To do with Religion and Divorce?

Question

Do you think that divorce is ever morally justified? please leave your opinions thats what i really want to know and why you think that thanx.:)

Answer 1

The Christian view of marriage historically has regarded marriage as ordained by God for the lifelong union of one man and one woman. Recently, liberal attitudes from the influences of the sexual revolution have gained ground among many Christian groups. Marriages between two persons of the same gender, or divorce through mutual consent are both new views brought on by the sexual revolution. These views, though now popular in the modern day, conflict with and contradict beliefs that have been present in Christianity since its founding.

Proponents of the traditional view principally support it with a principle first articulated biblically in the second chapter of the book of Genesis: 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh '.

Divorce existed in antiquity, dating at least back to ancient Mesopotamia. The ancient Athenians liberally allowed divorce, but the person requesting divorce had to submit the request to a magistrate, and the magistrate could determine the reasons given were insufficient. Although liberally granted in ancient Athens, divorce was rare in early Roman culture. As the Roman Empire grew in power and authority, however, Roman civil law embraced the maxim, “matrimonia debent esse libera” ("marriages ought be free"), and either husband or wife could renounce the marriage at will. Though civil authority rarely intervened in divorces, social and familial taboos guaranteed that divorce occurred only after serious circumspection. The Christian emperors Constantine and Theodosius restricted the grounds for divorce to grave cause, but this was relaxed by Justinian in the 6th century. After the fall of the empire, familial life was regulated more by ecclesiastical authority than civil authority. By the 9th or 10th century of the Christian era, the frequency of divorce had been greatly curtailed by the influence of the Christian church. ( 2 Kent's Commentaries on American Law, p. 96 (14th ed. 1896)). The Christian church considered marriage a sacrament instituted by God and Christ indissoluble by mere human action. Canons of the Council of Trent, Twenty-fourth Session.

Many countries in Europe, such as France, once prohibited divorce, as it is not condoned by the Catholic church. Sometimes citizens travelled to other jurisdictions to obtain a divorce.

In Islam, divorce is allowed, though discouraged. A commonly mentioned Islamic ruling is that divorce is the least liked of all permissible acts. Islam considers marriage to be a legal contract; and the act of obtaining a divorce is essentially the act of legally dissolving the contract. According to Shariah (Islamic Law), there is a required waiting period before a divorce is considered valid. After three divorces, the man and the women are not allowed to remarry, unless under specific circumstances.

Judaism recognized the concept of "no-fault" divorce thousands of years ago. Judaism has always accepted divorce as a fact of life (for example, see Deuteronomy chapters 22 and 24), albeit an unfortunate one. (However, Jesus and the school of Shammai did not agree with the prevailing Rabbinic position.) Judaism generally maintains that it is better for a couple to divorce than to remain together in a state of constant bitterness and strife. Also see the article Jewish Attitude Toward Divorce.[15] and Get in the Conflict of Laws.

Within Christianity, divorce has become almost commonplace, and the interpretation of the Holy Scripture on divorce widely varies among Christian denominations. However, the first 400 years of the Early Church, the church maintained a unanimous voice opposing divorce.

Bible commentary on divorce comes primarily from the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Paul. Although Jesus touched on the subject of divorce in three of the Gospels, Paul gives a rather extensive treatment of the subject in his First Epistle to the Corinthians chapter 7: "Let not the wife depart from her husband...let not the husband put away his wife" (1 Corinthians 7:10-11), but he also includes the Pauline privilege. He again alludes to his position on divorce in his Epistle to the Romans, albeit an allegory, when he states "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth...So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress" (Romans 7:2-3).

Dharmic religions do not have a concept of divorce. However, the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 applicable to Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains in India does have provisions for divorce under some circumstances.

Now lets be logicical if there is incompatability, cruelity, cheating or other reasons (for eg criminal behaviour, drug/alcohol etc)which interfere in the marriage and bring a bad name to him/her then divorce is justified.

Answer 2

Although I'm an atheist and obviously not religious, I have to say that yes, divorce can be morally justified, especially in the case of abusive spouses. Or spouses that are pedophiles.

Even if I WERE religious, I can't see how God could justify a wife staying with a husband who beats her within an inch of her life on a regular basis for NO reason or a husband who molests his own children. A good and decent deity of any kind would not require this of their followers. A just and caring God, whether my opinion as an atheist matters or not, would NOT want a faithful Christian woman to remain in such a horrible situation.

Just for the record, getting drunk or because she didn't have dinner on the table on time or because she didn't "obey" her husband or do her "wifely duties" are NOT good reasons for smacking someone around. Frankly, I can't imagine a loving, peaceful God as is supposedly preached in church(and I was raised Lutheran and forced to attend church for twenty years, so don't anyone dare say I don't know what the hell goes on in a church because I DO, thank you very much) would advocate smacking anyone for any reason. Decent people don't put their hands on another just because they got mad or things don't go their way.

As far as pedophiles, well, there just isn't any good reason for that sort of vile behavior, period. I seem to recall Jesus saying "suffer the little children", but I seriously doubt sexual abuse was what he had in mind. Frankly, I think that if God were to exist, he and Christ alike would be quite pissed with people who think it's ok to have sex with a child.

So yes, those are two very good, MORAL reasons for a person to divorce their spouse. Any church that advocates, let alone requires, a spouse to stay in a marriage when their partner is abusive or molests their children(or anyone else's for that matter) is not a religion to believe in. Period.

Answer 3

Hi,
If married relations between husband and wife are not good than it is better be separated and they should find their own ways and rest of life piece fully . There is no fun to drag the bad relation ship for entire life just for the sake of religion. Yes I think that divorce is ever morally justified if healthy married life is not there
what ever may be the reasons.
Live for Today .

Answer 4

It does depend. I think that if any of the below occur, divorce is an option :
The relationship is abusive.
One of them is drinking.(I mean an alcohol problem, not an occasional drink.
One of them is doing drugs.
One of them is unfaithful.
Of course, even in these situations, some families might solve the problem and continue in a happy relationship. It is a personal choice and depends on the severity of the problem and other circumstances.
Under normal circumstances, I feel that divorce isn't justified, especially if they have children.
However this is my opinion, I don't want to insult anyone.

Answer 5

What is religion ? Way of life ! so in the way you live in family & society this is more important. In a family you have parents bros/sis/kids etc. In society your other relatives/friends colueges etc. Now how does divorce affect you amongs your family and social members is a criteria along with your own life has to be seen. In divorce your family members get affected the most, here the worst hit are your kids. So you have to decide how you have to cope with them after your divorce simply providing them with maintance does not them happy they want both parents & this is necessary for their proper growth also. Religious leaders and morallity phylosphers are not be coming to your help here its you have to make decision. Be practical in life forget what religious books say as these books were written at diffrent time & now time has changed society has changed. Give a thought to all what I stated then proceed with divorce. Compromise in life is the best solution try it out you will find it the best course to succeed.

Answer 6

When infidelity - abuse - and neglect are involved - is it morally justified to stay married to the person?

Morality of divorce depends really one each person and how the relationship is affecting them in a postive or negative way

Is divorce Biblical? No

Is divorce ethical? Sure when the marriage is affecting one in a negative way

Is divorce moral? Depends on which partner you ask

Answer 7

Yes divorse is morally justified.If the partners are not happy and truthful to eachother---then there is no need of keeping false relationships.Though its usually most wanted in our society that let the marriage life go as usual and let the unwanted things to happen day to day.The people dont bother for what is happening to the person who is living with a person who is not worth .So being the member of our society--I need to speak some thing that let the partner be divorsed with mutual understanding and if they wish they can marry of their suitable choice.Yes but in an amicable way.No fighting.If a person have no love for his wife or husband then why they have to act in front of the society--which is not good for any one.It hurts internally.So we need some change in our society.

Answer 8

Matthew 19:8 says that divorce is a sin. It also says that the only reason a man should get divorced is for sexual immorality.

Remember this, when couples get married they make certain vows. There will always be trails and tribulation.

Answer 9

Religion and Divorce are two entirely different things. If you are suffering from a bad marriage, bad partner. If he gives only pain to you then no religion will ask you to say in that bad relationship.


If you are in a bad relationship - I don't think you would be able to understand anything about this world - reigion, society nothing.

Answer 10

Do you think it is morally justified to live in a marriage that is bitter, loveless, with constant bickering, hatred, no mutual respect and sexless?