Biblical Womanhood: No surprise at all

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

No surprise at all

Thanks to reader Jessica for sending along this article:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - It is by no means dead, but for the first time, a new survey has shown that traditional marriage has ceased to be the preferred living arrangement in the majority of US households.

The shift, reported by the US Census Bureau its 2005 American Community Survey, could herald a sea change in every facet of American life -- from family law to national politics and its current emphasis on family values.

The findings, which were released in August but largely escaped public attention until now because of the large volume of data, indicated that marriage did not figure in nearly 55.8 million American family households, or 50.2 percent.

More than 14 million of them were headed by single women, another five million by single men, while 36.7 million belonged to a category described as "nonfamily households," a term that experts said referred primarily to gay or heterosexual couples cohabiting out of formal wedlock.

Next thing people will want to marry their dog and call that a "family."

The article goes on to say a few paragraphs down:

Douglas Besharov, a sociologist with the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington-based think tank, said it is difficult for the traditional family to emerge unscathed after three and a half decades of divorce rates reaching 50 percent and five decades out-of-wedlock births.

"Change is in the air," Besharov said in a recent interview with the State Department journal called US Society and Values. "The only question is whether it is catastrophic or just evolutionary."

He predicted that cohabitation and temporary relationships between people were likely to dominated America's social landscape for years to come.

"Overall, what I see is a situation in which people -- especially children -- will be much more isolated, because not only will their parents both be working, but they'll have fewer siblings, fewer cousins, fewer aunts and uncles," the scholar argued. "So over time, we're moving towards a much more individualistic society."

When the marriage vows don't mean anything and no-fault divorce is an easy out, when it's more cost-effective and less entangling to live together and society readily accepts those in these sorts of relationships (in fact, it's no longer PC to say "spouse" we have to say "significant other"!), when teenagers are raised in an "it's-all-about-me" world, are these findings of any surprise?

Oh that God would raise up a host of young couples dedicated to following after His ways, not the world's ways, to be a shining example to our sin-darkened culture that there is a better way! We don't have to follow along in this heart-rending madness.

11 Comments:

Erin said...: "the large volume of data, indicated that marriage did not figure in nearly 55.8 million American family households, or 50.2 percent."

I heard about this yesterday. The way they are reporting the data is a bit misleading, however. "50.2 percent" of American households...in many cases these will be households comprised of one single adult. All married households hold TWO single adults. The large majority of American adults are still married, have been, or will be at some point.; 2:52 PM
Erin said...: Despite the fact that most ppl will still marry at some point, you're right that there's a definite cheapening of marriage within society! I hope that many Christians will step up to the challenge of displaying what true marriage should be...a picture of Christ and the church.; 2:57 PM
Heidi said...: Yes, it is quite heart-rending....that's one reason I fing Alex and Brett's blog and forums over at the rebelution so encouraging, because they are calling all Christian youth to rebel against the low expectations of this world and to step up to a much higher standard - Christ's standard. it's so encouraging to know that I'm not alone in my striving for purity and in my "divorce is not an option" mindst.; 3:56 PM
Grace said...: I read a similiar article the other day and was really heartbroken to realize what our society is becoming.

The trend towards cohabitaions rather than marriage is particulary disturbing to me. Many people seem to almost treat others like cars that they are test driving or material goods that are only to be used for a short time. Once the hard times hit, better to take that car back to the dealer or use the warranty on the item than try to stick it our and fix it yourself.

It is a sad day for society when the most "radical" and "rebellious" thing you can do is marry a loving husband/wife, live a Godly life, and raise children to be moral & responsible adults. I fear for the future sometimes...I really do.; 5:40 PM
Diana said...: "Oh that God would raise up a host of young couples dedicated to following after His ways, not the world's ways, to be a shining example to our sin-darkened culture that there is a better way! We don't have to follow along in this heart-rending madness."

Amen!

I'm so glad for young Christian people (married and single alike) who are willing to stand up for Christ and follow His ways. My prayer is that He gives me the courage to be one of those young people.

Diana; 6:34 PM
babygirl_nz said...: where is your evidence that people will want to marry their pets? just because somepeople choose not to marry, or choose not to have a christian marriage doesnt mean that they want multipe partners at the same time, or want to get intimate with animals!
I ntoice you promote christian marriage (not surprising since you are christian!!), do you think there is a place for non-christian marriage?; 2:14 AM
Crystal said...: Hi, Babygirl!

My point in people "marrying" their pets is that when we don't define marriage as between a man and a woman and instead leave its meaning up to individual interpretation its meaning is not only lost, but people could and would come up with their own interpretations of it. If a man and a man can marry, why can't a man and a dog? There's no stopping it when we redefine marriage as something other than what it was created to be - between a man and a woman, for life.

Well, to not allow for non-Christian marriage is to say that everyone is a Christian, which is not true. Therefore, of course there will always be non-Christian marriages so long as the earth is in existence. However, without a firm foundation in Christ, a marriage cannot have as deep and as strong of a meaning.; 2:22 AM
Crystal said...: Good point, Erin. Thanks for bringing that up.; 2:24 AM
Gina said...: Our adult Sunday school class is doing a study on marriage right now using the book "Blueprints for a Solid Marriage". Out of a class of about 30 couples, there are only maybe 5-7 couples who are in their first marriages. My husband and I have been married just over 16 years and we're considered old timers. I guess this really doesn't tie into your post but I've been surprised at how even Christians have been deceived by divorce.; 7:56 AM
Erin said...: oops...I mean "All married households hold TWO adults..." (not single:op ); 10:16 AM
Andrea said...: This is just heartbreaking...especially considering some Christians even accept cohabitation as the preferred method of living life. Aaron and I stood together, hand in hand, making our vows before Christ and our families for good reason: we don't take them lightly. While marriage isn't all seriousness (it is definitely fun!), the act of marriage itself is SACRED. I think that is one thing that Catholics understand better than some (not all) Protestant faiths...to many Pro. faiths, marriage is holy, but its okay to get divorced for certain reasons. But to Catholics, it is SACRED, a sacrament that not all are called to receive, but those that do are blessed, lucky, and joined by God! The only time a Catholic will get divorced is if there is infidelity. And even then, I know many couples that have survived infidelity and have had successful marriages!

Aaron's parents are divorced and remarried (both are). His father was unfaithful, his mother ended the marriage (understandably). All of our readings were readings that decried divorce and celebrated the union of a man and a woman under Christ's lordship. While we (I especially) picked the readings to make my point about how I feel about divorce (to his father and stepmother especially), I was also told by many family members that they appreciated my picking such strong readings...My response was only, "It is what Christ commands us to do as married couples...no more, no less."

My children will be raised with the belief that divorce is just an unacceptable response to life's inevitable struggles. If we are, as Christians, raising up godly children who "trust in the Lord with all of their understanding and acknowledge Him in all of our ways", we can be assured that He will keep His promise and make our paths straight.; 11:28 AM

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

No surprise at all

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