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Example research essay topic: Western Civilization Christian Church - 2,253 words

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INFLUENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH ON WESTERN MARRIAGE IN THE LAST 100 YEARS TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Christianity in America 3 A. Christianity's Influence on Marriage 3 B. Protestants Influence on Marriage 4 II. Emergence of Divorce 5 A. Church's View on Divorce 6 III.

Church's View on Gay Marriage 7 IV. Conclusion 8 Works Cited 10 Marriage, as we know it in our Western civilization today, has a long history with roots in several very different ancient cultures, of which the Roman, Hebrew, and Germanic are the most important. Western marriage has further been shaped by the doctrines and policies of the medieval Christian church, the demands of the Protestant Reformation, and the social impact of the Industrial Revolution (History of Marriage). Amidst all these, the Christian Church remains as the guardian of marriage and continues to be the bearer of this sacred tradition (History of Marriage in Western Civilization). I. Christianity in America Christianity had a major impact upon American life.

In addition to the widespread conversion of people as its direct influence, it made a very important indirect influence by helping to set the moral tone of the country. The ideals of the nation were rooted in Biblical Christianity. Church membership grew rapidly and older denominations increased in membership. Many new denominations were organized such as the Nazarene's, Disciples of Christ, and Holiness and Pentecostal groups.

Most churches in most of the major denominations sponsored annual revivals, which often affected entire families and communities. It was during this era that laymen's organizations became active in many churches and helped to spread the influence of Christianity. By the turn of the twentieth century, Methodists formed the largest Christian denomination in the country (6, 000, 000 members) and Baptists were second (5, 000, 000 members) (Churches and Religion). A. Christianity's Influence on Marriage During the last 100 years, America experienced new widespread revival, which was to have a major impact upon the nations future. Certainly, not all Americans were converted, but few were unaffected by the new surge of Christianity.

Under the influence of the Bible, Americans took part in widespread evangelization. Many Americans accepted the Bible as the inspired Word of God; a few openly rejected the Bible; and some were deceived into accepting various perversions of its teachings. Yet the broad truths of the Bible had played such a key role in the founding of America. It was to play a key role in the maturing of the nation. During the last 100 years, monogamy was and still is the only accepted form of marriage in both Catholic and Protestant countries. However, the gradual emancipation of marriage laws from the control of the church resulted in greater individual freedom (History of Marriage in Western Civilization).

Gradually the church was loosening its strongholds on married people as they began to lead more liberated lives. It was during the last 100 years too, that the parents began to lose influence over the marital choices of their children, and romantic love became an important factor in marriage (History of Marriage in Western Civilization). B. Protestants View on Marriage When one goes back to the Protestant view of marriage, one sees that John Calvin and the rest of the authors developed a more sophisticated analogy for marriage. Calvin applied his own theory about justification as establishing a covenant of grace to the marriage union. It was he who supported that God draws a husband and wife into a covenant relationship with each other. " He advocated a strict code of marital morality which gave a spiritual dimension to marriage in the earthly kingdom.

This was because the state had a rein on the spiritual dimension of marriage. But the church's voice had to be consulted every now and then. He reminds us that the Geneva Council, a political body, enjoyed the authority to punish infractions of sexual morality among both the married and the unmarried. (Hitchcock, J. 1993) II. Emergence of Divorce Amidst all these major marital trends and issues that emerged during the last half of the 20 th century, the issue of divorce replaced death as the end of the majority of marriages. (Pinsof, William, 2002). For example, In the 20 th century, for the first time, marriage and intimate relations in general also became the objects of scientific study.

More and more, Christianity had been involved in these issues, especially during the recent times. Church groups have made concrete efforts in helping marriages and children of divorced parents. Kelly and Wallerstein state that the church has developed useful intervention models for children in different age groups. Their goal is to enable the child of divorce to affectively and cognitively integrate the impact of the family dissolution, and to minimize or prevent the consolidation of psychopathological response, and to facilitate the childs transition to new family relationships following divorce. (Kelly and Wallerstein, 1977, p. 23). Through parental interviews and observations of children, they draw up a divorce-specific diagnostic profile of each child comprising: An abbreviated developmental profile.

A focus on the childs response to the parental separation. An evaluation of the childs response to the parental network. (Cameron, J). The Christian church points to the urgent need of tightening divorce laws to protect people against their own disruptive impulses. The increasing demand for divorce is seen as no more than an illusive search for ever-escaping happiness (Conger, 1997. p. 360). Others have seen divorce as a regrettable but inevitable by-product of the search for individual self-fulfillment, one that is worth its price being paid in the long run.

Such professionals often emphasize the resulting poverty of wife and children as a major negative consequence and call for financial protection in this area. (Kalter, 1977, p. 40 - 51). Church counselors who are faced with a relationship that seems to have foundered must make the difficult decision between trying to rescue the relationship at all cost, versus helping to sever those sinuous bonds and help bury the relationship. Church counselors face their own convictions on value-laden issues with honesty since they will influence the counseling process (Churches and Religion). However, regardless of whether the decision to separate is created by false hopes and illusions or by desperation, it will evoke anxiety, disequilibrium and emotional vulnerability.

Divorce often produced complete changes in the peoples material and emotional life space and calls for drastic revision of ones assumptive world. The Christian church recognizes this fact and continues in its relentless efforts at cushioning the effects of this malaise (Anthony, J. 1974). A. Church's View on Divorce According to the precepts of the church, divorce is considered immoral, because it introduces disorder into the family and into society. This disorder brings grave harm to the deserted spouse, to children traumatized by the separation of their parents and often torn between them, and because of its contagious effect which makes it truly a plague on society." (Answers. com).

According to the Catholic Church, divorce does not automatically prevent a person from receiving the sacrament of the Eucharist, but a remarriage without a declaration of nullity from the church will automatically prohibit him from taking the Holy Communion. The church has clearcut provisions about these small things (Answers. com). Christianity also stipulates that marriage could be built only on the free consent of both partners. Because of this, theologians increasingly found a religious significance in marriage and eventually even included it among the sacraments. This also endowed a formerly rather prosaic arrangement with a new dignity. (History of Marriage in Western Civilization).

III. Church's View on Gay Marriage More recently, there had been issues on gay marriages. The issue favoring or not gay marriages is a sensitive one that affects people on a large scale, be they citizens of the U. S. or of other countries. This is because its ultimate resolution, when such eventuality will be determined, will change how people view marriage as a sacred institution that has long been observed, honored and respected for centuries now.

Marriage between man and woman is that institution that binds them to unite as a couple in the eyes of men and in the eyes of God. They are united by their state and are thus protected under the law for the establishment of conjugal and family life. A family springs from such union, which is the foundation of the kind of society one has. Christianity still maintains that any attempt to destruct such law, or violate such order is perceived as a serious insult and a clear violation of the sanctity of marriage as a social institution that unites men and women in marriage (Grossman, Cathy Lynn 2003). Values and cultures unique to every state have evolved in such a way that its inhabitants have learned to adapt to what seems to be a more diversified culture of the modern times. However, the old values and cultures are deeply rooted in ones society over hundreds of years that any attempt to change them would cause serious questionings in the church.

What seems to be accepted, tested and proven over time is not easily changed in the name of modernization. In a survey conducted among a higher number of churchgoers, 48 % of those surveyed say that allowing two people of the same sex to legally marry will change our society for the worse" (Grossman, Cathy Lynn, 2003). Noticeably, a large portion of the population that belong to the old school or the conservative thinking class believes that gay marriages destroy the moral infrastructure society was built on, " as commented by corporate executive Bruce Brown, of Houston, who happens to belong to a Lutheran Church; while 47 % of those surveyed who seldom attend church services say that same-sex marriages have no effect on society while 14 % would say there is change in the society for the better (Grossman, Cathy Lynn 2003). IV. Conclusion Christianity, indeed, plays a key role in Western marriages. The last 100 years have spawned a generation of Christians who have created efforts in helping marriages and families in its desire to preserve its integrity.

It revolves around the philosophical foundation that marriages involves love and care, responsibility and commitment, which seek the best interest of both parties, respect for the dignity and worth of each one in conformity with the moral laws of God. Indeed, according to foremost speaker and Christian leader Dr. James Dobson, If the issues cited here could be boiled at extreme temperatures until only the essential ingredients remained, this irreducible value would survive unscathed: an unyielding dedication to the institution of marriage as a permanent, life-long relationship, regardless of trials, sickness, financial reverses or emotional stresses that may ensue. Marriage has been under severe assault in recent years, yet the Christian Church will remain viable for as long as husbands and wives and children co-habit the face of the earth.

It will certainly outlive humanism and the puny efforts of mankind to find an alternative. (Dobson, 1984, p. 508) No one can easily alter or replace the true essence of values formed through the influence of Christianity, which is the source of truth on matters that affect peoples lives. A marriage between man and a woman is not created by mere concepts of man. It has Biblical implications that have long been observed for centuries and have survived amidst struggles and the test of time. Thus, the Christian church still has a formidable role in the issue of marriage which remains to be a strong foundation that supports an inviolable social institution -- the family, the very foundation of a strong, vibrant and progressive society that continues to evolve over time.

REFERENCES Answers. com. Accessed 28 August 2005 at: web Anthony, J. (1974). Children at risk from divorce: A review, The child in his family: Children at psychiatric risk. New York: Wiley. Cameron, J. , Adolescent Brain Development.

Session III: Hormone, behavior, and inter-relationships during adolescence. University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved 28 August 2005 at: web Churches and Religion. Accessed 28 August 2005 at: web Conger, J. & Galambos, N, Adolescence & Youth. Addison, Wesley Longman, Educational Publishers, 1997. p. 360 - 366.

Dobson, J. (1984). Dr. Dobson Answers your questions. Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois. 1984. Eley, T. C. ; Liang, H.

M. A. ; Plain, R... ; Sham, P... ; Sterne, A... ; Williamson, R. M. SC. ; Purcell, S. Parental Familial Vulnerability, Family Environment, and Their Interactions as Predictors of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 43 (3): 298 - 306, Retrieved 28 Aug 2005.

at: web Grossman, Cathy Lynn. (2003) Public opinion is divided on gay marriages. USA Today. com. Accessed 28 August 2005 at: web Hitchcock, James. (1993). To Tear Down and to Build Up. Christianity and the Subversive Forces in Western Civilization.

Accessed 28 August 2005 at: web History of Marriage in Western Civilization. Accessed 28 August 2005 at: web Kalter, N. (1977). Children of divorce in an outpatient psychiatric population. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 47 (1), 40 - 51. Kelly J. B.

and Wallerstein J. S. (1976). The effects of parental divorce: Experience of the child in early latency. American Journal of Orhtopsychiatry 46 (1), 20 - 32 (a) Nelson, K. (1985). Making sense: The acquisition of shared meaning. New York: Academic Press Pinsof, William. (2002).

Introduction to the special issue on marriage in the 20 th century in Western Civilization: trends, research, therapy, and perspectives. Family Process. Accessed 28 August 2005 at: web


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