What is Marriage

[808Catholic]

She even lost her name.

She gave up her name; not lost.

In western society, we see the hyphenating of last names so that a person born to a father named Smith and mother named Jones will have a last name Smith-Jones. When that person marries a person named George their last name becomes Smith-Jones-George. And so on. Not what I would choose but this is where modernism and relativism drives some people.

 

[Bradski]

Does the majority of the world follow the precepts of Catholic/Christian marriage?

Seeing as how only a third of the world is Christian, I say that’s a definite no. That’s ignoring all the civil ceremonies that take place and the fact that a significant majority of marriages end in divorce.

I think you are in a rather small minority.

 

[808Catholic]

Seeing as how only a third of the world is Christian, I say that’s a definite no. That’s ignoring all the civil ceremonies that take place and the fact that a significant majority of marriages end in divorce.

I think you are in a rather small minority.

I didn’t say they were Christian; I asked if they followed Christian precepts of marriage. One man, one woman, for life.

 

[rossum]

I didn’t say they were Christian; I asked if they followed Christian precepts of marriage. One man, one woman, for life.

Given that definition, then probably not. Muslim religious marriage allows more than one wife, and the majority of civil marriages worldwide allow for divorce. Between the two of them, that probably is a majority. I am not sure if all Hindu groups allow multiple wives in religious marriages, but some do (in theory at least).

rossum

 

[808Catholic]

Given that definition, then probably not. Muslim religious marriage allows more than one wife, and the majority of civil marriages worldwide allow for divorce. Between the two of them, that probably is a majority. I am not sure if all Hindu groups allow multiple wives in religious marriages, but some do (in theory at least).

rossum

As Christ said, we Christians have a lot of work to do!

 

[Bradski]

I didn’t say they were Christian; I asked if they followed Christian precepts of marriage. One man, one woman, for life.

We were talking about the definition of marriage. You mentioned Christian precepts (plural) as a possible definition.

One man and one woman is one precept (singular) and hardly a definition in itself. As has been pointed out, there are many societies that have multiple partners and even when it is generally accepted that it is one man and one woman, that is hardly JUST a Christian definition.

Again, all things considered that are specifically defined as Christian, you are in a relatively small majority.

 

[Bradski]

As Christ said, we Christians have a lot of work to do!

That’s probably not meant too seriously, but it is a concern nevertheless. I’m not sure you should be in a position to change what everyone else (a majority) considers to be perfectly acceptable and which (a critical point) does you no harm.

 

[808Catholic]

We were talking about the definition of marriage. You mentioned Christian precepts (plural) as a possible definition.

One man and one woman is one precept (singular) and hardly a definition in itself. As has been pointed out, there are many societies that have multiple partners and even when it is generally accepted that it is one man and one woman, that is hardly JUST a Christian definition.

Again, all things considered that are specifically defined as Christian, you are in a relatively small majority.

If “one man, one woman” marriage is a “minority” position, why does the “majority” think they have to pass laws to force it upon the “minority”? We should be the minority so they should have no worries.

 

[808Catholic]

That’s probably not meant too seriously, but it is a concern nevertheless. I’m not sure you should be in a position to change what everyone else (a majority) considers to be perfectly acceptable and which (a critical point) does you no harm.

Even if there were only 1 Christian left on earth, he/she would be directed by God to spread His Word and that includes His laws. I agree that a faulty perception of marriage does not affect me except when the government forces us to alter our religious practice.

 

[Bradski]

If “one man, one woman” marriage is a “minority” position, why does the “majority” think they have to pass laws to force it upon the “minority”? We should be the minority so they should have no worries.

I get this a lot. I write something and someone replies without either reading it or possibly understanding it. My fault I guess.

I didn’t say that one man-one woman is a minority position. It patently isn’t. What I said was that it isn’t an exclusively Christian position.

Yes, Christians promote one man-one woman but you can’t claim that position as being yours. It isn’t a ‘Christian position’ in the sense that no-one else subscribes to it. Thee fact that the majority of marriages conform to what you like to claim as yours is no indication as to whether any other arrangement is acceptable.

And no-one, it must be said, is passing laws to say that a legal change to the definition means you are compelled to do anything whatsoever. Other than recognise other people’s legal rights. Seems to be too hard for some people.

 

[rossum]

Yes, Christians promote one man-one woman but you can’t claim that position as being yours. It isn’t a ‘Christian position’ in the sense that no-one else subscribes to it. Thee fact that the majority of marriages conform to what you like to claim as yours is no indication as to whether any other arrangement is acceptable.

I suspect that the global majority position is “one man and one or more women”.

Many cultures, the ancient Israelites included, had a system where most men had one wife, while the rich and powerful had more than one wife simultaneously. In the West multiple partners are allowed, it is just that you have serial polygamy/andry rather than parallel polygamy/andry.

rossum

 

[808Catholic]

I get this a lot. I write something and someone replies without either reading it or possibly understanding it. My fault I guess.

I didn’t say that one man-one woman is a minority position. It patently isn’t. What I said was that it isn’t an exclusively Christian position.

Yes, Christians promote one man-one woman but you can’t claim that position as being yours. It isn’t a ‘Christian position’ in the sense that no-one else subscribes to it. Thee fact that the majority of marriages conform to what you like to claim as yours is no indication as to whether any other arrangement is acceptable.

And no-one, it must be said, is passing laws to say that a legal change to the definition means you are compelled to do anything whatsoever. Other than recognise other people’s legal rights. Seems to be too hard for some people.

I don’t think you’ve been following the news in America where bakers and people who own farms used for weddings have been penalized or prosecuted for not contracting with homosexual couples based on their religious beliefs. I may have been mistaken about your belief that “one man, one woman” marriage is not the majority but it is a Christian precept. I have never said the precept is ONLY held by Christians.