1. Promoting a
Marriage Culture
© 2002 International Educational Foundation
IEF is responsible for the content of this presentation only
if it has not been altered from the original.
© IEF 1

2. Marriage & Family
Besieged
© IEF 2

3. Rise In
Divorce
 Up over 200%
in U. S.
1960-1998
Annual number of
divorces
per 1000 unwed
females
over age 15
 Up 130% in China
Sources: S ta ti s ti c a l Ab s tr a c t o f th e
Un i te d1985 –, 1992; S ta ti s ti c s
S ta te s 1 9 9 8
Bu r e a u , Ch i n e s e Mi n i s tr y o f Ci v i l © IEF 3

4. Children of Divorced
or Single Parents at
Risk
 Em otionalproblem s
 Delinquency
 Dropping out of school
Abuse of sex and drugs
 Poverty
© IEF 4

5. Marriage Rates
Declining
 Down by 40% in
U. S. since 1960
Annual number of
marriages
per 1000 unwed females
over
age 15
 56% of adults
are
married
Source: Na ti o n a l Ce n te r f o r
He a l th s ta ti s ti c s ;
© IEF 5
US Bu r e a u o f th e Ce n s u s ,

6. Births Outside
Marriage
 Sweden —
50%
 France —
35%
 U. S. —
30% © IEF 6

7. Rise in
Cohabitationin America
900% increase
5 4. 2 Million Couples
4
3
2
1 0. 5 Million Couples
1960 1998
Source: U.S . Bu r e a u o f th e Ce n s u s , Cu r r e n t
P o pu l a ti o n R e po r ts , © IEF 7

8. Reasons for
Cohabitation
 Fear of divorce
 Less commitment
 “ Test-drive”
relationship
 Government
incentives
© IEF 8

9. Cohabitation Is No
Panacea
 Increased conflict and
poorer communication
S o u r c e : Da v i d G. Me ye r s ,
The Pursuit of Happiness
 Greater likelihood of
divorce
 7 times greater risk of
violence to women
Source: Na ti o n a l Cr i m e
V i c ti m i za ti o n S u r v e y, © IEF 9
US De pa r tm e n t o f

10. Natural Family
Order
Facilitates Love
 Guides family
harmony
© IEF 10

11. Positions in the Family
Grandparen
ts &
Parents
Younge
Tru r
Husban e Sibling
Lov Wife
d
Elder e
Siblin
g
Children &
Grandchildre © IEF 11

12. The Four Spheres of
Love
 Child’s
Sphere
 Sibling’ s
Sphere
 Spouse’s
Sphere
 Parent’s © IEF 12

13. Parents —
Primary Moral
Teachers
Schools can
support
parents in this
role
© IEF 13

14. Passes On a
Legacy
Conserves and transforms
 Grandparents — Represent
the Past
 Parents — Represent the
Present
© IEF 14
© IEF 14

15. Family as Royalty of
Love
 Father and Grandfather
— Kings
 Mother and
Grandmother
— Queens
 Child
— Prince and Princess
© IEF 15

16. Strong Families Have
Focus Higher than
Self
 Altruistic
purpose
 Service to
community
© IEF 16

17. Uniqueness of Marriage
Joins two lives
 Fam ilies
 Possessions
 Destiny
 Bodies
Sex — Exclusive
to the spouse
© IEF 17

18. Profound Significance
of Marriage
Highest Highest
expressio expressi
n of yang. on of
yin.
One half One half
of of
humanity. humanit
y. © IEF 18

19. Conjugal
Relationship
Emotional
and
psychologica
l bonding
© IEF 19

20. Conjugal
Relationship
Produces
physical and
spiritual force
to create a
new being
© IEF 20

21. Conjugal
Relationship
Continu
es
lineage
© IEF 21

22. With Freedom
Comes
Responsibility
Conscien
ce
© IEF 22

23. With Freedom
Comes
Responsibility
Conscien
ce
Spous
e
© IEF 23

24. With Freedom
Comes
Responsibility
Conscien
ce
Spous
e
Child © IEF 24

25. “Sex is mostj oyfuland ful l –
filing
mostemotionaly safe as wel as
l l
physicaly safe – within a l
l oving,
totaland binding commitment…
[as in] mar iage.”
r
S o u r c e : Th o m a s Li c k o n a , Am e r i c a n
Ed u c a to r ,
Educating for Character
© IEF 25

26. Sexual Desire & Self–
Control
Sexual Desires Sexual Activity
Controlling it is
Normal & healthy
normal & healthy
© IEF 26

27. Human Sexuality
Involves Freedom
 Physical  Social  Physical &
& Instinctual
Instinctu  Moral
al
© IEF 27

28. MutualOwnership of
PhysicalSexuality
One‘s sexual expression
for spouse alone
 Fulfills its function
completely
 Based on true love
© IEF 28

29. Inspirational Family
Gathering
 Reading wisdom
literature
 Sharing stories of
virtue
© IEF 29

30. Promote Healthy
Living Among Youth
 Self
respect
 Sobriety
 Sexual
purity
© IEF 30

31. Fulfilled Couples —
Source of Strength
 Betterparents
 Mentors to othercouples
 Pillars of the com m unity
© IEF 31

32. Strengthen
Marriages
 Rededication
ceremonies
 Mentoring young
couples
© IEF 32