Perspectives on Marriage: A Reader

Thoroughly revised and updated in this third edition, Perspectives on Marriage is a comprehensive and multidisciplinary anthology ideal for courses in the theology and spirituality of marriage. This edition features thirteen new articles and incorporates the best of contemporary perspectives on marriage and sexuality. The selections represent a wide range of approaches, from the historical and canonical to the sociological, psychological, and ministerial. Striking a balance between solid theological material and stimulating readings on today's issues, the volume explores marriage in its historical context; current views on the theology of marriage; the meanings and transitions of marriage; attitudes toward sexuality; communication, conflict, and change; commitment, divorce, and annulment; the spirituality of marriage; and various religious perspectives on marriage. The third edition includes a new section on issues that affect marriage--such as the commercialization of marriage and the financial stresses accompanying marriage--as well as new selections on such topics as same-sex marriage, cohabitation, the theology of dating, and counseling. Each essay is enhanced by a detailed editors' introduction and by helpful discussion questions. Rich, provocative, and challenging, Perspectives on Marriage, Third Edition, is the most extensive and up-to-date reader of its kind.