Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Sexuality in modern society
Sexuality in modern society
Love and marriage in different cultures
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Sexuality in modern society
The final article that Julia and I covered in our meetings is titled, “Traditional Marriage or a Break with Tradition” by Stephanie Coontz. This article is discussing the negative reactions towards The California ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. Coontz writes that it is dangerous to base expectations off traditions because traditions are ever changing. Polygamy and sex only for procreation used to be the tradition, but now polygamy is illegal and sex is considered for more than procreation. Coontz argues that gay marriage should not be considered breaking tradition, but instead looked at as just a part of the living tradition that is always changing in America. Margaret Farley discusses this well by describing the idea of a “living tradition.” …show more content…
The idea of fidelity, meaning that marriage is meant for a man and a woman and there is monogamy within that relationship. Reproduction as the only good reason for sex has been the leading argument against the churches’ support for gay marriage. Mutual self-giving gives way to the idea that in marriage two become one; therefore, husband and wife are expected to act lovingly towards one another, please their spouse sexually, have children, and experience a deep friendship. This is a deep tradition in the Christian faith, solely for heterosexual relationships. Self-control is the fourth theme found in writings about sexuality. Marriage could justify sex, but it was not meant to be solely for pleasure. Women are considered a temptation and need to be restrained through marriage and self-control to not fall into temptation of pleasure. This idea plays into the separation of duties between men and women, further dividing the genders. Finally, social order is the underlining theme of all the others. Browning and colleagues introduce the idea that stable Christian marriages are the backbone of a successful society. “Once marriage was declared a sacrament, it became by definition a matter essentially subject to church teaching and church courts,” writes Browning and colleagues (88). Overall, the traditions of a Christian marriage underline the societal ideas in America, even though the separation is in full
Abstract On June 26, 2015 a divided Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples could now marry nationwide. At the time of the split ruling there were 9 supreme court justices, 5 of the justices were Republicans, and the remaining 4 were Democrats. In high profile cases it is except that the justices will vote along party lines. When the 5-4 ruling was reveled by the following statement. “It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right (Corn,2015).” written by
The constitutional right of gay marriage is a hot topic for debate in the United States. Currently, 37 states have legal gay marriage, while 13 states have banned gay marriage. The two essays, "What’s Wrong with Gay Marriage?" by Katha Pollitt and "Gay "Marriage": Societal Suicide" by Charles Colson provide a compare and contrast view of why gay marriage should be legal or not. Pollitt argues that gay marriage is a constitutional human right and that it should be legal, while Colson believes that gay marriage is sacrilegious act that should not be legal in the United States and that “it provides a backdrop for broken families and increases crime rates” (Colson, pg535). Both authors provide examples to support their thesis. Katha Pollitt provides more relevant data to support that gay marriage is a constitutional right and should be enacted as law in our entire country, she has a true libertarian mindset.
Same sex marriage may seem, to some, a crazy idea as marriage in this country is built on the foundation of a man and a woman marrying, but Sullivan points out that until recent centuries marriage was a contract into which a woman entered so that she would be controlled by her husba...
Temple, Elliot. "Why Is Tradition Important?" Fallible Ideas. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Dec. 2013. .
As century pass by generation also pass their traditional values to the next generation. some people still think the way their ancestors thought and believe in what they believed in. During the beginning of 1890 people couldn’t have premarital sex, women had to be the caretaker while men was the breadwinner. during this century those perspective have changed argued Stephanie Coontz the author of “The American Family”. Coontz believe women should have more freedom and there should be gender equality. Robert Kuttner, the author of “The Politics of Family” also believe that women should not be only the caretaker but whatever they want as a career. Robert Kuttner 's text does support Stephanie Coontz’ arguments about the issues related to traditional
Wengert, Timothy J. "The Book of Concord and Human Sexuality, Seen Through the Institution Of Marriage." Dialog: A Journal of Theology 48.1 (2009): 9-18. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 May 2014.
The culture that exists in America is one that is constantly changing to suit the times and the many different types of people that reside in the country. One aspect of American culture that has changed profoundly is the institution of marriage. Marriage began as the undisputed lifestyle for couples willing to make the ultimate commitment to one another. However in less than a century, pointless and destructive alternatives such as premarital cohabitation, have developed to replace marriage.
Within the first chapter of the book Kostenberger’s God, Marriage and Family identifies the cultural problems of our nation. In this chapter the author discusses how sexual immorality, homosexuality and sexual confusion are among the major threats of how our culture is now defining relationships. The author says that this is more than a problem of culture, he says that this is rooted in something more than that. I think he might be dramatic about the who issue. I do not necessarily think that the way we live our lives in threatened by sexual sin. I think our God is bigger than that. Kostenberger thinks that we must go back to the old roots of marriage in the bible to start healing from the pain that sexual sin has caused against our nation. He says that when a couple is struggling that they should do more than just work on their communication skills, they should work on the idea of becoming “one flesh”. I agree with this, I think that if two people are completely following Christ and they give their whole lives to God than they can not have an unhappy marriage.
Add to this that marriage is an affair of property, and the worst of all properties. So long as two human beings are forbidden by positive institution to follow the dictates of their own mind, prejudice is alive and vigorous." (Godwin in Paul 113)
When a man and a woman come together and bind in holy matrimony, two people become one. In marriage, two people come before the pastor and under God with their partner, to recite promises that are vows. In many religions such as Christianity and Catholicism, sex should be for left only for marriage. Sex is an emotional experience that is for married people to enjoy sexual pleasure together. Love and trust are sacred for the foundation of marriage.
These questions arise from our own desires as Christians to reflect a biblically sound attitude towards sexuality and relationships. That same desire to act according to biblical scriptures is subject to opposition from today’s culture and views about sexual relationships, gender, and roles. A new definition of marriage, sexual orientation, and sexual practices is challenging our relationship with God and our view of human sexuality. Bishop John Spong defines sex and its impact on relationships: “Sex can be called at once the greatest gift to humanity and the greatest enigma of our lives. It is a gift in that is a singular joy for all beings and enigma in its destructive potential for people and their relationships.” (Spong, 1988)
Religious marriages have a background rich in tradition and symbolism. Often that tradition becomes visible during the marriage ceremony. Each religion will have distinct traditions that take place during the ceremony in order to represent the couple’s mutual respect for religion and religious principles as they apply to the relationship. As early as the 12th Century, Roman Catholic scholar and writers referred to marriage in religion as a sacrament, a sacred ceremony tied to experiencing God's existence. “However, it wasn't until the Council of Trent in 1563 that marriage was officially deemed one of the seven sacraments, says Elizabeth Davies, of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. Following the development of Protestant theology, which did not recognize marriage as a sacrament, the Council felt a need to ...
Marriage is a “socially recognized and approved union between individuals, who commit to one another with the expectations of a stable and lasting intimate relationship. It begins with a ceremony known as a wedding which formally unites marriage partners. A marital relationship usually involves some kind of contract, either written or specified by tradition, which defines the partners’ rights and obligations to each other, to any children they may have, and to their relatives. In most contemporary industrialized societies, marriage is certified by the government,” (Skolnick, 2005). Marriage is also an important institution because of the impact it has on society. Marriage is the main way that reproduction of human life occurs. In some societies it is tradition for family heirlooms or things of value be passed on through marriage. Marriage also serves as a healthy way to have intimate relationships with an individual. In most places a marriage exists between two people of the opposite sex. However, the legal definition of marriage is currently being challenged by many. According to Skolnick’s article a marriage can be defined by responsibilities that a couple would share, some examples are: living together, having sexual relations, sharing money and financial responsibilities, and having a child together. The issue is that homosexual couples can do these things like heterosexual couples.
... the past several years is the same-sex family. Since the sexual revolution of the 1960’s, changing attitudes have brought more tolerance to the gay and lesbian community. This has somewhat loosened the stigma previously associated with this segment of the population. Along with evolving public attitudes, economic and legal changes in the United States have also reduced barriers previously facing same-sex couples making it more likely for them to form families (Butler, 2004). On the other hand, continued strong institutional ties to marriage between one man and one woman continue to pose problem for this group and shape social agendas (Glenn, 2004; Lind, 2004). While several states and many employers have given recognition and benefits to homosexual partners, there is still no uniform policy in place which addresses their familial rights in the United States.
The fourth and final step of the marriage process is to become one flesh. According to free dictionary.com, become means “to grow or come to be,” or “to be appropriate or suitable; to develop or grow into; to be appropriate; befit.” Becoming is a process that takes time and work. Tim Keller states that in order to call a union marriage, “sex is understood as both a sign of that personal, legal union and a means to accomplish it. The Bible says don’t unite with someone physically unless you are also willing to unite with the person emotionally, personally, socially, economically, and legally. Don’t become physically naked and vulnerable to the another person without becoming vulnerable in every other way, because you have given up your freedom and bound yourself in marriage.” (Keller pg. 215) God’s design is supposed to occur on the wedding night as they complete their marriage vows by having sex. It is clear that “they will become one flesh” is a indirect term for sex but it is also more than sex. The become one is to be on the same page, mind and accord. It is correct to compare it to one brain, making one decision and taking one action. Together one path, and they share one authority, one heart, one body, one mind, one thought, one church, and one God. The spouses become one flesh in every sense of the word. All these areas of oneness are important because division in any of them will cause them to stumble.