Marriage vs. Cohabitation

1. Marriage vs. Cohabitation Karl Gleason Allison Jones Kristin Matson Mark Siebenaller III

2. Lifestyles in the U.S. in 1991

3. What is Marriage? Legal Marriage - a social institution, a legal relationship between two people that carries with it certain legal rights and duties (Rouse 4). Marriage in the Evangelical Lutheran Church � a lifelong covenant of a faithfulness between a man and a woman, becoming one flesh (www.elca .org).

4. Benefits of Marriage Generally�� Probable sustainment of better physical and mental health Higher income Lower levels of domestic violence Encourages relationship investment More positive impact on children Religiously, marriage is favored in the Bible

5. Consequences of Marriage Divorce Marriage tax: used to tax household income, not individual incomes. However, depending on the respective income of each spouse, the marriage tax may not always be a disadvantage.

6. The Bible on Marriage �Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh� (Genesis 2:24). �Because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband� (1 Corinthians 7:2-3).

7. Contrasts in the Bible In the old testament, and specifically Genesis, God encourages the reproduction of offspring and the strengthening of family lines. Naturally, this can only happen with sexual intimacy. This sexual intimacy happens between both married and unmarried couples. In some cases, God even promises to maintain a promise despite adultery. In Paul�s letters, he questions whether sexual intimacy is acceptable in a life with Jesus Christ and uses marriage as a last resort to controlling mortal sexual desire. Here, only marriage justifies sexual intimacy.

8. What is Cohabitation Cohabitation � A relationship between two unmarried adults living together, sharing household responsibilities and having a sexual relationship (Rouse 69).

9. Reasons for Cohabitation Readily available sex and convenience Cohabitation is often seen as an emancipation and freedom to make decisions Often used as a testing ground for marriage Alternative to being single Alternative to marriage

10. Social Trends Greater tolerance of varied living arrangements and of premarital sex. Changing sex roles Postponement of marriage Financial considerations More honest reporting of cohabitation Previously married couples choose cohabitation often after a previous marriage. More acceptance of premarital birth. Cohabitation plays an increasingly larger role in childrearing.

11. Consequences of Cohabitation Couples that cohabitate before marriage have a significantly higher divorce rate and rate their marriage less positively than couples who did not cohabitate before marriage. Cohabitation is associated with higher risks of domestic violence. Strong correlation between cohabitants and poverty in the United States.

12. Christianity and Cohabitation Marriage is strongly preferred because� - cohabitation takes away the religious and spiritual aspect of family life by making it disposable. - cohabitation includes the temptation of premarital sex. - cohabitation may inhibit the stability of a future marriage.

13. Historical Context of Cohabitation The Bible does not address the contemporary issue of cohabitation. Thus, we may assume there was no practice of cohabitation. Since scripture clearly teaches that sexual intimacy belongs exclusively within the context of marriage, we conclude that Christianity discourages cohabitation.