The Argument for Christian Marriage

¶ … Christian Marriage

What is the author's main point or theme?

The author's main point or theme is that Christian Theology should continue to encourage Christian marriage for Christian couples because Christian marriage is vital.

Comment on how effective the thesis is based on the evidence that follows.

The thesis is effective based on the evidence that follows, provided the reader accepts all the writer's statements as accurate. The reader must accept the writer's concept of sin and limited Christian-focused reasons and benefits of Christian marriage in order to accept his position that Christian marriage is vital. If, on the other hand, the reader does not accept the writer's Church-centric reasons, benefits and/or reliance on the Church-espoused concept of "sin," then the writer's thesis is ineffective.

What aspects of the argument do you find particularly interesting? What is so interesting about them?

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the writer's argument is the concept of sin. Extramarital sex is a sin. Sex without the intention of reproducing is a sin. Conceiving out of wedlock is a sin. Divorce is a sin. Domestic violence "is not tolerated in the Catholic Church and is frowned upon"; consequently, one can reasonably infer that domestic violence is also a sin. Quite a bit of the writer's argument is sin-centered and in the writer's world, lasting Christian marriage absent domestic violence is a surefire way to dodge several "sin bullets." The weaving of "sin" in and out of the argument for Christian marriage is interesting.

4. What details do you find boring, obvious, or too overdone?

While the writer's concept of sin is interesting, it also seems overdone. The writer's world seems chock-full of sin here, sin there, sin everywhere. While the writer does emphasize some positive aspects of Christian marriage, there seems to be such emphasis on sin that it overshadows the uplifting, unifying, loving, positive aspects of marriage.

5. What details are not supported with the author's conclusions and reflection?

The author's conclusions and reflections do not support several concepts that free, sane adults have learned on their life journeys. The writer makes two astonishing statements that run contrary to free, sane adult experience and observation. First, the writer states, "There have been no basis for community and family without marriage. Society would not be how it is today and relationships may not even exist." That is nonsense, for at least two reasons: there is no evidence that formal marriage always existed, yet relationships and society occurred, existed and grew; and today there are many loving, social, beneficial relationships outside of marriage. Ask any unmarried, free, sane adult, including but not limited to priests and nuns. Secondly, the writer states, "So if Christian theology does not continue to encourage godly marriages, then soon there will be no marriage." That is flatly false, as any free, sane adult knows, for at least one huge reason: there were, are and will be civil marriages, Buddhist marriages, pagan marriages, Islamic marriages, Hindu marriages, etc., because marriage is highly beneficial to individuals and society, regardless of Christianity, which has never cornered the market on meaningful marriage.