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What does the orthodox religion say about abusive marriages? I am not in one, but im curious since 50% of marriages in the united states are abusive. Should the woman stay by her husbands side or should she divorce? If so, what kind of abuse does it have to be for the woman to leave? God Bless,
-Terry-[/b]
I'm sorry, Terry. I don't mean to hijack your thread in which I think you ask some worthwhile questions. It's just that this is another of those serious issues, like breast cancer, where men come out worse off because the focus is so often on the women.
So much of breast cancer awareness ocuses on women, with the result that many men are not even aware that they, too, can get breast cancer. because of this lack of awareness, women are more lilely to check for breast cancer and seek treatment than men, and their survival rate is much higher. In the same way, women are not the only ones who have to deal with abusive spouses, and many men are abused by their wives, emotionally, psychologically, and yes, physically. However, because so much of the focus on abusive marriages only protrays women as the victims, many men are scared to even discuss the issue with anybody else, and, if they are from an unhealthy "macho" culture, it may be extremely difficult for them to idendify themselves with something that they only evenr see attributed to women.
So, while I think that the question of what people in abusive marriages should do mis an inportant one, I think that is very unhelpful to the discussion to only focus on women.
Terry wrote:What does the orthodox religion say about abusive marriages? I am not in one, but im curious since 50% of marriages in the united states are abusive.
Where did you come up with this ridiculous statistic?
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They say that I am bad news. They say "Stay Away."
A person who is abused is not expected to stay in the marriage. If there are children, these children learn that it is normal for one adult to abuse another, or for both adults to abuse each other. It is better to leave and take the children at least until the offending person (male or female) comes to realise what they are doing is wrong and to seek help from their Priest to stop. Children should not live in fear. Adults should not live in a way that lets sin continue. The sin of abuse can escalate.
One can live apart from an abusive spouse without divorcing them. One can decide to live a Christian life in prayer and celibacy. One should pray constantly for a person who is in the sickness of sin.
