Just and Holy Principles

Part 2 is based mostly on the ideas of Allan Carlson and Paul Mero from the book Preserving Sacred Ground. They ask:

If you could create society the way you think it should be, what would that society be centered around? The individual? The church? The corporation? The state? Or the family?

Which unit of society do you think should be the fundamental unit? Let’s look at each one briefly to determine the best answer.

Individual
Society increasingly revolves around the individual. “What do I want? What do I need?” According to Carlson and Mero, “In a world where the individual is the fundamental unit, people are socially isolated. Culturally, they are narcissistic…Politically, they are very utilitarian or, we might say today, libertarian.” Individualism tears apart families and communities. It is manifested in ever greater numbers of cohabitation, divorce, and same-sex relationships. Carlson and Mero also make the following analogy:

Sand is nothing more than atomized stone. Though substantial in the aggregate, it is no more than the accidental product of stones and shells as they slowly disintegrate. Individualism as a force is no more than the atomization of the family unit. Individualism is the sand; family is the stone.

Just as the foolish man built his house upon the sand and it fell, society will fall if it is built upon the sand (the individual) rather than upon the rock (the family).

To read some great quotes from the Brethren on individualism and the family go here.

Church
Though religious institutions do much good to promote morality, selflessness, and happiness, the church cannot be the fundamental unit because the family existed before the church. The best role for the church is to complement the family — to provide opportunities for learning and religious expression. It is in the family that religion has the best opportunity to flourish; “the family is the perfect home for God.”

Corporation
The main purpose of any corporation or business is to exchange goods and services and to create wealth. These activities are not inherently bad; in fact, they can help individuals and families obtain what they need to live, fulfill their responsibilities, and enjoy life. And yet, life is about much more than buying a car, getting a haircut, or saving for retirement; thus, the corporation cannot be the fundamental unit of society.

State
Government is necessary to help provide order for society, but history teaches us that when society revolves around government society fails. Totalitarian regimes such as Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and Communist China have tried to gain control over individuals by eliminating marriage and family as a significant structure. In a government-centered society, people tend to become just another roadblock between government and its social goals, whereas in a family-centered society government exists to serve people and promote healthy families.

Family
Each of the units we’ve discussed plays an important part in our lives, but the family must be the center of it all.

Carlson and Mero nicely sum up the importance of the family as the fundamental unit:

All facets of life are enriched when we choose the natural family as the fundamental unit of society. Our social life is richer — we experience broad diversity within a context of stable familiarity. Our cultural life is richer — we are better able to take advantage of generational experience and the lessons of tradition. Our political life is richer — strong, autonomous families maximize the best functions of democracy. Our economic life is richer — we work with lasting purpose, cooperatively and altruistically, for others and not just for ourselves. And our spiritual life is richer — we are motivated to become our better selves as we give birth and nurturing to the rising generations

The natural family is the key to the fullness of life. It does what no other organizing principle can do — it makes everything around it better, it amplifies the best elements of all other institutions. It is the foundation of ordered liberty.

What do you think?

Related posts:
Intro-The Family
Part 1-The Family: How to Define It