A 2006 Scripps-Howard...
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A 2006 Scripps-Howard/Ohio University poll revealed that only 36% of Americans believe in the resurrection of the body. Questions like the ones posed to Jesus about the status of marital relations in heaven doubtless contribute to this skepticism.
Famed theologian Karl Barth insists that "there is no reference here, and cannot be, to an abolition of the sexes or cessation of the being of man as male and female" (Church Dogmatics, Vol. III/2, p. 296). Ancient apologist for the early church Justin Martyr said something in the same spirit, that the parts of the body will not have the same function in eternal life as they did on earth (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1, p. 295). There is no need for procreation in heaven, Martin Luther once wrote (What Luther Says, p. 1218). And Augustine sheds further light on sexuality in heaven:
...but because it [the resurrected body] is subject to the spirit with a perfect and marvelous readiness of obedience, and responds in all things to the will that has entered on immortality -- all reluctance, all corruption, and all slowness being removed.... And thus the body, being the source of uneasiness because it can feel no want, shall be animated by a spirit perfectly pure and happy, and shall enjoy unbroken peace.
(Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 2, pp. 255-256, 257)
Sex will be undertaken for different reasons in heaven than its purposes here on earth. Sex will not be for procreation or for selfish pleasure, but a pure response of love -- a love that we will feel for all. In that sense marriage will be even better in heaven, but since we have that relationship with everyone there will be no need for it in the heavenly reality.
Famed theologian Karl Barth insists that "there is no reference here, and cannot be, to an abolition of the sexes or cessation of the being of man as male and female" (Church Dogmatics, Vol. III/2, p. 296). Ancient apologist for the early church Justin Martyr said something in the same spirit, that the parts of the body will not have the same function in eternal life as they did on earth (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1, p. 295). There is no need for procreation in heaven, Martin Luther once wrote (What Luther Says, p. 1218). And Augustine sheds further light on sexuality in heaven:
...but because it [the resurrected body] is subject to the spirit with a perfect and marvelous readiness of obedience, and responds in all things to the will that has entered on immortality -- all reluctance, all corruption, and all slowness being removed.... And thus the body, being the source of uneasiness because it can feel no want, shall be animated by a spirit perfectly pure and happy, and shall enjoy unbroken peace.
(Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 2, pp. 255-256, 257)
Sex will be undertaken for different reasons in heaven than its purposes here on earth. Sex will not be for procreation or for selfish pleasure, but a pure response of love -- a love that we will feel for all. In that sense marriage will be even better in heaven, but since we have that relationship with everyone there will be no need for it in the heavenly reality.
