Two Become One

Book excerpt: Marriage is one of the most important decisions you will ever make in your life. This is a book aimed at helping the young person who is embarking upon the grand adventure of finding a life partner (although married couples will also find much of benefit in it). As with most things in life, there is a right way to go about this and a wrong way. But with the stakes so high, choosing the right person for the right reasons and establishing a solid and successful foundation for the relationship are crucial.Couples are encouraged to read this book together. It will take them through the process of preparing oneself for marriage, finding a life partner, working out whether he or she is the right one, enjoying an effective engagement period, and developing a sound and profound understanding of what marriage is all about, as a firm foundation for the lifelong adventure of marriage. Along the way, a number of issues are discussed, including: how to know that a decision is a good one; the beautiful meaning and symbolism of the ancient Orthodox rites of Betrothal and Marriage; difficult issues such as gender roles, abuse, intimacy, sexuality, contraception, and abortion; how couples can learn to understand one another and meet one another¿s needs; and the perilous danger and life-transforming beauty that is the mystery of marriage in the Orthodox Christian Faith. The approach taken is firmly based on both ancient Orthodox Christian principles and modern psychological principles, and is holistic and contemporary, seamlessly weaving together ancient wisdom and modern psychology into a single approach.