ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the possibilities for a movement designed to reverse the decline of marriage. In thinking about the future direction of a marriage movement, one's thoughts turn immediately to today's popular culture and its effects on marriage. Throughout most of human history, sex, reproduction, and marriage have been culturally interlocked. A massive public education campaign is required to shift public opinion, especially that of young people and their parents, more in favor of actively revitalizing marriage. Many people have observed that the topic of marriage recently has become somewhat more tolerated in public and professional debate. In several states, notably Oklahoma, Arkansas, Utah, and Florida, governors have embarked on broad-based campaigns to make marriage an issue in an effort to cut the nonmarital birth and divorce rates. Two states, Louisiana and Arizona, have instituted "covenant marriage" laws, designed for couples that want to express an extra level of commitment to their marriage.
