Si les chrétiens pensent que le monde va finir bientôt, est-ce que ça va faire plus de gens qui ne se marient pas dans le futur ?
Christianity

There is no commandment in the New Testament that Jesus Christ 's disciples have to live in celibacy. However, it is a general view that Christ himself lived a life of perfect chastity; thus, "Voluntary chastity is the imitation of him who was the virgin Son of a virgin Mother". One of his invocations is "King of virgins and lover of stainless chastity" (Rex virginum, amator castitatis).

Furthermore, Christ, when his disciples suggest it is "better not to marry," stated "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can" (Matthew 19:10-12, NRSV). While eunuchs were not generally celibate, over subsequent centuries this statement has come to be interpreted as referring to celibacy.

Paul the Apostle emphasized the importance of overcoming the desires of the flesh and saw the state of celibacy being superior to that of marriage. Paul made parallels between the relations between spouses and God's relationship with the church. "Husbands, love your wives even as Christ loved the church. Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies" (Ephesians 5:25–28). Paul himself was celibate and said that his wish was "that all of you were as I am" (1 Corinthians 7:7). In fact, this entire chapter endorses celibacy while also clarifying that marriage is also acceptable.

The early Christians lived in the belief that the end of the world would soon come upon them, and saw no point in planning new families and having children. According to Chadwick, this was why Paul encouraged both celibate and marital lifestyles among the members of the Corinthian congregation, regarding celibacy as the preferable of the two.

In the counsels of perfection (evangelical counsels), which include chastity alongside poverty and obedience, Jesus is said to have " the rule of the higher life, founded upon his own most perfect life", for those who seek "the highest perfection" and feel "called to follow Christ in this way"—i.e. through such "exceptional sacrifices".

A number of early Christian martyrs were women or girls who had given themselves to Christ in perpetual virginity, such as Saint Agnes and Saint Lucy. According to most Christian thought, the first sacred virgin was Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was consecrated by the Holy Spirit during the Annunciation. Tradition also has it that the Apostle Matthew consecrated virgins. In the Catholic Church and the Orthodox churches, a consecrated virgin is a woman who has been consecrated by the church to a life of perpetual virginity in the service of the church.
Le monde à venir

Selon Bart Ehrman, Paul croyait que Jésus reviendrait durant sa propre vie. N.T. Wright soutient que l'eschatologie de Paul n'est pas restée statique, évoluant dans ses épîtres ultérieures pour inclure l'idée qu'il ne verrait probablement pas le Second Avènement de son vivant. Wright soutient également que ce changement était dû à une perspective et non à un changement de croyance. Paul s'attendait à ce que les chrétiens décédés entre-temps ressuscitent pour participer au royaume de Dieu, et il croyait que les élus seraient transformés, revêtant des corps célestes et imperishables.

L'enseignement de Paul sur la fin du monde est exprimé le plus clairement dans ses premières et secondes lettres à la communauté chrétienne de Thessalonique. Il les assure que les morts ressusciteront en premier, suivis de ceux qui seront encore en vie. Cela suggère une fin imminente, mais il reste imprécis quant aux temps et aux saisons, et encourage ses auditeurs à s'attendre à un délai. La forme de la fin sera une bataille entre Jésus et l'homme de l'iniquité, dont la conclusion sera le triomphe du Christ.

Avant sa conversion, il croyait que le messie de Dieu mettrait fin à l'ancienne ère du mal et initierait une nouvelle ère de justice ; après sa conversion, il croyait que cela se produirait par étapes qui avaient commencé avec la résurrection de Jésus, mais que l'ancienne ère continuerait jusqu'au retour de Jésus.
### Query ###
Si les chrétiens pensent que le monde va finir bientôt, est-ce que ça va faire plus de gens qui ne se marient pas dans le futur ?

### Main Text ###
Christianity

There is no commandment in the New Testament that Jesus Christ 's disciples have to live in celibacy. However, it is a general view that Christ himself lived a life of perfect chastity; thus, "Voluntary chastity is the imitation of him who was the virgin Son of a virgin Mother". One of his invocations is "King of virgins and lover of stainless chastity" (Rex virginum, amator castitatis).

Furthermore, Christ, when his disciples suggest it is "better not to marry," stated "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can" (Matthew 19:10-12, NRSV). While eunuchs were not generally celibate, over subsequent centuries this statement has come to be interpreted as referring to celibacy.

Paul the Apostle emphasized the importance of overcoming the desires of the flesh and saw the state of celibacy being superior to that of marriage. Paul made parallels between the relations between spouses and God's relationship with the church. "Husbands, love your wives even as Christ loved the church. Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies" (Ephesians 5:25–28). Paul himself was celibate and said that his wish was "that all of you were as I am" (1 Corinthians 7:7). In fact, this entire chapter endorses celibacy while also clarifying that marriage is also acceptable.

The early Christians lived in the belief that the end of the world would soon come upon them, and saw no point in planning new families and having children. According to Chadwick, this was why Paul encouraged both celibate and marital lifestyles among the members of the Corinthian congregation, regarding celibacy as the preferable of the two.

In the counsels of perfection (evangelical counsels), which include chastity alongside poverty and obedience, Jesus is said to have " the rule of the higher life, founded upon his own most perfect life", for those who seek "the highest perfection" and feel "called to follow Christ in this way"—i.e. through such "exceptional sacrifices".

A number of early Christian martyrs were women or girls who had given themselves to Christ in perpetual virginity, such as Saint Agnes and Saint Lucy. According to most Christian thought, the first sacred virgin was Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was consecrated by the Holy Spirit during the Annunciation. Tradition also has it that the Apostle Matthew consecrated virgins. In the Catholic Church and the Orthodox churches, a consecrated virgin is a woman who has been consecrated by the church to a life of perpetual virginity in the service of the church.

### Supplementary Text ###
Le monde à venir

Selon Bart Ehrman, Paul croyait que Jésus reviendrait durant sa propre vie. N.T. Wright soutient que l'eschatologie de Paul n'est pas restée statique, évoluant dans ses épîtres ultérieures pour inclure l'idée qu'il ne verrait probablement pas le Second Avènement de son vivant. Wright soutient également que ce changement était dû à une perspective et non à un changement de croyance. Paul s'attendait à ce que les chrétiens décédés entre-temps ressuscitent pour participer au royaume de Dieu, et il croyait que les élus seraient transformés, revêtant des corps célestes et imperishables.

L'enseignement de Paul sur la fin du monde est exprimé le plus clairement dans ses premières et secondes lettres à la communauté chrétienne de Thessalonique. Il les assure que les morts ressusciteront en premier, suivis de ceux qui seront encore en vie. Cela suggère une fin imminente, mais il reste imprécis quant aux temps et aux saisons, et encourage ses auditeurs à s'attendre à un délai. La forme de la fin sera une bataille entre Jésus et l'homme de l'iniquité, dont la conclusion sera le triomphe du Christ.

Avant sa conversion, il croyait que le messie de Dieu mettrait fin à l'ancienne ère du mal et initierait une nouvelle ère de justice ; après sa conversion, il croyait que cela se produirait par étapes qui avaient commencé avec la résurrection de Jésus, mais que l'ancienne ère continuerait jusqu'au retour de Jésus.

### Draft ###

### 1. Query Decomposition

"Si les chrétiens pensent que le monde va finir bientôt" → If Christians think world will end soon
"va faire plus de gens qui ne se marient pas" → will make more people not marry

Key assumption to verify: Do Christians actually believe world will end soon? ●

### 2. Historical Context Retrieval

Early Christianity eschatology:
- Thessalonians → imminent return expected
- Paul's writings → "near" not "specific timing"
- "Rapture" theology → modern dispensationalism

◐ Contemporary data: Pew Research shows 47% of white evangelicals believe Jesus will return in their lifetime. But "soon" = ? decades? years?

### 3. Eschatological Spectrum Analysis

Traditional Christian eschatology:
├─ Premillennialism: Second coming before millennium
├─ Amillennialism: Symbolic 1000 years, final judgment after
└─ Postmillennialism: Gospel spreads, then Christ returns

→ Most mainstream Christianity doesn't expect literal "soon"

### 4. Marriage Patterns Investigation

Historical precedent:
- Early church → celibacy encouraged, marriage tolerated
- Monasticism flourished during "end times" expectations
- ⚠ Confounding variable: plague, persecution also suppressed marriage

Contemporary research:
○ Limited studies on eschatological beliefs → marriage decisions
? Selection bias in who studies this topic
? Cultural factors overwhelm theological ones

### 5. Logical Constraints

Physical realism check:
- If 47% expect soon = <lifetime, that's ~10-20 years
- Marriage decisions = 2-10 year horizons typically  
- ∴ Most people still plan marriages regardless

⟨H≈0.8⟩ 
*But what if we're wrong? What if technological acceleration, climate collapse, geopolitical instability compress timelines? Millennials already delaying marriage... economic pressures + apocalyptic anxiety = perfect storm for celibacy surge...*

### 6. Evidence Synthesis

Counter-hypothesis: End-times beliefs actually *encourage* marriage
- Procreation imperative ("multiply and replenish")
- "Maranatha" (Come quickly, Lord) → urgency to serve before return
- ∴ Paradoxically motivating reproduction

### 7. Answer Construction

Response structure:
1. Acknowledge historical precedent ●
2. Note contemporary variation ◐  
3. Present competing theories ○
4. Highlight analytical limitations ⚠

※ Key insight: Question assumes causal relationship that may be spurious

**Conclusion**: Cannot definitively predict marriage rate changes from eschatological beliefs. Historical precedent suggests possible correlation, but contemporary data insufficient for robust claims. Cultural, economic, demographic factors likely dominate.

### Answer###
Cette question touche à une dimension importante de la pensée chrétienne sur le temps et le mariage. Historiquement, les premiers chrétiens croyaient que la fin du monde arriverait bientôt, ce qui les a effectivement incités à ne pas planifier de nouvelles familles et à avoir des enfants. Cette perspective explique en partie pourquoi Paul encourageait la célibat et voyait l'état de célibat comme supérieur au mariage, même s'il considérait que le mariage était également acceptable.

Cependant, il est important de noter que cette vision de l'imminence de la fin n'a pas été constante dans l'histoire chrétienne. Paul lui-même a évolué dans sa conception du calendrier eschatologique, passant d'une attente d'un retour prochain à une perspective incluant des délais, même s'il restait imprécis sur les temps et les saisons.

Aujourd'hui, cette question reste complexe et les croyances varient considérablement entre les différentes traditions chrétiennes. Certaines écoles de pensée continuent d'encourager la vie célibataire comme une forme de perfection évangélique, tandis que d'autres mettent l'accent sur le mariage comme une vocation sacrée.

Il serait hasardeux de prédire avec certitude si les croyances apocalyptiques contemporaines influenceraient effectivement les décisions matrimoniales, car cela dépend de nombreux facteurs culturels, sociaux et théologiques qui interagissent de manière complexe avec les convictions eschatologiques individuelles.