Duncan Dormor

Expectations and experiences of marriage today

Abstract Expectations of marriage today are explored using three sources of data; demographic trends, qualitative research and attitudinal material. All three sources suggest there is ambiguity in the social perception and private experience of marriage. This ambiguity reflects social changes wh ich have occurred in recent decades; emancipation of women, widespread divorce and the acceptance of premarital sex have all influenced the nature of marriage and the expectations men and women have of it. Our research findings confirm that marriage is problematic in that the reality of married life its division of labour, the amount of time available for the couple alone fails to meet up to many peoples aspirations. This seems particularly true for women, whose desire for intimacy and a common life is especially difficult to achieve We conclude with a brief outline of implications for practice. If expectations are out of step with reality, practitioners should be particularly aware not only of this discrepancy, ...

Reflections on Prospero: Questions in Theology with respect to Cloning

Let us begin by recounting a story it concerns a man one of high status in society and of great learning yet a man in exile he is able to do things that others are not capable of doing some people would call that power magic, though the extent and nature of it is known to but a few he is then an individual capable of shaping the destiny of others. Amongst wider responsibilities, he is a man with three significant relationships. The first and deepest is a protective one with a person who is innocence itself; a trusting and kind child whose well-being and flourishing lie at the very top of our man’s agenda. He has, with her, as it were, a father-daughter relationship. The second is a dangerous relationship, just as close, but poisoned, with a man, indeed a brother, Antonio, who is also powerful and has in the past betrayed our hero into exile and would do so again at the drop of a hat. Yet our magician wishes to employ his finite but considerable powers to smother the evil of this individual, to bring restitution, justice and penitence to their brotherly relationship. Finally the hero of our tale has a highly ambiguous relationship with a servant, indeed a slave, over whom he has total power Caliban.