What is single?

[Aabbie James]

I don't think that's the case.

Divorced is still single. Widowed is still single.

You are no longer married, whether it was in or out of your control, so you are single at that point.

If someone chooses to qualify that with the fact they're divorced or widowed is up to them, but it doesn't change the reality that they're single.

Thank you for your opinion.

 

[S.O.J.I.A.]

so the OP made this thread to tell people that single means you have never been married?

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

But what is truthful?

What's truthful is not hiding the facts and putting [all] the circumstances on the table. For example: Say someone starts talking to another person of the opposite sex. It would be disingenuousness to beat around the bush and not reveal the stats that you mentioned in your original post.

 

[Aabbie James]

What's truthful is not hiding the facts.

I agree. When we ask ourselves a question and learn new facts during our inquiry, we should embrace those new facts, that's an honest search for truth. Still, however, there are probably some who prefer ambiguity over accuracy and truth, or worse yet, perhaps, to believe a prevarication.

 

[timewerx]

Is a single parent considered single only because they are unwed?

This one is uncertain.

According to the Bible, what constitutes marriage is simply about the man deciding to leave parents to join and live with his partner and consumating the relationship - Genesis 2:24. Jesus repeats this teaching in the New Testament.

The "traditional Christian wedding" with the gowns, rings, cakes, minister, etc isn't actually Biblical. They were mostly copied from pagan rituals of wedding and probably unnecessary.

Thus, a single parent may still be married according to the Bible even if "unwed" as the act of consumating the relationship and living together may already constitute a marriage according to the Bible.

 

[Niels]

I have two primary working definitions for single:

1. Unmarried
2. Not coupled

It's possible to be coupled while unmarried, of course. Whether I consider that to be single depends on the context.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Agree. Definitions are helpful. Simplest answers are usually best, if they are true. The best answers are accurate and truthful.

Simplest truth: most all the world is sinful ...... and will call "single" whatever is convenient at the time, if they can get away with it, just as with other words - truth does not matter to most all the world which has no conscience nor fellowship with Yahuweh.

When completing a legal document, say the U.S. Census, here's the options (Marital Status from census.gov ("Questions as they appear on the form")... picture):
-Now Married -Widowed -Divorced -Separated -Never Married --> "Single"
Simply because most people use a term in a certain way, doesn't make it true nor accurate.

Redeemed people abiding in Jesus with His Word Abiding in them simply are to tell the truth all the time, regardless of what the world does all around them, in life and in forums. Two different Kingdoms present. Each person is in one or the other ; there's no in-between.

 

[ChicanaRose]

I think of single as someone not in a relationship at all. When a friend in a singles group asks, "Is he single?" she is wanting to know if the guy is seeing anyone. I suppose this is different from the legal term of single.

Why are you wanting to know? Do you feel that someone you are interested in may be misleading you by claiming that he is single?

 

[ChicanaRose]

Really, it just boils down to privacy and how much people prefer to relinquish. Same as Miss, Mrs, or Mizz.

True. Unless I am interested in that person, or am affected by that person in some ways, it's really none of my business.

 

[HisGraceAbounds]

I was married once, so some groups would consider me 'divorced'. My divorce was almost 15 years ago and I haven't dated since, so I consider myself 'single'. Some might not agree with how I define myself, but I didn't like the label 'divorced' - I saw it as a failure label.

 

[kittysbecute]

My dictionary says it is someone who is unmarried or celibate.
That is how I tend to see that term; though I have often heard it in the context of being “available”, but that’s not my first thought when I hear the word. I think of “lone” as well.

edit: I was just replying to the title of the thred but I’ll share my opinion on the questions in the op.
Someone who is divorced is unmarried - thus single.
A single parent usually means a parent who raises their child alone. I have also heard it in the context of a parent who is unmarried even if they still share responsibility for raising their child with the other parent.

 

[Lady Donna Marie]

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[Niels]

I've always considered "Ms" to be a non relationship-specific way to address women. A term that can be applied to all women, much like "Mr" applies to all men. Unlike Mrs. or Miss, it doesn't reveal one's relationship status.

 

[Lady Donna Marie]

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[dayhiker]

I am divorced, but I use single to describe my status. Of course when telling my story on a date I tell them about my divorce.

 

[Lady Donna Marie]

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[kittysbecute]

When filing taxes it only asks for a single or married status.

As for census information that is different because they are complying demographic information for specific reasons.

My personal feeling is that if you don't have a Mr. in your life then you have either never been married which makes you a Miss or you have been married and it makes you a Ms. because the r is missing because you don't have a husband.
Miss - never married
Mrs - married
Ms - for whatever reason no longer have a legally binding relationship with a man.
When you take the r out of Mrs. you get Ms.
AKA: No man in a woman's life that is considered a legal binding relationship. Single, whether widowed or divorced.

I’ve only heard “Ms.” in the context as a neutral term that can be used for all women. I see it more commonly used as a more professional way to address women.
I guess I always asumed that when people used it on themselves they didn’t want to be associated with Miss or Mrs in how they are addressed. Or that they found “Ms” to be a more professional way to address them.

In context of helping out with preschoolers at my church when I was a teen, I noticed “Miss (First name)” was used for everyone, regardless of marital status. I found that strange at the time but now I realize it was probably “Ms (first name)” because it sounds the same.

 

[Lady Donna Marie]

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[Lady Donna Marie]

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