What Is Marriage For? Book Discussion Group May 4 and 11
April 10, 2009
Bell Street Chapel and Marriage Equality Rhode Island will host a two-week discussion group based on the book “What is Marriage for?: The Strange Social History of our Most Intimate Institution,” by E.J. Graff. In this book, Graff describes marriage as “a kind of Jerusalem, an archaeological site on which the present is constantly building over the past, letting history’s many layers twist and tilt into today’s walls and floors.” Indeed, the institution of marriage has changed dramatically over the centuries to reflect evolving understandings of family, money, sex, love and power. Graff traces Western marriage customs and rules of law from their emergence in ancient times to the present.
This program will allow participants to share ideas about evolving notions of marriage. The objectives of this program are:
To investigate historical beliefs and practices with regard to marriage;
To explore modern marriage customs and laws, and the belief system inherent in them;
To examine attitudes toward marriage of same-sex couples against current beliefs about the purpose of marriage; and
To develop a personal definition of marriage (both what it is and why we do it).
During the discussion sessions, participants will examine laws and customs of bygone eras to better understand underlying beliefs and assumptions. They will also explore current practices to determine the extent to which these practices reflect modern values and assumptions about marriage. Finally, they will consider how a faith community can honor each individual spirit as we “live up to the rigorous demands of love.”
The group will meet for two consecutive Mondays, May 4 and 11, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Participants are asked to read “What is Marriage For?” prior to the first session. A sign-up sheet is available in Eddy Hall. The book can be purchased for $16 from Beacon Press at www.beacon.org, or through major online book retailers such as Amazon.com.
~Donald Laliberte
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