THE FAMILY-A Human Necessity

IT IS claimed that human society feels only as good as its families feel.  History shows that as the family arrangement erodes, the strength of communities and nations weakens.  When moral decay destroyed families in ancient Greece, its civilization disintegrated, making it vulnerable to conquest by the Romans.  The Roman Empire remained strong as long as families remained strong.  But as centuries passed, family life weakened, and the strength of the empire waned.  "The security and elevation of he family  and of family life are the prime objects of civilization, and the ultimate ends of all industry,"  commented Charles W. Eliot, former president of Harvard University.

Yes, the family is a human necessity.  It has a direct effect  on the stability of society and the well-being of children and future generations.   No doubt, there are many, many single mothers who work very hard to rear fine children, and  they should be commended for their hard work.  However, studies show that children usually are far better off  if they live in a family with both parents.

An Australian study of over 2,000 adolescents found that  "teens from disrupted families had more general health problems, were more likely to display signs of emotional problems, and were more likely to be sexually active than kids from intact families."   A study conducted by the U.S. National Institutes of Health Studies revealed that children from broken homes ere 20 to 30 percent more likely  to have an accident, 40-75 percent more likely to repeat a grade of school, and 70 percent  more likely  to be expelled from school."  And a policy analyst reports that "children from single-parent homes are far more likely to get involved in crime than those growing up in traditional homes."

Next time: Home Is the Haven

Watchtower, 1998