The contemporary notion of partnership and romantic love is historically a late product. An overview beginning with antiquity and the Bible shows that the history of practiced sexuality certainly reflects love, but is also full of constraints and cruelties. Christianity has faced challenges since its inception, almost reflexively. It has shaped both the concept of equal partnership and the hostility towards desire. Meanwhile, the church's statements on sexuality are widely criticized or completely rejected. This book presents all the controversial aspects of marriage, love, and sexuality from a historical perspective - with some astonishing insights: the romantic love that has become a global export product today is inconceivable without Christianity.