--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: this “right to marry” argument has…" description: "\"“this “right to marry” argument has enormous contemporary cultural traction in the West, which requires explanation if it is indeed obviously worthless..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/preston-sprinkle-23202_christian-maturity_this-right-to-marry-argument-has-enormou_2985390.jpg" --- # this “right to marry” argument has enormous contemporary… ![“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…” quote by Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/preston-sprinkle-23202_christian-maturity_this-right-to-marry-argument-has-enormou_2985390.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/preston-sprinkle-23202_christian-maturity_this-right-to-marry-argument-has-enormou_2985390.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/preston-sprinkle-23202_christian-maturity_this-right-to-marry-argument-has-enormou_2985390.jpg) > ““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.”” [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. Key Takeaway Question these assumptions and value diverse life paths. Themes culture sexuality marriage religion media identity Mood critical thoughtful analytical Type philosophical social commentary cultural critique When to use this quote - relationship counseling - church leadership - media criticism - personal development Key Concepts Freudian theory social norms religious practice media influence Questions to Reflect On - How do you define adulthood beyond sexual activity? - What alternative models of fulfillment exist? A Different Perspective These ideas may overlook individual autonomy and non‑sexual fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-maturity-32050/) [Marriage Inevitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-inevitable-4664717/) [Marry Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marry-argument-4664719/) [Necessary Sexually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessary-sexually-4664718/) [Popular music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popular-music/) [Prioritise Sexual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prioritise-sexual-4664721/) [Single people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-people/) [Virgin Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virgin-self-4664720/) [Young adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-adults/) ## Related quotes > [Gay marriage is inevitable. The next generation, they get it. It is just a matter of time before it becomes a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/gay-marriage-is-inevitable-the-next-generation-they-get-it-it-is-just/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [“You know, the only thing worse than a self-righteous virgin is a self-righteous fake virgin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/you-know-the-only-thing-worse-than-a-self-righteous-virgin-is-a-self/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“I know that whatever the complex origins of my own homosexuality are, there have been conscious choices I've made to indulge - and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-hill/i-know-that-whatever-the-complex-origins-of-my-own-homosexuality-are/) [Wesley Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-hill/) > [“Biblical literacy is not to be confused with Christian maturity. Homiletic accuracy is not the same as godliness. Theological dexterity is very different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/biblical-literacy-is-not-to-be-confused-with-christian-maturity/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [It’s a gift to joyfully recognize and accept our own smallness and ordinariness. Then you are free with nothing to live up to, nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/it-s-a-gift-to-joyfully-recognize-and-accept-our-own-smallness-and/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“Voices calling Christians to forget about doctrinal differences and just love Jesus do not represent Christian maturity. This is like that humorous bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crotts/voices-calling-christians-to-forget-about-doctrinal-differences-and/) [John Crotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crotts/) > [“Christians will remain a babe if they do not exercise and begin teaching others themselves. Maturity is not about knowing a lot but whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hon/christians-will-remain-a-babe-if-they-do-not-exercise-and-begin/) [Henry Hon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hon/) > [God always sends His Strongest Warriors into the Toughest Battles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kreger/god-always-sends-his-strongest-warriors-into-the-toughest-battles/) [David Kreger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kreger/) > [Some believe we have little or no role in our own Christian maturity. God does everything, they think, and we simply have to "let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/some-believe-we-have-little-or-no-role-in-our-own-christian-maturity/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) ## More by Preston Sprinkle > [“Loving your enemy. Doing good things for evil people. Never taking vengeance. Responding to violence with nonviolent love—even if it brings suffering. These are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/loving-your-enemy-doing-good-things-for-evil-people-never-taking/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“for Christians, not every passage in the Bible is equally prescriptive or determinative for a Christian ethical life. Rather, the Old Testament must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/for-christians-not-every-passage-in-the-bible-is-equally-prescriptive/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“the most visible form of Jesus’s not-of-this-world kingdom is the radical, head-turning love of one’s enemies, even (or especially) when we are suffering at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/the-most-visible-form-of-jesus-s-not-of-this-world-kingdom-is-the/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“describing singleness as “a rare calling,” which is neither a common position in Christian history (at best we may say that most Protestants in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/describing-singleness-as-a-rare-calling-which-is-neither-a-common/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“genuine relationships are always the best place to start as we seek to integrate our ethical views in the daily life of ministry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/genuine-relationships-are-always-the-best-place-to-start-as-we-seek/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“we cannot imagine existing in our culture without the haven of an erotic partnership because our capacity to belong together in more chaste ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/we-cannot-imagine-existing-in-our-culture-without-the-haven-of-an/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“The Incarnate One is truly human as well as truly divine, and so properly spoken of as our friend and brother as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/the-incarnate-one-is-truly-human-as-well-as-truly-divine-and-so/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“When we buy into the American narrative that focuses on “flesh-and-blood enemies,” we are spraying the tip of the flames, not the source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/when-we-buy-into-the-american-narrative-that-focuses-on-flesh-and/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“the New Testament highlights Jesus’s nonviolent response to violence as a pattern to follow more than any other aspect of His ministry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/the-new-testament-highlights-jesus-s-nonviolent-response-to-violence/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“The New Testament is ubiquitously clear: don’t retaliate with evil for evil; do good to those who hate you; embrace your enemy with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/the-new-testament-is-ubiquitously-clear-don-t-retaliate-with-evil-for/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“Augustine suggests that in the mutual submission and self-surrender of marriage, and in the openness of the marriage relationship to children, with the demands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/augustine-suggests-that-in-the-mutual-submission-and-self-surrender/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“rather than perceived effectiveness motivates our response to evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/rather-than-perceived-effectiveness-motivates-our-response-to-evil/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“Already in the Old Testament, God’s love for Israel had been compared to the marital bond (Isa 62:5; Jer 2–3; Ezek 16; Hos 1–3),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/already-in-the-old-testament-god-s-love-for-israel-had-been-compared/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“I wonder how many people have been killed, tortured, and in some cases cannibalized, all because certain Christians (mis)applied the book of Joshua to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/i-wonder-how-many-people-have-been-killed-tortured-and-in-some-cases/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) > [“Unlike the Old Testament, in which singleness was not a good, the New Testament—or, more properly, the coming of Christ—opens up, for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/unlike-the-old-testament-in-which-singleness-was-not-a-good-the-new/) [Preston Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) [Explore all 26 Preston Sprinkle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/) ## More Christian maturity quotes > [“I know that whatever the complex origins of my own homosexuality are, there have been conscious choices I've made to indulge - and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-hill/i-know-that-whatever-the-complex-origins-of-my-own-homosexuality-are/) [Wesley Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-hill/) > [“Biblical literacy is not to be confused with Christian maturity. Homiletic accuracy is not the same as godliness. Theological dexterity is very different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/biblical-literacy-is-not-to-be-confused-with-christian-maturity/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [It’s a gift to joyfully recognize and accept our own smallness and ordinariness. Then you are free with nothing to live up to, nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/it-s-a-gift-to-joyfully-recognize-and-accept-our-own-smallness-and/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“Voices calling Christians to forget about doctrinal differences and just love Jesus do not represent Christian maturity. This is like that humorous bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crotts/voices-calling-christians-to-forget-about-doctrinal-differences-and/) [John Crotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crotts/) > [“Christians will remain a babe if they do not exercise and begin teaching others themselves. Maturity is not about knowing a lot but whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hon/christians-will-remain-a-babe-if-they-do-not-exercise-and-begin/) [Henry Hon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hon/) > [God always sends His Strongest Warriors into the Toughest Battles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kreger/god-always-sends-his-strongest-warriors-into-the-toughest-battles/) [David Kreger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kreger/) > [Some believe we have little or no role in our own Christian maturity. God does everything, they think, and we simply have to "let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/some-believe-we-have-little-or-no-role-in-our-own-christian-maturity/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) [Browse all 8 Christian maturity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-maturity-32050/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Preston Sprinkle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/this-right-to-marry-argument-has-enormous-contemporary-cultural/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian maturity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/this-right-to-marry-argument-has-enormous-contemporary-cultural/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/preston-sprinkle-23202_christian-maturity_this-right-to-marry-argument-has-enormou_2985390.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/preston-sprinkle-23202_christian-maturity_this-right-to-marry-argument-has-enormou_2985390.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/preston-sprinkle-23202_christian-maturity_this-right-to-marry-argument-has-enormou_2985390.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“this “right to marry” argument has enormous contemporary cultural traction in the West, which requires…” — Preston Sprinkle", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Preston Sprinkle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sprinkle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“this “right to marry” argument has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/this-right-to-marry-argument-has-enormous-contemporary-cultural/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sprinkle/this-right-to-marry-argument-has-enormous-contemporary-cultural/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```