Contemporary Christian marriage : a resource of healing, sustaining and growth : Jack Dominian's vision

Abstract

In this long essay I endeavoured to bring out the extent of Jack Dominian's contribution to a better understanding of contemporary Christian marriage, the strengths he perceives it enjoys, but also the weaknesses that tax it, especially those that have become more pronounced due to the new challenges it has to face in present times. Thus I dedicated the first two chapters to bringing out this anthropological understanding by using psychological and sociological categories, which he himself uses. I also used the Bible and Vatican II Council pronouncements to bring out his theology. However, more than wanting to make his understanding the focus of this long essay I wanted to give an interpretation of the vision Dominian has for marriage, namely that as a secular reality as well as one lived according to Christian understanding, it has great potential to be a resource of healing, sustaining and growth to the married couple. I presented this interpretation in the following two chapters, i.e. in the third chapter I pointed out those characteristics, which are a must in a committed marital relationship, besides being those very same elements, which will bring about healing, sustaining and growth. Then for marriage in its Christian understanding I took up Dominian's appeal to the very person of Jesus Christ, whom he perceives as a source of great healing, being the epitome of all fruitful relationships.