Research & Reference
- Courtship: Credo ReferenceA Credo Reference landing page on courtship. This page includes links to reference works, journal articles, and a mind map.
- Online dating in the United States - Statistics & FactsWhether it is used as a tool for finding a soulmate or as a gateway to casual hookups, online dating has become one of the most popular avenues for singles in the United States. During the past decade, consumer demand for internet dating services has increased significantly due to busy work schedules and the proliferation of broadband internet connections. What was considered a last attempt for the desperate and lonely not too long ago is now becoming socially acceptable, and as the stigma is beginning to dissipate, a vast plethora of matchmaking platforms are making internet dating in the United States a multi-million-dollar industry.
- Singles worldwide - Statistics & FactsIn industrialized countries, the share of singles has been rising over the last decades. This phenomenon can be observed in geographically and culturally diverse countries such as the United States, France, and Japan. In Japan, for instance, changing demographics have led to the emergence of a real "single culture", dubbed the ohitorisama movement in Japanese. Not everyone is affected by this shift though: as of 2019, Hindus and Muslims around the world were the least likely to live in households where just one adult was present.
Perspectives
Sex, Dating, and Relationships
Answering questions like "How far is too far?" the authors articulate a biblical theology of dating aimed at persuading a new generation of Christians to get serious about honoring Christ with their sexuality.
Boundaries in Dating
Boundaries in Dating offers illuminating insights for romance that can help you grow in freedom, honesty, and self-control as you pursue a healthy dating relationship that will lead to a healthy marriage. Dating can be fun, but it's not easy. Meeting people is just one concern. Once you've met someone, then what? What do you build? Nothing, a simple friendship, or more? How do you set smart limits on physical involvement? Financial involvement? Individual responsibilities? Respected counselors, popular radio hosts, and bestselling authors Henry Cloud and John Townsend apply the principles described in their Gold Medallion Award-winning Boundaries to matters of love and romance. Helping you bridge the pitfalls of dating, Boundaries in Dating unfolds a wise, biblical path to developing self-control, freedom, and intimacy in the dating process. Boundaries in Dating will help you to think, solve problems, and enjoy the journey of dating, increasing your abilities to find and commit to a marriage partner. Full of insightful, true-life examples, this much-needed book includes such topics as: Recognizing and choosing quality over perfection in a dating partner How to ensure that honest friendship is one vital component in a relationship Preserving friendships by separating between platonic relationships and romantic interest Moving past denial to deal with real relational problems in a realistic and hopeful way . . . and much more! Plus, check out Boundaries family collection of books dedicated to key areas of life - marriage, raising kids, parenting teens, and leadership. Workbooks and Spanish editions are also available.
Single, Dating, Engaged, Married
Navigating the Four Critical Seasons of Relationship The vast majority of young people will still pass through the key phases of singleness, dating, engagement and marriage in their twenties. Yet they are delaying marriage longer than any generation in human history. Why For the first time in history, the average age for an American woman having her first child, 26, is younger than the average age of her first marriage, 27. More children than ever are growing up in fatherless homes, despite the overwhelming evidence that in every measurable way this is bad for the child. The Center for Disease Control also recently reported a dramatic rise in sexually transmitted disease nationwide. In Rhode Island alone, since the onset of online dating, reported cases of Syphilis has risen 79%, and HIV has increased by 33%. Though many young people can avoid early pregnancy and STDS, most cannot dodge the depression and feelings of isolation that characterize this modern generation. Studies show a dramatic rise in self-reported loneliness among the young. All of our technological connectivity has not made us feel more connected. In many ways, the very screens that are meant to link us to others have become shields blocking us from the deep intimacy we crave. Many have discovered that where there is a lack of intimacy,addiction often rises to take its place. How can a young person navigate such troubled waters Is there hope out there Like a sailor on turbulent seas, we need to look up and see the North Star: the fixed points in the sky whereby we might navigate the objective realities in life. We need the skill-set to know how to journey through life and how to select the right people to journey alongside. In this book we will chart a course through the four relational phases that the vast majority of human beings on the planet will pass through in their twenties: singleness, dating, engaged and married. In each of these phases, we will look at what eternal purposes should be pursued in each stage, and how to pursue them. SINGLENESS: DEVOTION DATING: EVALUATION ENGAGED: UNIFICATION MARRIED: MISSION Our desires for intimacy are powerful. This power can be constructive or destructive. Our satisfaction and our safety will be ensured if we can aim these powerful desires toward divine purposes.
Relationship Goals
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A candid, inspiring guide to finding lasting love and sustaining a healthy relationship by getting real about your goals--based on the viral, multi-million-view sermon series about dating, marriage, and sex "No matter where you are and no matter what stage of life you are in, Relationship Goals will be a game changer."--Levi Lusko NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY COSMOPOLITAN Realer than the most real conversation you've ever heard on the topic, Michael Todd's honest, heartfelt, and powerful teaching on relationships has already impacted millions of people in all seasons of life around the world. Now, in Relationship Goals, Michael tells his own story of heartache and healing, unpacks explosive truths from God's Word, and tells it to you straight to help you win at relationships in every part of your life. Where did the idea for relationships come from in the first place? Does God really care who I hang out with? Is it even possible to avoid relational train wrecks? From his plan for intentional dating in the age of social media to handling break-ups well to doing family instead of just being in a family, Michael tackles the questions we all have about relational success. As he candidly examines our most common pitfalls in relationships and the start-today ways to get past them, Michael helps you align your longings with God's awesome desires for your life. Now, that's a good relationship goal.