Biblical Understanding of Marriage

Marriage and the Family
This article succinctly outlines the clear biblical case for marriage and what it means, and affirms that it is God’s intention for all people and not just Christians.

The Biblical View of Marriage
This short article discusses what marriage is and what it entails using various biblical references to demonstrate that it is God’s will for a lifetime of happiness between a husband and wife.

A Biblical Perspective on Marriage
This is a short and accessible piece which aims to give biblical perspective on marriage. It particularly emphasises how God uses marriage in his plan for mankind, with reference to passages from Genesis.

What God Has Joined Together
A sermon preached by Rev Andrew Randall of Larbert Old Parish Church. Includes consideration of some of the consequences of marriage re-definition.

The Benefits of Marriage

Marriage is Best for Bringing Up Children
This Telegraph article looks at a recent independent survey of 15000 mothers, which found that marriage is the best environment for raising children

Why Marriage Matters – 30 Conclusions from the Social Sciences
An executive summary of a report by the Institute of American Values, which researched 250 peer-reviewed journal articles and drew thirty conclusions about the benefits of marriage

Judge Launches Foundation to Reduce the ‘Disease’ of Divorce
Another Telegraph article, which describes Sir Paul Coleridge’s plans to open a Marriage Foundation to extol the virtues of marriage and family life, and to combat the ‘scourge’ of divorce and family breakdown in the UK

Arguments in support of the established understanding of marriage

Twelve compelling reasons for rejecting same-sex marriage

What’s at Stake in the ‘Same-Sex Marriage’ Debate
Why nature and reason must be employed in defending heterosexual marriage

Should Same-Sex Couples be Allowed to Marry?
John Haldane, Professor of Philosophy at the University of St Andrews, argues the case against re-defining marriage. Taken from the Sunday Herald, 16th October 2011.

Debate: Scotland for Marriage and the Equality Network – 1
VIDEO: Watch John Deighan of Scotland for Marriage debate with Tom French of the Equality Network on the issue of the re-definition of marriage. (Recorded Monday, 30th April)

Dear President Obama….
Rev David Robertson of St Peter’s Free Church Dundee and the Solas Centre writes an open letter to President Obama following the President’s decision in May 2012 to affirm same-sex marriage.

Debate: Scotland for Marriage and the Equality Network – 2
VIDEO: Watch Peter Kearney of Scotland for Marriage debate with Tom French of the Equality Network. (Recorded Sunday, 17th June 2012) 2012

Re-defining Marriage: The Case for Caution
Julian Rivers, Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of Bristol, argues that such an unravelling of marriage is too high a price to pay for a proposal which fulfils no practical legal need.

Ten Reasons Why the Government is Wrong to Re-define Marriage
Arguments from the Coalition for Marriage.

‘The Concept of Equal Marriage is Fundamentally Flawed’ is the conclusion of a recently published book. (Posted 8 January 2013)
Read a review of  ‘Is there a Case for Same-Sex Marriage?’

Same-Sex Marriage and Social Change: Exceeding the Speed of Thought (Posted 10 January 2013)
An article showing how recent is the push for same-sex marriage, and how its leaders lack substantive arguments for the nature and purpose of marriage itself.

Marriage and Politics (Posted 4 February 2013)
The authors of the book ‘What is Marriage? Man and Woman: a Defense’ talk about the politics of marriage: why the debate matters and why the conjugal view can prevail.

Marriage Equality or the Destruction of Difference (Posted 5 February2013)
By Roger Scruton and Philip Blond. This is a lengthy and well-argued defence of traditional marriage. However CARE would not endorse the conclusions of the authors in how to accommodate the demand for same-sex marriage.

Same-Sex Marriage – We’re Playing Chess, Not Checkers, by Doug Mainwaring (Posted 22 March 2013)
Just as chess requires players to seriously consider every possible consequence of their moves, we need to seriously consider every possible consequence of the push for same-sex marriage, especially for children.

I’m Gay and I Oppose Same-Sex Marriage, by Doug Mainwaring (Posted 22 March 2013)
While religion and tradition have led many to their positions on same-sex marriage, it’s also possible to oppose same-sex marriage based on reason and experience.

David Cameron would like to forget gay marriage, but it will haunt him (Posted 15 May 2013)
Charles Moore explains the dilemma for David Cameron