Why are most Christians against marriage as soon as reaching reproductive age?

Question

If god created human to be sexually reproductive by age 13 or 14 or even 12, It must be his will that humans marry at that age?

This is a serious question and not intended to malign any religious belief.

SCOTGIRL, such is an ignorant answer, there were prophets who took women at that age as their wife and certainly, most christians won't agree that those wer DOMs.

I thought Christians would answer this question academically, if not biblically. Frustrating.

Answer 1

The only problem with that theory is that 2000 years ago, most people have a life expectancy of less than 40 years - imagine being 20 and being middle aged! You also have to take into context the lives these people led. There was no formalized education and children began working as soon as they were old enough to walk in order for the family to eat. No, they likely were not mature enough to handle raising children, but that is our assumption today, where based on our realities having children at that age is just not feasible.

That said, there are tribes in Africa, South America and the Pacific that do marry young and expect the couple to start reproducing as soon as they can, but that is there way of life and has been - but that is based on biology, not faith. That point is why your question lacks merit, because it assumes the two are directly linked. Because I can menstruate I should be having children? Not quite.

Just because this category is 'religion and spirituality' does not mean that everything must either relate to Christianity or Atheism, that's just North American ethnocentrism. This world is full of cultures and creeds, study anthropology to find out more - based on this question I hope you'll find other culture's point of views interesting.

Answer 2

The farther in history you go, the more common it was to get married around the same age you started puberty on. Usually, young girls would get married to men almost twice their age. But, that was when the normal age at death was a lot lower than it is now. If people were to still get married and have babies at the same age as they used to, then the world population would be outrageous. Most of modernized society has adjusted while some societies who have chosen not to modernize still follow marriage traditions where young girls marry.

It's not just Christians who have modernized, it's just Christians are a part of one of the largest religious populations in the world. Jewish and Muslim people marry at the same age as Christians, do, as well as other people of different religious backgrounds.

Answer 3

You haven't thought this question through have you? Well first think of this, a 13 year old who is allowed to date. Throughout a year, she might have had 4 relationships. Now think of those 4 relationships as marriges. Then think of the break ups as divorces. So the divorce rate will skyrocket why? The kids just aren't emotionally ready to devote their lives at such a young age

Answer 4

Just because the body "thinks" it is ready to reproduce doesn't mean it should. Think back to the old days when people got married at 12 or 13. How many young girls died in childbirth? Puberty is just the start of the reproductive age. The body still isn't developed enough to support child bearing. A female body continues to develop until she reaches 18. At that time the body is mature enough to make it safe for reproduction. My doctor even told me that it is best to reproduce between the ages of 24 to 28. That is when our bodies are at the best physical readiness. Besides, you have to give kids a chance to grow up before you want them to be forced to make adult decisions. Let them be kids for a while. They only get one childhood, they should be allowed to enjoy it.

Answer 5

In most modern societies, 12-14 year olds aren't educated, mature or economically viable enough to take on the adult roles of being married and raising a family. In Biblical times and in some tribal societies, being married at 12-14 and starting a family soon after isn't uncommon. But the adult role in a modernized society requires more preparation.

Answer 6

it really isn't a religious issue at all...
centuries ago, at 14 a young man was working the field, tending stock, and working for a living. they lived and worked as men, and were therefore treated as such. the same went for women.

meeting a child today that is even remotely as responsible would be extremely rare. admittedly, there is a lot more for kids to learn today than there was then, and this takes longer. but emotionally, i don't believe they are as ready today. almost all lack that kind of maturity at 12 to 16, and it is still rare at 18.

Answer 7

Not only Christians, but ALL sensible people believe that little girls who are starting their periods at age 10 (sometimes even 8) years old these days, are neither physically nor emotionally ready to become wives of perverted older guys who just want to bang an innocent child.

Does that make it clear enough for you?


**Follow-up** I stand by my original statement. Even 50 years ago, girls did not begin their periods as early as girls do now. So in Biblical times, it is believed that girls may have reached age 15 before menstruation began. They were also already trained to become adults.

I guess the prophet to whom you are referring is Mohammed, who married a 9 year old girl and had sexual intercourse with her. Even within his culture, that was not an accepted practice and the fact that he did it should in no way be used as an excuse to act out a person's own perversions. It is wrong to rob children of their innocence and childhood. It simply CANNOT be justified no matter what.

And I don't care that you are offended by me saying that. Right is right even if it offends someone. I am making my statement out of a position of education and experience as a case manager working with little girls who have been sexually abused by older predators.

Answer 8

Unfortunately we no longer mature at the same rate we once did. When we were an agricultural society is was not unusual to have marriages for boys 16 and girls 14. Parents would often give certain acreage to the young couple to farm or tend and they would pay them back over time, however the industrial revolution changed that. Young people can no longer successfully manage the financial obligations that come with a family and our keeping them in the home with us longer has delayed the maturation process. Now we expect them to wait and finish their educations and secure work before moving on to marriage and families.

Answer 9

Because, unlike most evolutionists, we don't believe the procreative act is simply a biological function simply for the purpose of the sustainment of the species. We see it as a part of God's plan that "man should not be alone" and that He "joins them" (man and woman) as one flesh for life. So what's the hurry? Being sexually mature doesn't necessarily equate to being culturally mature, spiritually mature, or financially mature enough to take on that awesome responsibility of parenthood.

Answer 10

Because at 13 yrs of age, many kids have not reached the level of maturity to raise a family. They are not financially equipped to raise a family.