Relationships are changing, and the church is struggling to keep up. Many Christians are adrift, faced with a faith culture far removed from their experiences and a faith that finds itself in interesting times: diverging theologies, reports of a shrinking church, and unequal numbers of women and men. Add to that the effect of technology on how people meet and match, the growing problem of loneliness, and changing norms of dating, family, sex, marriage, work, and life. What is the future for relationships between men and women? What will singleness and marriage look like? Relatable hopes to provide answers and start conversations.
Exploring science, sociology, history, theology, and the many, many messages circulating in society and church culture about men, women and relationships (spoiler: some of them are pretty wild…), Relatable looks at the history of marriage (spoiler: even wilder), and why Christians are prone to promote coupling up as the ultimate achievement. From Old Testament polygamy to Samantha the sex robot, changing perceptions of singleness, sexual hang ups and celibacy, why dating looks different when it happens through a screen, whether women and men really are so different, who doesn't go to church and why, and whether churches can be part of the answer in creating supportive communities.
Almost 1500 people contributed, sharing experiences and opinions with the Real Life Love survey and they're a core part of the book. From teens to over sixties, stories from all stages of life and love bring into focus the challenges of navigating faith and relationships.
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