Talk 11: Better to Marry Than to Burn with Passion
Even though we are living in a time of sexual freedom and “enlightenment”, there is no doubt that we are also living in a time when the number of sexually related problems is at its highest. Pornography, fornication, adultery, paedophilia, and other abnormal sexual practises testify to the truth that sexuality outside of the Church’s teachings has disastrous consequences. Because of the high exposure in our society to sexual immorality, Saint Paul’s advice is a matter of salvation: If they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion (I Cor. 7:9).
The Church Fathers teach that in order to avoid fornication, it is better for parents to encourage their children to marry at an early age. The Fathers further teach that the main purpose of marriage is the avoidance of sexual immorality, child-bearing being its secondary purpose. In today’s society, fornication is encouraged and glorified, and, child-bearing and marriage are looked at in a negative way.
Some of the topics included in this talk are: the dangers of married people reading books only on monasticism; the attraction between males and females; is virginity greater than marriage? the openness of the saints regarding sexuality; the distortion of marriage and sexuality in the media; does the Church regard sex as dirty and sinful? fornication and adultery; is celibacy unnatural? children and sex education; repulsion towards marriage; distractions of everyday life; can mental illness be beneficial at times? differences between marriage and monasticism; blaming the devil for our sins; heterodox marriages; divorce and the Church; heterodox and salvation.
Talk Duration: 135 minutes
2 CD set