Fearful Of Divorce example essay topic

Divorce, of Course, of Course Bridget Burke Ravizza wrote the article, "Selling Ourselves on the Marriage Market" and is an assistant professor of religious studies at St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI. After talking with an unnamed group of college students, she discovers that "These college students have grown up in a society in which nearly half of all marriages end in divorce". She also reveals "they are fearful that their future marriages will go down that path, and some question whether lifelong commitment can-or should-be made at all". Furthermore, Ravizza finds that "students are bombarded with messages about sexuality and relationships-indeed messages about themselves-that seem to undermine authentic relationships". Simply put, culture has accepted divorce as a "normal" thing and has already begun to affect the next generations. The surveyed students are so fearful of divorce, they are, in essence, afraid of marriage as well.

They even go to the extreme of avoiding divorce by saying they may not get married at all to prevent the "undermining of an authentic relationship". The fact of the matter is, as the polled students infer, that half (if not more) married couples do get a divorce in today's society. Whether or not this unfortunate trend will continue down through the following generation is a theory yet to be proven, though it would make sense. The article is missing a few necessary citations, however. I noticed no reference given as to whom Rachel Greenwald is or what her expertise are in relation to the subject. She is simply referred to by her best-selling book, Find a Husband After 35: Using What I Learned at Harvard Business School.

Likewise, the theologian Paul Waddell is referred to by nothing other than his book Becoming Friends: Worship, Justice and the Practice of Christian Friendship. Also, the poll discussion with the college students at the beginning of the article is not given a source or from what part of the country the college was located. I agree with the article's thesis. Divorce has slowly seeped its way into the "normal" way of life and is running rampant through our country and Americans have become numb and desensitized to its abhorrence. Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more prominent and society equates this as normal. The Funk and Wagnall's Dictionary defines divorce as the "Dissolution of a marriage bond by legal process or by accepted custom".

To me, it is a simple "breach of contract" of God's holy institution of marriage. The article states, "Christian marriage is a covenantal partnership that is rooted in, modeled after, and inspired by the love of God. This love is unconditional; this love is constant; this love is faithful; this love constantly wills the good of the other". Divorce violates this covenant. Moreover, if this love is unconditional, faithful, etc. (and I'm sure many people would agree to this fact), then why are divorce rates so high?

Similar to the rest of the American society, my own family has been separated by divorce. My aunt, for example, has been divorced and she has four children. However, her family, her children, nor herself have been affected by this separation. In the same way, my grandmother and grandfather are divorced.

My grandfather is dead now, but my grandmother, on the other hand, is alive and well and happy. I find it disappointing that divorce has even found its way into my own family, though there was nothing I could do to change it, fix it, or make it go away completely. It makes me curious as to what life could be like if my grandparents were still married, but on the other hand, maybe God wanted it this way. For future reference, I have no intention of getting a divorce. Because I am a Christian, I know what the repercussions can be, especially those of an eternal nature. Plus, if I do love whom I am married to, there would be no need for divorce.

To conclude, I can at least explain why divorce has to happen. Man has a sinful nature. This sin affects everyone and everything. It makes bad things happen: death, divorce, disease, etc. Bad things are supposed to happen, though God didn't intend for it to be this way.

If someone thinks my saying, "Bad things are supposed to happen", is some sort of pitiful excuse for God not to care about the human race, I can only put it this way: "Great is the mystery of godliness" (I Timothy 3: 16). Some things just can't be explained.