The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Today most people consider marriage only as a secular reality. That is why people think that it should be only guided by their own temporal values. Where as we Christians believe there is a divine element where marriage is concerned. According to sacred scriptures we infer the following spiritual foundation to marriage. 1. Marriage is a holy mystery. It is not a sin. It is a vocation. 2. God is the source of marriage. Institution of marriage is a high point in God's creation. 3. After the marriage two persons begin to travel in common ground. It is a deep union. It is the highest union found in the society; soul and body union. 4. Unity and indissolvability is the character of Christian marriage. There is no way for separation and divorce. Christ said, "Let no one separate what God has joined." 5. Love is the ultimate and holy foundation of marriage. 6. Fruits of marriage are mutual fulfillment and procreation. Whether we like it or not we have to admit there is a spiritual dimension to our life. In the modern world people seem to ignore this fact. That is why today our churches are empty, couples hardly think about getting a blessing for their marriage. Our youngsters are not properly trained in nobility of marriage commitment. They are just driven away by the secular meaning given to the marriage by the world. Two persons get married to live a happy and peaceful life sharing many things together. A couple's involvement in religious or spiritual activities is closely related to their overall sense of marital health and happiness. Couples who are united in their religious beliefs and values are more satisfied in their marriages than those who are divided on the issue. Involvement in organized religion and shared spirituality also helps couples find meaning in life and in their relationship and it serves as a moral guide by which to live their lives. Religious involvement also affects a couple's beliefs and traditions surrounding birth, death, mate selection, marriage, child-rearing, schooling, holidays, and health. Some people consider the spiritual and religious beliefs of others to be the most important characteristic of a future partner. Research shows that the greater emphasis a couple puts on religion (e.g., religious rituals, experiences, and beliefs), the easier their transition to married life and the lower their chances of marital disruption and divorce. On the flip side, research shows that having no religious affiliation increases the probability of a couple divorcing. Sharing the same religious background and ideology contributes greatly to a healthy marriage. Religion provides a set of guidelines and expectations concerning how to live, and marriages tend to run more smoothly when both partners are in agreement with these religious norms. However, when one partner is involved in organized religion and the other is not, or when each partner participates in different religions, it can cause controversy and conflict in the relationship. It is therefore very important before and after marriage for a couple to take a special concern about their future relious affiliation. If they can talk about this and come to a decision before marriage they will have more quality and clarity in their marriage.
