We watched Age of Innocence tonight, and I realized that one theme of the book and the movie is the same as this post I wrote a few days ago. Isn’t there something to be said for living in a society guarded by rules and conventions? How many people might be saved from a life of regret and misery if, at the moment when they were about to make a really stupid decision. they were reminded that society or their family or someone would not approve? Now there are no rules. Society accepts any and everything. Does this “freedom” make it possible for people to live happier, more abundant lives? I think not. We need boundaries. Biblical boundaries are best; however, if we are determined to discard those, then some sort of societal norms are better than nothing. I agree that the rules that a given society imposes may be stifling, but life without any rules and expectations is likely to hurt the weakest and those least able to protect themselves. In Age of Innocence, the characters all seem to give up passion for the sake of safety. I would argue that within the boundaries of Biblical law it is possible to live a romantic and passionate life. It truly is possible “to delight in the law of the Lord.” In fact, discarding that law brings despair, not delight.