Christian Churches and Marriage Equality

In America, marriage is generally regarded as a constant, never changing commitment that has stood firm throughout the ages. However, this image is perhaps more distorted than most realize. In reality, marriage has evolved through the years, mostly for the better, but occasionally it takes a turn for the worse.

The first records we have of marriage are from the Bible. Sometime before 500 BC, Abraham was married his half-sister, Sarah. To gain riches and political power, he forced her to sleep with the Egyptian Pharaoh and King Abimelech. When Abraham later realized she was unable to have children, he married another woman, Sarah’s Egyptian slave, who bore his son Ishmael. From the earliest time, woman were treated as the property of their father, and when they were married off, they became the property of their husband. Rather than being a symbol of love, or commitment, marriage was an exchange to rise in political position or financial power.

As time went on, marriage began to progress. Only the top third of Roman society was legally allowed to marry, and if they were not married by a certain age, they were punished. The ideal Roman partnership was an adult man and teenage boy. If a man did instead marry a woman, extremely sexist laws applied. The marriage was a contract between the bride’s father or brother and her groom. The bride had no choice in the marriage. If a husband wished to divorce his wife he could, but the wife could not do the same.

Very early Christian churches believed that marriage was a sin. Ideally, one should remain single and celibate. If this became untrue, St. Paul said that marriage should be accepted. He said, “If they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn...

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...tions it is hoped that everyone will have the same rights, not just people of certain religions, races, genders, nationalities, or sexual orientation.

Works Cited

U.S. Constitution. Art./Amend. XIV, Sec. 1

"History of Marriage Timeline." San Diego LGBT History. LAMBDA Archives, 2012. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.

"A Historical Look at Marriage." Marriage Equality USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders. "Civil Marriage v. Civil Unions: What’s the Difference?" Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, Jan. 2013. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.

Perez v. Lippold. L. A. 20305. 1 Oct. 1948. Brown@50. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.

Loving v. Virginia. Supreme Court. 12 June 1967. Cornell University Law School. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. .

"Freedom To Marry." International. Freedom To Marry, Inc., Mar. 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.