March 19, 2008 10:49 AM
The New York Times disses faithful marriage
Well, according to the New York Times, the behavior of human beings is not much different than animals. Here's CitizenLink's take:
Is Faithfulness in Marriage a Fantasy?by Jennifer Mesko, managing editor
New York Times tries to make the case that sexual promiscuity is only natural.
The news features one disgraced official after another — all caught in infidelity.
More than 8 in 10 Americans believe adultery is a sin, according to a recent study. And 9 in 10 say faithfulness is the key to a successful marriage. But The New York Times says adultery is only natural.
"It’s been done by many other creatures, tens of thousands of other species, by male and female representatives of every taxonomic twig on the great tree of life," the newspaper reports. "Sexual promiscuity is rampant throughout nature, and true faithfulness a fond fantasy."
Dr. Bill Maier, vice president and psychologist in residence at Focus on the Family, said there's a difference between humans and the "tens of thousands of other species."
"The Times article makes a huge philosophical assumption," he said, "that human beings are simply another animal species, and therefore it should be no surprise when they engage in behavior common to other members of the animal kingdom. But the Christian worldview offers a radically different perspective — that humans are made in the very image of God, actually reflecting aspects of His character and nature.
"Unlike rodents and flatworms, we are capable of rational thought and moral decision-making."
Posted in Marriage | Permalink
Comments
Maybe that's where the term "in the doghouse" came from. People who cannot control themselves beyond the ability of an animal get tossed out with the animals.
Posted by: Kelly | March 19, 2008 2:49 PM
This world is so in need of the Theology of the Body by Pope John Paul II. The truth and beauty of this teaching on God's plan for human sexuality and marriage (natural and supernatural) is breathtaking. I watched a video series on the TOB (by Christopher West) a few years ago with a womens' group at my parish and we were blown away. It transformed many of our marriages.
Posted by: Anne | March 19, 2008 3:06 PM
I clicked through to the Times article thinking it must be an opinion piece or a letter to the editor -- something not necessarily reflecting the views of the paper. Nope; it's written by Natalie Angier, a "science journalist" employed by the New York Times. I don't know why I expected better of them, but I did.
Posted by: Michelle Potter | March 19, 2008 5:17 PM
