external crises
External marriage crises are formed through the understanding of marriage in the society. The result is a fractured and severely undermined understanding of marriage. The notion is forcefully mediated through all possible means to all members of the society. It consists of various elements brought on the service through dramatic historical developments. Some of the most significant ones may be defined as the following: sexual revolution, availability of contraceptives, abortion and illegitimacy, cohabitation, technologically assisted reproduction (AR), homosexuality, understanding of divorce and remarriage, and consumer attitude.
Sexual Revolution: promoting the concept of free sex; affects the understanding of marriage as the only context for sexual relationships between male and female; bringing illegitimacy and venereal diseases.
Availability of Contraceptives: provides possibility of sexual relationship without the consequence of conceiving; when used outside of marital context leads to undermining marriage as the only appropriate context for sharing sexual intimacy.
Abortion and Illegitimacy: practicing abortion denies human existence; illegitimately born children (child being born outside the provisionary framework of marriage) are exposed at risk of lacking the essential life components of protection and support; undermining marriage as the context for brining up children.
Cohabitation: imitates marital relationship without formalised marital bond; undermines marriage covenant relationship and brings more illegitimacy, disappointment and a higher divorce rate.
Technologically Assisted Reproduction (AR): used outside the marital context it destroys the model of marital relationships and parenthood.
Homosexuality: promotes free sexual relationships and multiple sexual partnerships; undermines marriage as the only proper framework for intimate sexual relationship between male and female.
Understanding Divorce and Remarriage: changed attitude towards divorce and remarriage promotes quick divorce frequently for the sake of remarriage; developing a phenomenon called serial monogamy; undermining marriage permanency.
Consumer Attitude: marriage relationships suffer consumerist mentality; establishes flexible attitude towards divorce formulating marriage as a temporary provision for companionship until a better option appears.
