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[[Image:Bride and groom signing the book.jpg|right|275px]]

[[Image:Bride and groom signing the book.jpg|right|275px]]

'''Marriage''' is the divinely ordained union between one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24)  It has been practiced as such by just about every culture across geographical locations and time.<ref> "Because there is a natural complementarity between men and women - sexual, emotional, temperamental, spiritual - marriage allows for a wholeness and a completeness that cannot be won in any other way. ([[Bill Bennett]], ''The Broken Hearth'', Page 197) </ref>

'''Marriage''' is the divinely ordained union between one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24)  It has been practiced as such in most cultures across geography and time.<ref> "Because there is a natural complementarity between men and women - sexual, emotional, temperamental, spiritual - marriage allows for a wholeness and a completeness that cannot be won in any other way. ([[Bill Bennett]], ''The Broken Hearth'', Page 197) </ref>

Marriage is a life-long commitment, and typically this involves a public ceremony (a [[wedding]]) where vows are exchanged to each other and before God. Approximately half of every traditional marriage in America ends in divorce.

Marriage is a life-long commitment, and typically this involves a public ceremony (a [[wedding]]) in which vows are exchanged by the parties and before God. Approximately half of every traditional marriage in America ends in divorce.

[[Dinesh D'Souza]] wrote:

[[Dinesh D'Souza]] wrote:

==Definition of marriage==

==Definition of marriage==

For Catholics, marriage is "a union that takes its distinctive character from being founded, unlike other friendships, on bodily unity of the kind that sometimes generates new life."<ref> [http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/marriage/mf0123.htm Gay Marriage, Democracy, and the Courts]</ref>

For Christians, marriage has traditionally been seen as "a union that takes its distinctive character from being founded, unlike other friendships, on bodily unity of the kind that sometimes generates new life."<ref> [http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/marriage/mf0123.htm Gay Marriage, Democracy, and the Courts]</ref>

==Attacks on the institution of marriage==

==Attacks on the institution of marriage==

Any society which has lessened the sanctity of marriage has perished, whereas those that have upheld the sanctity of marriage have endured. Ancient Rome's decline and its eventual fall in A.D. 476 were due in no small part to a growing tolerance of extramarital sex, particularly [[homosexual acts]], beginning in the Late Republic period ending in 27 B.C.  

Any society which has lessened the sanctity of marriage has perished, whereas those that have upheld the sanctity of marriage have endured. It has been argued that Ancient Rome's decline and its eventual fall in A.D. 476 were due in no small part to a growing tolerance of extramarital sex, particularly of [[homosexual acts]].  

In the Judeo-Christian tradition, there is no room for [[sexual intercourse]] other than between man and wife. Anything which tolerates or permits [[promiscuity]] weakens society.

In the Judeo-Christian tradition, there is no approval of [[sexual intercourse]] other than between man and wife. Anything which tolerates or permits [[promiscuity]] weakens society.

Since the middle of the 20th century, [[Liberalism]] has sought to destroy the societal pressures that dissuade people from engaging in extramarital and [[premarital sex]]. Removing the stigma from these behaviors, creating no-fault [[divorce]] laws, exalting adultery as "stimulating", and especially de-stigmatizing [[homosexuality]] all weaken the institution of marriage.

Since the middle of the 20th century, [[Liberalism]] has sought to dismantle the societal pressures that dissuade people from engaging in extramarital and [[premarital sex]]. Removing the stigma from these behaviors, creating no-fault [[divorce]] laws, exalting adultery as liberating, rejuvenating, and "stimulating", and especially the de-stigmatizing of [[homosexuality]] all weaken the institution of marriage.

A recent ''Newsweek'' article complains that [[Biblical figures]] have not provided good historical examples of marriage, on the grounds that [[Abraham]] begot [[Ishmael]] by a maidservant and [[Jacob]] had [[polygamy|two wives]] and sons with both of their [[concubine|servants]]. The article also criticizes [[Jesus]] and [[St. Paul]] for remaining single. <ref>http://www.newsweek.com/id/172653/page/1</ref>

A recent ''Newsweek'' article complained that [[Biblical figures]] have not provided good historical examples of marriage, noting that [[Abraham]] begat [[Ishmael]] by a maidservant and [[Jacob]] had [[polygamy|two wives]] and had sons with both of their [[concubine|servants]]. The article also criticizes [[Jesus]] and [[St. Paul]] for remaining single. <ref>http://www.newsweek.com/id/172653/page/1</ref>

==References==

==References==