Young adults are getting married later than ever. They’re having fewer children than ever. While it’s true that marriage and children are low on young adults’ priority list, it’s also true that the young people who do desire marriage and family are struggling to find the right person. Healthy families are the cornerstone of a healthy society, which is why in this series, Know Why Podcast looks at the “why” and “how” of family formation from a Christian perspective, highlighting truth backed by research and informed by the concerns of the moment.
Why is Marriage Good?
Why is marriage good? Is it only good for the material benefits it may provide individuals, like relational security and legal protection? Or is there an intrinsic good to marriage that can’t be analyzed with science? Read more…
Does Marriage Make Men Richer?
Young men on the far right and young women on the far left have little in common—except for their views on marriage. Leading voices in the “manosphere” argue that marriage is of no benefit to men, especially when it comes to finances. Many women believe the same lie. Read more…
Men and Meekness: Understanding Masculinity That Is Neither Weak Nor Toxic
You can’t have healthy marriages without healthy individuals, and healthy individuals are people who understand themselves and their purpose in life. Perhaps one reason more young men aren’t getting married, despite many desiring to do so, is because they lack understanding about who they are and what they were made for. Read more…
Neither Trans Nor Tradwife: Understanding the Truth of Femininity
What does it mean to be a woman? The culture has wrestled with this point for decades. Ironically, diametrically opposed sides often make the same mistake: conflating the aesthetics of femininity with its definition. Read more…
Soulmates: Myth or Marriage Material?
Do you believe in soulmates? In finding “the One?” If so, you’re not alone—according to surveys, a majority of young singles hold some version of the soulmate view of marriage. Unfortunately, that’s also the marriage view most likely to lead to divorce. Read more…
The Cost of Kids: What Monetary Calculations Miss About Family Life
Many millennials and Gen Zers are intentionally avoiding parenthood, and the number one reason cited is cost. But when it comes to kids, can crunched numbers really capture the gamut of costs AND benefits, stresses AND joys that one experiences over a lifetime? Read more…
Longing for Family: Wading Through Suffering, Childlessness, and Unmet Desires
The “Know About Family Formation” series is highlighting the good of marriage and family. But what if you already know family is good, and you desire family, but for one reason or another, that desire remains unfulfilled? Read more…
Is Autonomy a Lie? A Preview of “The Dignity of Dependence” by Leah Libresco Sargeant
Is autonomy the default state of human existence? Is freedom from other’s neediness a human right? If the answer to those first two questions is “yes,” where does that leave individuals who, through no fault of their own, are not autonomous? Read more…
Is Having Kids Bad for the Environment? (Repost with Update)
Many young adults are worried that having children will overburden a planet that’s already overpopulated and further damage the environment. They’re also worried about what kind of environment their kids will be born into. Are these valid concerns — and if not, why not? Read more…
How to Build the Village Your Family Needs
“It takes a village.” Parents often hear this old adage, and having a community to help with childcare or call on during emergencies sounds nice. But the reality for many parents today is that their “village” is nowhere to be found. Read more…
Understanding God’s Design for Marriage and Sex
At the beginning of the Know About Family Formation Series, we asked why marriage is good. In today’s episode with Andrea Crum, we wrap up the series talking once again about marriage—specifically the God’s design for marriage and sex that is articulated in the Bible. Andrea addresses questions such as… Read more…