In preparing for a future sermon series on relationships, I came across this article in the New York Times. The author presents a range of recent sociological data about the inherent dangers of cohabitation. Read the article here. In short, the ease at which couples choose to live together also means that it is equally easy to choose to break up. Cohabitation implies intimacy, the greater potential for offspring, and for making lifelong and life-altering decisions.
Sociologists who study this increasing American cultural phenomena, find that the risks (higher divorce rates and greater potential for spousal abuse) are far greater than the rewards.
Christians affirm that God's Word provides us with Truth. Truth is never meant to limit our humanity, but is given for humanity to experience life to the fullest.
2 comments:
There was a older coworker who told me pretty much the same thong about cohabitation when I was in my mid 20s. More people need to hear this...
The report cited in the article recognizes "empirical support for both positions" on the question of whether people who cohabitate before marriage are more likely to break up after marriage. And the research seems to count only those people who eventually did get married, ignoring those who decided during cohabitation that they were not compatible and split up.
If there are many people who would have gotten married and later divorced, but decided not to marry after living together "to find out whether you really get along," that would constitute evidence that cohabitation can reduce the incidence of divorce.
Post a Comment