Crosswalk.com en-us Friday, July 25, 2008 Friday, July 25, 2008 rss.aspx support@crosswalk.com support@crosswalk.com http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/crosswalkredesign/images/display/crosswalk_logo_blue_tiny.gif http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/mcraven/archives/ http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/mCraven/11579448/ In this part of our series we will examine the historical findings relative to those cultures that once held to a strong sexual ethic—in which monogamy is strictly reinforced through marriage—but later compromised that ethic, as we are now doing. According to Unwin’s thorough survey of history, any and every culture that embraces a philosophy of sexual freedom for a period of at least three generations will inevitably experience cultural decline. There is not one single example in all of human history where this cultural pattern appears and there does not follow cultural demise consistent with Unwin’s conclusions. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:14:00 GMT 11579448 Michael Craven http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/mCraven/11579139/ As discussed in Part I, where marriage is strictly defined and reinforced, monogamy rules. This assertion led many proponents of same-sex marriage to argue that since monogamy is—according to the research—central to the health and prosperity of a given society, we should offer “marriage” to same-sex couples for the purpose of promoting monogamy among gays. So it seems I must address this charge before continuing in our defense of marriage. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:13:00 GMT 11579139 Michael Craven http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/mCraven/11578863/ In the wake of the California Supreme Court’s audacious decision to legitimize marriage between people of the same sex, media outlets have been dominated by discussions on the topic. Frustrated by the lack of any cogent arguments defending the Judeo-Christian conception of marriage, a friend challenged me to pen a more thorough apologetic so that the church might be better equipped to offer an articulate and rational defense of this essential institution. Over the course of the next four to six weeks, that is precisely what I will attempt to do. The battle to define marriage is not over; the church must be able to speak in more convincing terms than simply “because the Bible says …” Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:52:00 GMT 11578863 Michael Craven http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/mCraven/11578396/ I am amazed at the level of pessimism among so many Christians that I encounter. I think this may also be a product of too much reliance on politics. This is, after all, the pressing concern of the population whose frustrations center mostly on the failed expectations of their political leaders and government: the economy, the war, fuel prices, and so on. Add to that concerns over the moral direction of the nation, and the church often appears indifferent or defeated. There is a cure for this pessimism.. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:31:00 GMT 11578396 Michael Craven http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/mCraven/11577930/ In this heightened political season, there are many, including some Christians, who believe the fate of the nation rises and falls on the outcome of November’s presidential election. That is not to say that politics and elections are inconsequential—the nation prospers from good leaders and suffers from the inept—but are government and political leaders really the hope or ruin of a nation? Is the church too reliant upon political means rather than spiritual means to reform the culture? Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:59:00 GMT 11577930 Michael Craven