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==83:8. THE IDEALIZATION OF MARRIAGE==

==83:8. THE IDEALIZATION OF MARRIAGE==

83:8.1 Marriage which culminates in the home is indeed man's most exalted institution, but it is essentially human; it should never have been called a sacrament. The Sethite priests made marriage a religious ritual; but for thousands of years after Eden, mating continued as a purely social and civil institution.

83:8.1 Marriage which culminates in the [[home]] is indeed man's most exalted [[institution]], but it is [[essentially]] [[human]]; it should never have been called a [[sacrament]]. The [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_76#76:3._LIFE_IN_MESOPOTAMIA Sethite priests] made marriage a [[religious]] [[ritual]]; but for thousands of years after [[Eden]], [[mating]] continued as a [[purely]] [[social]] and [[civil]] [[institution]].

83:8.2 The likening of human associations to divine associations is most unfortunate. The union of husband and wife in the marriage-home relationship is a material function of the mortals of the evolutionary worlds. True, indeed, much spiritual progress may accrue consequent upon the sincere human efforts of husband and wife to progress, but this does not mean that marriage is necessarily sacred. Spiritual progress is attendant upon sincere application to other avenues of human endeavor.

83:8.2 The likening of [[human]] [[associations]] to [[divine]] associations is most unfortunate. The [[union]] of [[husband]] and [[wife]] in the marriage-[[home]] [[relationship]] is a [[material]] [[function]] of the [[mortals]] of the [[evolutionary worlds]]. True, indeed, much [[spiritual]] [[progress]] may accrue consequent upon the [[sincere]] [[human]] [[efforts]] of [[husband]] and [[wife]] to [[progress]], but this does not mean that marriage is necessarily [[sacred]]. [[Spiritual]] [[progress]] is attendant upon [[sincere]] [[application]] to other avenues of [[human]] endeavor.

83:8.3 Neither can marriage be truly compared to the relation of the Adjuster to man nor to the fraternity of Christ Michael and his human brethren. At scarcely any point are such relationships comparable to the association of husband and wife. And it is most unfortunate that the human misconception of these relationships has produced so much confusion as to the status of marriage.

83:8.3 Neither can marriage be truly [[compared]] to the [[relation]] of the [[Adjuster]] to man nor to the fraternity of [[Christ]] [[Michael]] and his human brethren. At scarcely any point are such [[relationships]] [[comparable]] to the [[association]] of [[husband]] and [[wife]]. And it is most unfortunate that the human misconception of these [[relationships]] has produced so much [[confusion]] as to the [[status]] of marriage.

83:8.4 It is also unfortunate that certain groups of mortals have conceived of marriage as being consummated by divine action. Such beliefs lead directly to the concept of the indissolubility of the marital state regardless of the circumstances or wishes of the contracting parties. But the very fact of marriage dissolution itself indicates that Deity is not a conjoining party to such unions. If God has once joined any two things or persons together, they will remain thus joined until such a time as the divine will decrees their separation. But, regarding marriage, which is a human institution, who shall presume to sit in judgment, to say which marriages are unions that might be approved by the universe supervisors in contrast with those which are purely human in nature and origin?

83:8.4 It is also unfortunate that certain [[groups]] of [[mortals]] have conceived of marriage as being consummated by [[divine]] [[action]]. Such [[beliefs]] lead directly to the [[concept]] of the indissolubility of the marital [[state]] regardless of the circumstances or wishes of the contracting parties. But the very [[fact]] of marriage dissolution itself indicates that [[Deity]] is not a conjoining party to such [[unions]]. If [[God]] has once joined any two [[things]] or [[persons]] [[together]], they will remain thus joined until such a time as the [[divine]] will [[decrees]] their separation. But, regarding marriage, which is a [[human]] [[institution]], who shall presume to sit in [[judgment]], to say which marriages are unions that might be approved by the [[universe]] supervisors in [[contrast]] with those which are [[purely]] [[human]] in [[nature]] and [[origin]]?

83:8.5 Nevertheless, there is an ideal of marriage on the spheres on high. On the capital of each local system the Material Sons and Daughters of God do portray the height of the ideals of the union of man and woman in the bonds of marriage and for the purpose of procreating and rearing offspring. After all, the ideal mortal marriage is humanly sacred.

83:8.5 Nevertheless, there is an [[ideal]] of marriage on the [[spheres]] on high. On the [[capital]] of each [[local system]] the [[Material Sons and Daughters]] of [[God]] do portray the height of the [[ideals]] of the [[union]] of man and woman in the bonds of marriage and for the [[purpose]] of procreating and rearing [[offspring]]. After all, the [[ideal]] mortal marriage is humanly [[sacred]].

83:8.6 Marriage always has been and still is man's supreme dream of temporal ideality. Though this beautiful dream is seldom realized in its entirety, it endures as a glorious ideal, ever luring progressing mankind on to greater strivings for human happiness. But young men and women should be taught something of the realities of marriage before they are plunged into the exacting demands of the interassociations of family life; youthful idealization should be tempered with some degree of premarital disillusionment.

83:8.6 Marriage always has been and still is man's supreme [[dream]] of [[temporal]] [[ideal]]ity. Though this [[beautiful]] [[dream]] is seldom [[realized]] in its entirety, it [[endures]] as a [[glorious]] [[ideal]], ever luring [[progressing]] [[mankind]] on to greater strivings for [[human]] [[happiness]]. But young men and women should be taught something of the [[realities]] of marriage before they are plunged into the exacting demands of the interassociations of [[family]] life; youthful idealization should be tempered with some [[degree]] of premarital [[disillusionment]].

83:8.7 The youthful idealization of marriage should not, however, be discouraged; such dreams are the visualization of the future goal of family life. This attitude is both stimulating and helpful providing it does not produce an insensitivity to the realization of the practical and commonplace requirements of marriage and subsequent family life.

83:8.7 The youthful idealization of marriage should not, however, be discouraged; such [[dreams]] are the [[visualization]] of the [[future]] goal of [[family]] life. This [[attitude]] is both [[stimulating]] and helpful providing it does not produce an insensitivity to the [[realization]] of the [[practical]] and commonplace requirements of marriage and subsequent [[family]] life.

83:8.8 The ideals of marriage have made great progress in recent times; among some peoples woman enjoys practically equal rights with her consort. In concept, at least, the family is becoming a loyal partnership for rearing offspring, accompanied by sexual fidelity. But even this newer version of marriage need not presume to swing so far to the extreme as to confer mutual monopoly of all personality and individuality. Marriage is not just an individualistic ideal; it is the evolving social partnership of a man and a woman, existing and functioning under the current mores, restricted by the taboos, and enforced by the laws and regulations of society.

83:8.8 The [[ideals]] of marriage have made great [[progress]] in recent times; among some peoples woman enjoys [[practically]] [[equal]] [[rights]] with her consort. In [[concept]], at least, the [[family]] is becoming a loyal [[partnership]] for rearing [[offspring]], accompanied by [[sexual]] [[fidelity]]. But even this newer version of marriage need not presume to swing so far to the extreme as to confer [[mutual]] [[monopoly]] of all [[personality]] and [[individuality]]. Marriage is not just an [[individualistic]] [[ideal]]; it is the evolving [[social]] [[partnership]] of a man and a woman, existing and functioning under the current [[mores]], restricted by the [[taboos]], and enforced by the [[laws]] and regulations of [[society]].

83:8.9 Twentieth-century marriages stand high in comparison with those of past ages, notwithstanding that the home institution is now undergoing a serious testing because of the problems so suddenly thrust upon the social organization by the precipitate augmentation of woman's liberties, rights so long denied her in the tardy evolution of the mores of past generations.

83:8.9 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_Century Twentieth-century] marriages stand high in comparison with those of [[past]] ages, notwithstanding that the [[home]] [[institution]] is now undergoing a serious testing because of the [[problems]] so suddenly thrust upon the [[social]] [[organization]] by the precipitate augmentation of woman's [[liberties]], rights so long denied her in the tardy [[evolution]] of the [[mores]] of [[past]] [[generations]].

83:8.10 Presented by the Chief of [[Seraphim]] stationed on [[Urantia]].

83:8.10 Presented by the Chief of [[Seraphim]] stationed on [[Urantia]].

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[[Category: PART III: The History of Urantia]]

[[Category: PART III: The History of Urantia]]