Marriage and divorce in christianity

[nobspeople]

It was once said to be a sin to get divorced (some sect may still see it this way as some don't).
It was once said that marriage is a 'special' contract, blessed by god (some may not see it that way any longer).


For discussion:
How does your faith deal with marriage and divorce?

Does it hold marriage in high standard yet allow divorce? If marriage is 'special', can it only be preformed by a priest? If it allows divorce, under what circumstances? And why?
Does it hold marriage in a high standard and frown on (or prohibit) divorce?
Does it not care much about either, marriage or divorce?

What's your opinion about the secular marriage and divorce today?

A lot of questions that could be dealt with in individual threads, so feel free to initialize which discussion point(s) you wish, but keep in mind others may ask your POV on a point on which you didn't initially address - which is totally fair and even expected.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #5]

unrepentent adulterers are "not allowed" as in expelled from the congregation.

Define 'unrepentent' as used in this context

Individuals that refuse to recognise their sin and/or refuse to correct their behaviour, make amends where possible and accept the repercussion of their actions.

Does the congregation support one that's physically abused to get a divorce?

The decision to get a divorcenis personal, nobody but the individual can make that decision for them. That said, often wronged partner often need emotional, physical, financial and spiritual support and yes, as Jehovah's Witnesses we are always encouraged to do all we can to support such ones.







JW

[nobspeople]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #11]

Individuals that refuse to recognise their sin and/or refuse to correct their behaviour, make amends where possible and accept the repercussion of their actions.

How does this fit in to a divorce situation?
Let's say Amber is being beaten by her husband weekly for the past few months. They've tried counseling and everything to 'make it work' but hubby refuses to stop beating Amber. Amber is a JW at the local JW church. Amber files for, and gets, a divorce. What happens at the JW church and how they treat Amber?

The decision to get a divorcenis personal, nobody but the individual can make that decision for them. That said, often wronged partner often need emotional, physical, financial and spiritual support and yes, as Jehovah's Witnesses we are always encouraged to do all we can to support such ones.

Would JWs allow the divorced person to continue to attend the JW church?

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #11]

Individuals that refuse to recognise their sin and/or refuse to correct their behaviour, make amends where possible and accept the repercussion of their actions.

How does this fit in to a divorce situation?
Let's say Amber is being beaten by her husband weekly for the past few months. They've tried counseling and everything to 'make it work' but hubby refuses to stop beating Amber. Amber is a JW at the local JW church. Amber files for, and gets, a divorce. What happens at the JW church and how they treat Amber?

WHEN SEPARATION IS A SENSIBLE OPTION


Physical and emotional abuse (and other misconducts such as negligence ... ) are viewed as a legitimate motive to seek a legal seperation by Jehovah's Witnesses. If however the wronged partner seeks a secular divorce, he or she would not be seen as being free to remarry unless the abusive partner himself remarries or starts a sexual relationship with another partner (commits adultery).

Whatever recourse the wronged partner seeks, he or she has done nothing wrong and should not be treated with anything but love and sympathy and given all the support they need.






RELATED POSTS

Do Christian wives have to stay in abusive relationships?
viewtopic.php?p=1059939#p1059939

Is conjugal violence biblically ground for divorce?
viewtopic.php?p=1014005#p1014005

How do church authorities establish if adultery has been committed?
viewtopic.php?p=1059842#p1059842

To learn more please go to other posts related to...

MARRIAGE, ADULTERY and .... DIVORCE

[nobspeople]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #11]

Individuals that refuse to recognise their sin and/or refuse to correct their behaviour, make amends where possible and accept the repercussion of their actions.

How does this fit in to a divorce situation?
Let's say Amber is being beaten by her husband weekly for the past few months. They've tried counseling and everything to 'make it work' but hubby refuses to stop beating Amber. Amber is a JW at the local JW church. Amber files for, and gets, a divorce. What happens at the JW church and how they treat Amber?

Physical and emotional abuse (and other misconducts such as negligence ... ) are viewed as a legitimate motive to seek a legal seperation by Jehovah's Witnesses. If however the wronged partner seeks a secular divorce, he or she would not be seen as being free to remarry unless the abusive partner himself remarries or starts a sexual relationship with another partner (commits adultery).

Whatever recourse the wronged partner seeks, he or she has done nothing wrong and should not be treated with anything but love and sympathy and given all the support they need.






RELATED POSTS

Is conjugal violence biblically ground for divorce?
viewtopic.php?p=1014005#p1014005

How do church authorities establish if adultery has been committed?
viewtopic.php?p=1059842#p1059842

To learn more please go to other posts related to...

MARRIAGE, ADULTERY and .... DIVORCE

So, with JWs, there's 2 types of separation: legal and inside the JWs, legal and secular?

[JehovahsWitness]

So, with JWs, there's 2 types of separation: legal and inside the JWs, legal and secular?

Well a seperation is a separation; when I said a ""legal seperation" I was speaking of secular law (the bible has little to say on the subject although it does of course the bible encourages couples to stay together and work out their difficulties whenever possible). But when it comes to things for which there is a specific biblical instruction, such as divorce, most secular authorities recognise motives which church authorities do not. So for example someone could be free to remarry under secular law but not under church law.

[nobspeople]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #15]

For some situations yes.

What situations would this be NO?

although of course the bible encourages couples to stay together and work out their difficulties whenever possible.

Where is this instructed in the bible exactly?

But when it comes to things for which there is a specific biblical instruction, such as divorce, the secular authorities obviously recognise motives which church authorities do not. So for example someone could be free to remarry under secular law but not under church law.

So if they get divorced, legally, but the church says it's a no-no, are they no longer allowed in the church?

[JehovahsWitness]

although of course the bible encourages couples to stay together and work out their difficulties whenever possible.

Where is this instructed in the bible exactly?

1 CORINTHIANS 7: 10, 11

“A wife should not separate from her husband. But if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled with her husband; and a husband should not leave his wife.”

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #15]
So if they get divorced, legally, but the church says it's a no-no, are they no longer allowed in the church?

That would depend ; if neither commit adultery then they can carry on as usual (although it is of course far from ideal) . If either take on a sexual relationship or remarries then the one concerned would face a judicial committee and the innocent partner would be free to remarry.

[JoeyKnothead]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #11]

Individuals that refuse to recognise their sin and/or refuse to correct their behaviour, make amends where possible and accept the repercussion of their actions.

How does this fit in to a divorce situation?
Let's say Amber is being beaten by her husband weekly for the past few months. They've tried counseling and everything to 'make it work' but hubby refuses to stop beating Amber. Amber is a JW at the local JW church. Amber files for, and gets, a divorce. What happens at the JW church and how they treat Amber?

... If however the wronged partner seeks a secular divorce, he or she would not be seen as being free to remarry unless the abusive partner himself remarries or starts a sexual relationship with another partner (commits adultery).

"I can beat me the holy everloving hell out of you, and if you try to marry you someone else, before it is I do, it's you that's evil!"

Cause ya know, marriage is between the one beat the hell out ofer, and the get beat the hell out of.

[benchwarmer]

If however the wronged partner seeks a secular divorce, he or she would not be seen as being free to remarry unless the abusive partner himself remarries or starts a sexual relationship with another partner (commits adultery).

Uhmm, I'm hoping this is a slight misunderstanding. You are saying that the wronged partner has to wait until the person who did the wrong does even more wrong before being free to remarry? If so, that's ridiculous!

Why would someone who is being beaten have to wait until the person in the wrong has sex with someone else before being free to remarry?

If this is truly the case, it's just another reason to avoid the JWs. You are free to beat your wife and keep her from happiness by remarrying. If you (the abuser) want to remarry, no problem, just have sex with someone else.