3. WIVES AND HUSBANDS

Abstract

Summary The chapter provides an overview of recent developments in the theology and ethics of marriage. It places the debates first in a socio-cultural context of deinstitutionalization and individualization which have rendered marriage more optional and more fragile, but not weakened its symbolic meaning. It is then shown how the Christian churches have responded to the challenges of late-modern society. In particular, the Roman Catholic Church’s new emphasis on conjugal love is highlighted and different strands in the subsequent scholarly debate are discussed. In a last part three major perspectives are developed: first, possible arguments for commending marriage over against alternative forms of living together are assessed; second, it is explored whether heterosexual marriage can still be proclaimed as ethical norm without discriminating against deviant forms of sexual expression; third, the search for a balance between institutional and (inter)personal aspects is suggested as a future challenge for a theology of marriage.