Where does faith draw the line In family relations  and marriage?

Question: What does African culture and Christianity say about marrying relatives?

Guest: Lehogonolo Mazindo - Registered Counsellor | Marriage Therapist | Mental Health Practitioner | Psychology Lecturer – Representing The Cathedral of Restoration.

 

Guest: Khaya Ndwendwe – Historian and Cultural Expert

 

 

Leviticus 18:6-16 

“None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the Lord. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is your father's nakedness. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether brought up in the family or in another home. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter or of your daughter's daughter, for their nakedness is 

 

The Bible doesn’t address the subject of cousin marriage directly. According to Leviticus 18:6-18, a man is forbidden to marry the following:

• Daughter
• Stepchildren
• Aunt
• Sister or half-sister
• Stepsisters
• Daughter-in-law
• Granddaughter
• Step-granddaughter

Notably, cousins are not included in the list. As a matter of fact, if the example of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah is any indication, it would appear that cousin marriage was fairly common in the ancient world. Their story begins in Genesis 28:1, 2, where Isaac charges his son: “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother.”

So much, then, for the scriptural aspects of the subject. In the absence of any specific biblical guidance, we’d suggest that there are two pressing questions you and your cousin should be asking yourselves: 1) How might your plans affect your relationships with family, friends, and the larger community? and 2) How are these social pressures likely to impact your chances of forging a successful and lasting marriage? Whatever you decide, you can be pretty sure of one thing: your choice could entail a great deal of emotional anguish for everyoneconcerned – you, your cousin, and the entire extended family