The Changing Face of Marriage

Despite the fact that both my parents aren't Catholic, my experience with the 'domestic church' has been ongoing. When I was younger I remember going to church with my mom and sister every weekend; even now, every weekend my mom and I go to church. My whole immediate family always goes to Christmas and Easter mass together and until such time as it wouldn't be possible, I think it'll stay that way. I have also made the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. My mom is the parent who wants me and my sister to have a strong faith and belief in God and my dad supports her in the decision they made to raise us Catholic. It's an interesting dynamic to have one parent who is very religious and the other who is not as religious. Despite the ongoing 'domestic church,' since my sister went to college, the strictness of praying before dinner, etc. has basically been nonexistent. Although this is true, I am still required to go to church, even if it may be something I don't particularly want to do. On one hand I understand the importance of the 'domestic church' and why it is deemed important to start when children are young.  On the other hand, despite being brought up as part of a religious community, I believe that you can't make someone believe in something in which they don't want to believe. I think that after a certain point, maybe after receiving Confirmation or the equivalent in other religions, parents should let their children choose if they want to continue on with the current beliefs, discover a new religion, or to not have a religion. Even without forcing a child to be part of a religion, the parents can still illustrate the 'domestic church' by their words and actions. Additionally, I'd say that love, forgiveness, and trust are almost always experienced at home first, at least I know it happened like that for me. In order for children to know what any of those concepts are they have to learn them from someone. These concepts do not have to religiously-linked, so they could be taught just as well by a non-religious parent. 

He's Just Not That Into You is an entertaining movie that makes some good points about some of the topics we are discussing in class. There are some pros that are illustrated in the movie, such as how married couples are able to settle down together and start their life as a couple quicker. Another pro would be the extra support of friends and family when making life changing decisions. In the movie, Gigi, Beth, and Janine are there for one another to talk about their problems, insights, and/or situations with the men in their lives. Also, the importance of family is shown when Beth's dad is there to tell her that she's still a good person, even though Neil didn't want to marry her and that her choice to breakup with him was okay (even though he liked Neil). There are also some cons shown in the movie, such as the sped up dating process. It is seen that Gigi meets men at happy hour or for drinks and automatically thinks what their life would be like together. Also, despite not following their story, Ben and Janine's relationship shows the ugly side that marriage could possibly have at any moment. Some men who either rush into marriage or just get bored with their marriage, could have an affair and ruin the relationship all together; they may still love their wife, but still end up cheating. There are also some situations that could be considered both a pro and a con. One such situation involves Beth and her boyfriend of seven years; they've lived together for awhile and he's committed to her, but he doesn't want to get married. This could be seen as a pro because couples sometimes genuinely don't want to get married but know that they love one another; their love doesn't need a 'marriage' label. It could also be seen as a con because sometimes the women in these relationships, such as Beth, believe that there's an underlying reason to why their significant other doesn't want to marry them. Also, another character in the movie (which we're not following the story of) uses online dating. Online dating can be a good way to meet your future life partner, but it also could be dangerous, as we have seen or heard stories about kidnapping and people not being who they say they are.

I think the study's results make logical sense. Like the BustedHalo article states, people who have a college degree are more likely to have a stable-paying job that would allow one to feel secure enough to be able to provide for a family, as well as themselves. Personally, I believe that having an education is important in general. Not to be mean or rude, but I don't think I'd be able to have a relationship with someone who did not value education or care to further educate themselves in some aspect of life, not necessarily having to be in academics. I think the study has some validity to it, but I also believe that a relationship will work if the two people involved make it work. Hopefully, since I will be attending college and post-baccalaureate education, the study will prove true in my future relationships and I will not have to experience divorce or multiple marriages. I am torn on whether or not I would establish the 'domestic church' in my home in the future. There are obvious pros to doing so, such as children being able to have something to believe in as they get older. There are also cons as well, such as choosing children's beliefs before they have a chance to do so themselves. I think that decision would be something my future husband and I would decide together, but there will definitely be love, forgiveness, and trust in the home.