Very few biblical literalists still insist the world is flat, that mental illness is the work of demons, or that the sun rotates around the earth. There is, however, an alarming number of Christians who would impose biblical sexual ethics on modern people.
A pious remnant still fights for what they dishonestly call “biblical marriage.” The truth is biblical marriages were often arranged. “Biblical marriage” could also include more than one wife. In “biblical marriage” enslaved women could be impregnated to bring more children into the family.
the Bible does not mention getting a wedding license nor of having to receive the church’s blessings. It is utter hypocrisy for Christian Fundamentalists to use the words “biblical marriage” as though any of us really wishes to return to those ancient practices.
Even the most hardcore literalists do not believe in fighting only with the weapons mentioned in the bible. By what principle do literalists use the bible to limit the happiness of others by the primitive marital standards of an ancient people?
If literalists are okay with our military moving away from bows and arrows, why not recognize that ancient cultural morals were also examples of limited understanding of human possibilities?
If even biblical literalists have grown to permit better ways for us to kill one another, why not grow in in permitting more enlightened ideas of human sexuality that would allow us to find better ways to love?