[RobbyS]

It seems that it is you are into the either/or business. But if you are into early Church history then you must surely know that virginity was always regarded as a better choice than marriage. That is one way that Christians were distinguished from rabbinical Jews.Given that Christianity was an apocalyptic faith This view of course became really dominant after the time of St. Anthony and the growth of monasticism. But the view of the early Church was that the world was dying. So why get so attached to such things as family?

[DallasMike]

But the view of the early Church was that the world was dying.

Read Thessalonians and you'll find that Paul chastized them for believing that the world was dying.