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POST 1
Marriage can be seen as a social, cultural, and religious ceremony, but it also serves as a way to promote social order. Not only does the institution of marriage promote a stable family environment, but it lays the framework for what practices are acceptable within society as a whole. Not every relationship is consummated by marriage and not every marriage provides the support it is intended to, but both circumstances come with positive and negative consequences for adults and children.
It is no surprise that today “most modern families take one of two forms: nuclear or blended” and although the dynamics behind family systems is a field of study all of its own, it is fair to assume that when one marriage fails, people try again. This need to re-establish a “family” even after the nuclear family unit has disintegrated, is proof that adults need the stability of a happy and safe environment just as much as children.
Because it is arguable that marriage is a socially constructed safe haven for children, it is also viewed as a responsibility of the government to strengthen marriage and decrease divorce. Since we are seeing a shift from the nuclear family to blended families and cohabitation, it should not only be the responsibility of the government to strengthen marriage, but to strengthen the family unit in whatever form it may take. This doesn’t mean that the government should make divorce harder to obtain, rather quite the contrary; the government should make marriage harder to obtain.
Families and individuals will always be the critical link in strengthening any family type. Children learn from their environment and generational habits continue to snowball until an individual within the family unit decides that something needs to change. For modern families, maybe the key to this cultural change is to emphasize love, care, respect, and commitment whether a marriage certificate is present or not. Perhaps it’s necessary to pass down the knowledge that marriage is a social institution and not a human obligation, or maybe it’s more important to reiterate that marriage is a lifelong partnership that needs to be honored through thick and thin. The answer is not apparent, or proven, and every family has to make that decision for themselves and their children.
POST 2
Religion serves a multitude of purposes in society and can be recognized as meeting the criteria of different theories, especially because of the diverse nature of religion and different religious groups coexisting in the United States. Although the US has its foundation in Christianity and has traditionally upheld these principles, the scope and depth of political motives to accept all religions are not easy to pinpoint as the world becomes more globalized and interdependent.
Although the religious acceptance of different groups may be viewed as equality and fairness to all, Conflict Theorists might agree that it is also a form of distraction. Marx would see the alternatively conflicting and collaborating ideals between religions as a way to distract people from the reality of their mundane existence. Weber’s view on modern religion is a close second to Marx, except through the perspective of Rationalism we can assume that religion is much more than a blanket to conceal the truth, rather it is a way for religious leaders to fatten their wallets. On the other hand, Durkheim would see the absolute good in modern religion and the falling away from religion as a sign of serious social disorder.
But, if you look at religion in historical context, it is a fact that religious groups have been in conflict since the beginning of time. If you bring this knowledge into modernity and question the generational decline in religious affiliation, you have to question whether this is a step up for society or a red flag that needs to approached with caution. With the blending of religious values in society, there is a chance for continued conflict, but there is also hope for a universal understanding of social norms and strengthening of bonds.
References
Hammond, R., Cheney, P., & Pearsey, R. (2015). Sociology of the Family. Payson: Rocky Ridge Press.
