Christian maturity Quote by Preston Sprinkle
““this “right to marry” argument has enormous contemporary cultural traction in the West, which requires explanation if it is indeed obviously worthless. I suspect that the felt force lies in another contemporary Western cultural assumption, that it is necessary to be sexually active to be a fulfilled, or even a properly adult, human being. We could no doubt trace the root of this assumption to Freud, but I trust it is evident once named, displayed repeatedly in our popular music, in the Hollywood assumption that the existence of a “40-Year-Old Virgin” is self-evidently hilarious, in our newspaper advice columns that prioritise sexual satisfaction as a personal need, and in countless other ways.18 The (Protestant) churches have visibly surrendered to this cultural assumption, making marriage an inevitable part of Christian maturity for much of the twentieth century. We looked askance at ministerial candidates who were not married and constructed church programmes on the basis that the only single people around were young adults preparing for marriage or widows.””
About This Quote
Source Article: The Rise of Marriage Discourse, 2023
The quote argues that the modern emphasis on marriage and sexual activity as markers of adulthood stems from a cultural assumption, traced to Freud, reinforced by media and churches, making singlehood seem abnormal.
In simple terms: Marriage is seen as essential for adult fulfillment due to cultural myths.
Question these assumptions and value diverse life paths.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- relationship counseling
- church leadership
- media criticism
- personal development
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you define adulthood beyond sexual activity?
- What alternative models of fulfillment exist?
These ideas may overlook individual autonomy and non‑sexual fulfillment.