Review of Adrian Thatcher: ‘Marriage after Modernity: Christian Marriage in Postmodern Times’

Abstract:     
Marriage and family are in trouble. Thatcher traces changes in modern marriage along with the ideology of transient faith and individual gratification. The purpose of Thatcher’s book is to offer a constructive theological response to these problems that speaks to the church and to broader society. He commends the traditional Christian monogamous, heterosexual, permanent marriage, citing Scripture as his source.

However, even Biblical accounts of marriage are culturally conditioned. Recognizing the cultural relativism of marriage traditions is not to argue for moral relativism; instead, the purpose of Thatcher’s argument is to prevent injustice based upon cultural differences.

Not all of Thatcher’s arguments are convincing or even perfectly supported. However, the work is an elegant and elaborate effort to answer the questions that surround marriage and family in America. It is an important book that should be added to the shelves of the library of religious liberty scholasticism.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 3

Keywords: marriage, review, family, Adrian Thatcher

Accepted Paper Series