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It appears that dating as we know it came to be acceptable after the First World War. We who were not alive at that time cannot comprehend the societal upheaval that the war, the teaching of evolution and humanism, and rationalism in the interpretation of the Bible brought to European and American society. Everything changed. Swept up in the chaos of that time was the family unit. "How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm," the song said, "after they've seen Paree?" How indeed. America became mobile. Radio and movies introduce mores completely foreign to the largely agrarian society of the 20's. Parental authority declined, and a hitherto unknown creature, the teenager, emerged.

Prior to this time, children simply passed into adulthood, with a religious ritual such as a bar mitzvah, or by marrying and starting out on one's own. But teenagers were neither children nor adults, a very confusing thing for parents. Dating began as a recognition of the more-than-child status of the teen, requiring no commitment on the part of the less-than-adult.

Dating, then is a modern phenomenon, and thus not specifically supported by the Bible. However, the things that happen on a date do bear Scriptural scrutiny. The Bible is very clear in its condemnation of lust, adultery, drunkenness, and many other things that unsupervised, hormone-charged young people find thrust upon them. Are you enough of an adult to date and not sin? Are you mature enough to understand that actions have consequences, and to accept responsibility for your decisions? The Bible is silent on dating, but I'll bet your parents have an opinion.

Learn more about this author, Richard Johnson.
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