Background discussion paper by The Centre for Faith and Public Life of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. First published 2001. Second edition published 2003. Third edition published 2006.
Contents
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
II. What is marriage? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
A. Marriage and religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
B. Current models of marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
C. A Biblical view of marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
III. How is marriage unique? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
IV. What are the stressors on marriage? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
V. What are the benefits of marriage? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
A. Benefits for participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
B. Benefits for children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
C. Benefits for society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .18
VI. What does the law say? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
A. Marriage in Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
B. Court cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
C. Parliamentary action . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
VII. What does this all mean? .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
VIII. How can we respond? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
IX. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Appendix A: Further resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
A Christian Affirmation of Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
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