Why Relationships Under Construction?

There is hope in this generation of young people.  Many of them have clear goals and are committed to truth and success.  Those so committed are the great hope of generations. That hope is for life to continue and goodness and truth to persevere for future generations.

 

When we ask young people how many, some day far in the future, would like a good marriage and a nice family, almost all students raise their hands.  Instinctively they know that life is about passing life on to the next generation.  It is written on their hearts to find a life-time partner and build a family unit which will continue the circle of life

 

Marriage is the proven arena for healthy sexual activity.  It is a safe place to raise children and the best practice for our children.  Marriage with no sexual activity outside of marriage is taught by the five major religions of the world.  There must be a reason these diverse religions can agree on this topic. 

 

In 1934, renowned anthropologist Joseph Daniel Unwin tried to prove that marriage was an irrelevant and even harmful cultural institution.  He studied 86 cultures.  He was forced by the evidence to conclude that only marriage with fidelity, what he called absolute monogamy, would lead to the cultural prosperity of a society.  Anything else, such as “domestic partnerships,” would degrade society.  The quote in larger context says this:  “The evidence was such as to demand a complete revision of my personal philosophy; for the relationship between the factors seemed to be so close, that, if we know what sexual regulations a society has adopted, we can prophesy accurately the pattern of its cultural behavior.”                                     (Additional Scientific Information #9, 10)

 

Two scientists, Morris and Konner, are responsible for studies of pair bonding that can predict if a marriage will last.  Pair bonding is twelve steps that a couple completes as they move toward marriage.  Pair bonding has been found in all cultures over thousands of years and when done correctly leads to a life-long marriage.

 

Since the 60’s we have made some grave mistakes that threaten the very core of the family unit.  Many young people are in danger of not completing the life cycle and possibly not experiencing a good marriage and a nice family. 

 

America is rich with wealth, but money cannot always heal problems.  Today, many young people marry in their late 20’s or early thirties only to find that they are unable to conceive and have children, something they desire so much.  Much infertility is the result of sexually transmitted diseases caused by too many partners before marriage.  It is heartbreaking when couples desire children, but cannot conceive them.  Another trend finds young girls in their early twenties who get pregnant before marriage and at the same time are diagnosed with pre-cancer or cancer of the cervix often caused by STDs. 

 

Their pregnancies are high risk and damage to the cervix may jeopardize future pregnancies. 
Many young women are ready to be married in their early twenties, but our culture has placed an emphasis on waiting until college is completed, building a career or acquiring possessions.  This causes a dilemma – girls are ready to be married, but are told not to marry yet.  This message can translate into having sex now and getting married later.