History Unplugged Podcast

Roman Churches Had No Involvement in Marriage. How Did It Become a Holy Sacrament by the Middle Ages?


Listen Later

For much of Christian history, the Church had little involvement in marriage, which was primarily a contract between families. It wasn’t until the fourth century that church weddings emerged, and even then, they were mostly reserved for the elite. Fast forward to the High Middle Ages, and marriage became a sacrament of the Roman Catholic Church. Since then, the church has been seen as inseparable with matrimony.

What changed over the centuries? To explore this dynamic is today’s guest, historian Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of “Lower Than the Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity.” We explore how Christianity’s views on sex, marriage, and gender evolved over time; that early Christian marriage was not a universal sacrament but a social institution governed by authority figures. He highlights how for much of history, the Church was more concerned with celibacy than marital sexuality. The Reformation reshaped these ideas, introducing new roles for women in religious life, from pastor’s wives to Quaker preachers. We uncover how Christianity’s past can inform its present and future.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

History Unplugged PodcastBy History Unplugged

  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2

4.2

3,734 ratings


More shows like History Unplugged Podcast

View all
History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,203 Listeners

The History of WWII Podcast by Ray Harris Jr

The History of WWII Podcast

3,971 Listeners

Ben Franklin's World by Liz Covart

Ben Franklin's World

1,554 Listeners

1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast by Jon Hagadorn  Podcast Host

1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast

1,672 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,621 Listeners

This American President by This American President

This American President

731 Listeners

Tides of History by Wondery /  Patrick Wyman

Tides of History

6,274 Listeners

History That Doesn't Suck by Prof. Greg Jackson

History That Doesn't Suck

5,629 Listeners

American History Tellers by Wondery

American History Tellers

18,987 Listeners

Presidential Fight Club by Presidential Fight Club

Presidential Fight Club

79 Listeners

Key Battles of the Civil War by Key Battles of the Civil War

Key Battles of the Civil War

688 Listeners

Last Night on the Titanic by Last Night on the Titanic

Last Night on the Titanic

138 Listeners

Ottoman Lives by Ottoman Lives

Ottoman Lives

89 Listeners

HISTORY This Week by The HISTORY® Channel | Back Pocket Studios

HISTORY This Week

4,093 Listeners

Key Battles of the Revolutionary War by Key Battles of the Revolutionary War

Key Battles of the Revolutionary War

338 Listeners

History of the Second World War by Wesley Livesay

History of the Second World War

553 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

2,914 Listeners

Key Battles of World War One by Key Battles of World War One

Key Battles of World War One

255 Listeners

Key Battles of American History by Key Battles of American History

Key Battles of American History

896 Listeners

History Daily by Airship | Noiser | Wondery

History Daily

2,018 Listeners

Eyewitness History by Eyewitness History

Eyewitness History

65 Listeners

American History Hit by History Hit

American History Hit

1,366 Listeners

Historical Jesus by Historical Jesus

Historical Jesus

49 Listeners