In the November 2024 issue (7:6) of the Paraclete, I wrote a short article on the growing trend around the world not to marry or have children or create a family (“Has the World Forgotten?”). The birth rate in most countries in the world is not sufficient to replace their population. This is usually understood to be a symptom of a dying country. Little did I know that World Magazine was going to focus further on this matter with a 2024 book-of-the-year review in its January 2025 issue, and a headline, “Endangered Species”; and with two feature articles on the subject in its February 2025 issue. I refer to these, and recommend them, because I think the eroding away of marriage and the family is a serious departure from God’s will, as revealed in His Word (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:20-24; 3:20; 4:1-2).
The book which won the 2024 book-of-the-year in the category of general nonfiction was Get Married by Brad Wilcox (Broadside Books). He refutes three anti-marriage myths.
- Men and women will be better off if they remain single (“flying single myth”). Wilcox presents evidence that married men and women are happier, less lonely, and wealthier than the unmarried.
- Marriage isn’t important for the flourishing of children (“the family diversity myth”). The author’s data shows that children from intact families have fewer problems in school, are less likely to be abused, and are less likely to go to prison as adults.
- Having children makes life miserable for parents. The facts are that the happiest Americans are those who are married with children.
Wilcox, a University of Virginia sociologist, addresses several other important marriage and family issues as well. As always, God knew what was best when He established the first marriage between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:20-24). The resulting family unit is today still the best idea for a viable and happy society.
