mormons, and even non-Mormons, as starting to speak in near favor of polygamy (Husbands having more than one wife, not women having more than one husband, I mean, we have to have standards and all.) During a recent conversation on this blog – no I am not linking to it – the commentator suggested that polygamy is no longer allowed by the LDS because ‘our’ religion makes it against the Law. Further, suggests that polygamy is easily biblical, because we have patriarchal examples of it (I mean, sure, while Abraham is our example of Faith, would you really follow his moral example complete?)
