“Better to marry than to burn”
Note that this entry speaks of something that a youth leader said to my wife Jennifer and myself years ago. He was a caring and generous person. The intent is not to criticize him. Rather, the intent is to demonstrate how less than hopeful theology and distorted interpretation can lead to a bleak way of seeing things.
Jennifer and I have been married for 29 years, but I still remember something that was said to me in church right after Jennifer and I were engaged. The person in question was a youth leader and the first words that they shared with us upon finding out about our engagement were, “Better to marry than to burn!”
I grant the possibility that they were being at least a little humorous, but if there was a joke at all it was referencing a serious warning issued from within some religious communities. (As spoken to Jennifer and I, this expression was a misinterpretation of a biblical passage.)
The idea was that it would be better to get married than to give into the temptation to have sex before marriage. There is so much that could be said about this, but I am aware now, and was even then, that such a sentiment betrayed a bleak view of marriage, sexuality, gender, and maybe the two of us.
On another note:
A couple more images from my friend Alwyn:
Spring 2021 - The Whole Earth, Hope
Remarkable photos.
Perhaps we can add this topic of the “serious warning” to our long list of discussions that I anticipate once our “real” Studies resume. I expect that I will have some thoughts to share.