Cloud & Townsend Critique

RUNNING HEAD: CLOUD 1

Cloud & Townsend Critique

By

Tracie Ottman

Liberty University

RUNNING HEAD: CLOUD 2

Summary

The theory of Cloud & Townsend (1999) encompasses the key components they believe to be vital to the success of marriage. Setting boundaries is one of the major tenets, as is the list they call the “Ten Laws” in the boundaries of marriage. They explain that these laws are “not about marriage as it should be. They are about marriage as it really is.” (Cloud & Townsend, 1999). By incorporating these “laws” Cloud and Townsend (1999) suggest that a marriage can “flourish” and be successful. Also, they have the six values that they glean from the Bible, that they believe are things that can attribute to building and helping to maintain a strong, healthy marriage.

While no one theory or application is guaranteed 100% in having success, if two people are willing to make the effort, the likelihood of success can increase. As it pertains to their tenet of setting boundaries, it is not just about with the spouse, but also with oneself. Each spouse has a responsibility to set those boundaries, which is healthy, and the other must respect those boundaries. That is vital to the success of applying this particular theory into the marriage.

None of this is to say that either spouse should be the “sacrificial lamb” in any marriage. There must be a balance between each spouse and ultimately there should be a mutual respect for each other in a regards to those boundaries. Obviously, just because one wants to set boundaries in place, there is no assurance that the marriage will not encounter problems. There may be a time where a spouse may not respect those boundaries, and may even be abusive to a point where regardless of what the other spouse does, those lines will be crossed. Cloud & Townsend does cover addressing those circumstances and covers several different situations and definitions of this area.

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