# Truths Concerning Families and Relations explained — The Religion of Nature Delineated

> Chapter companion for The Religion of Nature Delineated by William Wollaston.

## What happens

This chapter examines the foundations and obligations of marriage, family, and kinship. It argues that marriage is ordained by nature for propagation and mutual happiness, and that the marriage covenant creates binding moral and natural ties between spouses and their children. It also discusses the duties of parents and children, the role of natural affection (στοργή), and the authority of reason in family relations.

## Themes in this chapter

### Marriage and Family

The chapter defines marriage as a covenant for propagation and mutual happiness, and outlines duties of spouses and parents.

### Truth and Reason

Misbehavior in marriage is condemned as repugnant to truth; reason is presented as the governor of family relations.

### Happiness and Pleasure

Marriage is founded on the pursuit of joint happiness, and natural affection is seen as a guide to well-being.

## Character check-ins

### A Man

The authorial voice reasoning about marriage and family duties.

## Key lines

> The end of marriage is the propagation of mankind and joint happiness of the couple intermarrying, taken together, or the latter by itself.

Marriage aims at both having children and the shared happiness of the spouses, or even just the happiness alone.

_This establishes the dual purpose of marriage as natural and moral._

> If the most express and solemn contracts, upon which persons, when they marry, do so far depend as, in confidence of their being religiously observed, to alter quite their condition, begin a new thread of life, and risk all their fortune and happiness: I say, if such sacred compacts as these are allowed to be broken, there is an end of all faith; the obligation of oaths (not more binding than marriage vows) ceases; no justice can be administered; and then what a direful influence must this have upon the affairs of mankind, upon that and other accounts?

If marriage vows can be broken, then all faith and justice collapse, because marriage is the most solemn of contracts.

_This emphasizes the inviolability of the marriage covenant._

> I have designedly forborn to mention that authority of a husband over his wife which is usually given to him—not only by private writers, but even by laws—because I think it has been carried much too high. I would have them live so far upon the level, as (according to my constant lesson) to be governed both by reason.

I deliberately avoided discussing a husband's authority because I believe it has been exaggerated; spouses should be equal and governed by reason.

_This advocates for marital equality based on reason._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_religion_of_nature_delineated_se/chapters/viii-truths-concerning-families-and-relations
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_religion_of_nature_delineated_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_religion_of_nature_delineated_se/chapters