Overview

Conservative Christian views on marriage and divorce are often presented as bulwarks against the tragedy of marital breakdown. Yet the advice given to divorced Christians and those facing the disintegration of their relationships is often irresponsible and damaging. Women fleeing domestic violence are told they are bound to their abusers by indissoluble spiritual bonds. Some are sent back to face further violence. Children are exposed to further abuse. People are condemned to lives of unnecessary loneliness and second marriages are undermined. A pall is cast over many lives. Why? Why should vulnerable people be given advice that is so damaging? Those who protest are told that this is what the Bible teaches. But does it? This book critically examines the relevant texts, revealing fundamental errors due to theological misconceptions and difficulties of understanding nuances of the original languages and the contexts in which crucial words were spoken. Properly understood, the relevant biblical passages do not lock people into intolerable situations. Christians are called to be faithful in their marital relationships, but not to pretend that former marriages still exist or refuse to recognize subsequent ones. And we are called to embrace, not condemn, the brokenhearted.

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9781666764062

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"""Issues surrounding divorce are of great prominence in contemporary Christianity. Here, a distinguished jurist and theological scholar deals comprehensively with the relevant biblical texts and the pertinent theological, pastoral, and legal perceptions surrounding these matters, and does so with outstanding clarity, cogency, and compassion. This is the go-to book for those involved in these issues, particularly for those responsible for pastoral advice and support. This work is timely and highly significant."" --James Haire, former executive director, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture ""Because Jesus in the Gospels has been understood to make adulterous any subsequent marriage relationship, Ken Crispin presents an alternative interpretation which is more convincing both in terms of the teaching of Jesus and the human reality. Crispin is ideally qualified to deal with the subject of divorce and remarriage in a Christian context, for his legal vocation has given him ample evidence of the wreckage caused by marriages that have broken down in what seems an irreparable way."" --John Painter, professor of theology, Charles Sturt University"

Issues surrounding divorce are of great prominence in contemporary Christianity. Here, a distinguished jurist and theological scholar deals comprehensively with the relevant biblical texts and the pertinent theological, pastoral, and legal perceptions surrounding these matters, and does so with outstanding clarity, cogency, and compassion. This is the go-to book for those involved in these issues, particularly for those responsible for pastoral advice and support. This work is timely and highly significant. --James Haire, former executive director, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture Because Jesus in the Gospels has been understood to make adulterous any subsequent marriage relationship, Ken Crispin presents an alternative interpretation which is more convincing both in terms of the teaching of Jesus and the human reality. Crispin is ideally qualified to deal with the subject of divorce and remarriage in a Christian context, for his legal vocation has given him ample evidence of the wreckage caused by marriages that have broken down in what seems an irreparable way. --John Painter, professor of theology, Charles Sturt University

Author Information

Ken Crispin is a distinguished Australian lawyer and former superior court judge. He has a PhD in ethics and is member of the board of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture. His other books include Divorce, the Unforgivable Sin? (1988) and, most recently, A Skeptic's Guide to Belief (2019).

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