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THE QUESTION
Is marriage obsolete?
A new survey out this week from the National Marriage Project shows that marriage is an institution in decline in many parts of American society. This "retreat from marriage in Middle America" will have wide-ranging social and economic consequences, say the survey's authors.
Another recent study of marriage, administered by the Pew Research Center, showed that nearly 40% of Americans believe marriage is becoming 'obsolete.'
What is marriage? Is it a civil union or is it a religious institution? How do you define it? Is there a marriage crisis in America today?
Posted by
Elizabeth Tenety on December 6, 2010 10:55 AM
FROM THE PANEL
The last romantic? Why marriage will endure
Recent surveys showing growing numbers of Americans are not that into marriage tell us something interesting about us, but nothing about love and marriage.
Posted by John Mark Reynolds, on December 10, 2010 2:36 PM
Marriage changing, but still valuable
Marriage is much more than simply a legal status.
Posted by Pamela K. Taylor, on December 10, 2010 1:52 PM
He who cheats on his spouse will cheat on everyone
If familes can not get along, how can neighborhoods, communities society as a whole function well? They won't
Posted by Shmully Hecht, on December 10, 2010 12:52 PM
"Marriage"? "Family"? "God"?
Not all the marriage news is bad.
Posted by Willis E. Elliott, on December 8, 2010 10:11 PM
Marriage disappearing in front of our eyes
In one of the great tragic and unpredicted developments of our times, less educated Americans are now far less committed to marriage than in the recent past and even less committed to marriage than the educated elites.
Posted by R. Albert Mohler Jr., on December 8, 2010 4:10 PM
Marriage must innovate, not stagnate
So long as this discussion stays centered on issues of tradition and boundaries we will continue to see marriage become an obsolete relic of a previous age, replaced by new forms of social networks unimagined now by the mainstream
Posted by Jason Pitzl-Waters, on December 8, 2010 4:01 PM
Marriage will decline until "we" overtakes "I"
It isn't marriage that's in decline in our country. It's community. As a pillar of our common life, marriage is eroding along with so many other aspects of community important to our American experience.
Posted by Janet Edwards, on December 8, 2010 12:12 PM
Failure of marriage marks a society's rot
A marriage is a boisterous affair for Hindus--the party begins even before the ritual is complete. Marriage is the foundation of societal structure across cultures, and when 40% of Americans proclaim marital obsolescence, that foundation is wobbly indeed.
Posted by Aseem Shukla, on December 8, 2010 11:56 AM
Marriage is a creation of God
Marriage represents something that is central to the calling of all of us, including those who do not marry.
Posted by Fr. Frank Pavone, on December 8, 2010 11:37 AM
Marriage shift may alter the concept of marriage forever
I am not sure that marriage is becoming obsolete, but I do feel that marriage has been a football in this country
Posted by Susan K. Smith, on December 7, 2010 3:27 PM
Religious leaders should promote marriage for all
The irony is that many of the organizations committed to promoting marriage seek to exclude same sex couples from these benefits.
Posted by Debra W. Haffner, on December 7, 2010 12:29 PM
Marriage: Yes it's on the rocks, and good riddance
The current flurry of survey data suggesting that mainstream Americans are giving up on marriage fills me with hope.
Posted by Tom Flynn, on December 7, 2010 11:25 AM
Marriage isn't obsolete - but it could use some help
let's open up marriage to gay and lesbian couples. Who knows? They may have something about commitment to teach the rest of us.
Posted by Barry Lynn, on December 7, 2010 11:23 AM
Marriage: is it going the way of the horse and carriage?
The hypocrisy in religion is also another reason many young people of my acquaintance are staying away from marriage in its traditional, legal and religious forms.
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on December 7, 2010 10:24 AM
Our culture is planning marriage's demise
Marriage is becoming less and less viable in the American context because it too often isn't being "practiced" in a sustainable way.
Posted by Max Carter, on December 6, 2010 3:58 PM
Find meaning in marriage without religion
I'm hesitant to give advice about marriage because, unlike "experts" like Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich, I've been married only once.
Posted by Herb Silverman, on December 6, 2010 3:43 PM
To declare marriage obsolete is to violate Scripture
Marriage as defined in Scripture is supposed to mirror the Triune God.
Posted by Cal Thomas, on December 6, 2010 2:31 PM
Americans afraid marriage is changing
Those who say marriage is becoming obsolete might be voicing a fear, not expressing a wish.
Posted by Jim Daly, on November 30, 2010 4:42 PM
