Marriage Quote by Elizabeth Gilbert
““So when modern-day religious conservatives wax nostalgic about how marriage is a sacred tradition that reaches back into history for thousands of uninterrupted years, they are correct, but in only one respect - only if they happen to be talking about Judaism. Christianity simply does not share that deep and consistent historical reverence toward matrimony. Lately it has, yes- but not originally. For the first thousand or so years of Christian history, the church regarded monogamous marriage as marginally less wicked that flat-out whoring but only very marginally.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Marriage Debate” in “Big Magic”, 2015
Christian marriage lacks the ancient, continuous reverence found in Judaism, making its historical claim weaker.
In simple terms: Christian marriage isn’t as historically consistent as Jewish marriage.
Recognize differing traditions, respect history.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- theological discussions
- interfaith marriage counseling
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do traditions shape modern values?
- Can shared rituals bridge religious gaps?
Historical claims can be contested.