Summary Of Jonathan Rauch's Defense For Gay Marriage

According to Jonathan Rauch, the main purpose of marriage all comes down to safety. While justifying this, he wonders how straights view marriage and for the same reasons that straights get into marriage, it is the same way and same reasons that gays get into marriage. Living life without getting into marriage becomes so lonely and it make life more vulnerable. In his defense for gay marriage, gays need some kind of care just like everyone else. According to him, there are few marriages and gay marriages should be accepted so that the statistics of marriages can increase. A society that has many marriages is stable, more successful and safer.
Jonathan’s take on marriage or gay marriage are largely based on his opinions and his ideologies based on his sexual orientation. Marriage is largely perceived to be a family value. Family values are measured by living together in harmony, love, and taking care of children, the continuity of
generations as you grow old together. This union was and it is still meant to be between man and woman so that there is continuity of life. There is nowhere where gays will make the continuity of life possible because, a man does not give birth. This is only possible in the union of a man and woman. What if the children factor is removed from the equation? Then defining the role of a woman and the role of a man becomes critical. As animals what is required of us?
First, a woman’s role is to be the helper of a man. It then means that a man’s life without a woman is practically impossible or if it’s possible then it’s not complete. A man can’t replace the role of a woman be it for companionship or for any other reason. The love that a woman provides can’t be compared to the love that a man can provide for another man. The role of a woman at home can’t be replaced by another man.
Can we take an example from other animal kingdoms? Looking at man’s best friend, dog or even the domestic cat that we keep at home, it is clear that continuity of life has to be facilitated between organisms of different sexes. At no time will a male dog or cat go to start chasing another male counterpart to mate. Even in the battle for territories, the female animals are protected within their territories by the male counterparts together with their young ones. With this it is clear that a woman needs a man for protection and a man does not need a man for protection because they can both serve the same purpose.
What does religion have to say about marriage? A woman leaves the family, and it is very categorical, a woman, not a man. She leaves the family and goes to the man so that they can become one. In becoming one, we are fulfilling God’s purpose of marriage. Looking further into the story of creation, Eve was created so that she can be Adam’s helper. Eve was a woman and not a man. The whole purpose of marriage is to have a person of the opposite sex whom you can share your love with as you live happily.
Rauch’s point of divorce and marriage is workable.
Why do people divorce? Because it is easy to divorce and sometimes it makes people wonder the need of marrying if divorcing is that easy. According Rauch, marriages can be strengthened if divorces are hard to get. This is true for one reason and also a false theory for another reason. Many people would be working to make the marriage successful knowing that it is a lifetime commitment which will have a no escape route. If divorce is hard to get, it means that there will be less family conflicts. Another thought is that partners would strive to protect what they have. On the other there are many disadvantages that come with it. For instance, one would be of the reasoning that because it is hard to get a divorce, then having extra marital affairs is okay. Another person would argue that because it is hard to get a divorce, “let me teach you a lesson that you will never forget”. Rauch’s argument though does not hold because he did not look at the other outcomes of making divorce
difficult.
All in all, gay marriage is one of the contentious debatable matters of the modern day world. The reasons why people are advocating for it is based on their own personal thinking that does not have a foundation. On the other hand those who oppose gay marriage have a foundation for it and they range from scientific to religious grounds. Therefore, Rauch’s take on gay marriage is solely based on what he has perceived to be right and his sexual orientation.