There are a number of tangible and intangible obligations but the two main obligations are raising the children and caring for the other spouse. The primary interest of the state in a divorce is that a financially incabable spouse is not abandoned to the state and that the children are cared for.
and would you not say that the contract has already lost its traditional meaning in a society which has adopted a liberal attitude toward contraception, fornication, adultery, and divorce?
I think it has but I don't think society's expectations have decreased all that much regarding marriage. 2000 years ago Jesus was complaining about the morality of his time. Will gay marriage change the social contract for better or worse ? I don't know but I think there is a far better chance of the a new contract surviving if its written by the majority rather than waiting for it to be forced on everyone.
i had the same two main obligations in mind. do you feel that gays are not capable of fulfilling both of these obligations?
Will gay marriage change the social contract for better or worse ?
my guess would be niether. i honestly can't see any reason why it would have an effect one way or the other.