Marriage and Family

Chapter 7

Institute for American Values, 1841 Broadway, Suite 211, NY, New York 10023

Sixteen top American Scholars on Family Life

Why Marriage Matters,

Twenty-Six Conclusions

from the Social Sciences

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Fundamental ConclusionsMarriage is an Important Social Good

Marriage is important for public well-being; it is associated with a range of economic,

health, educational, and safety benefits that help local, state, and federal governments

serve the common good.

Institute for American Values, 1841 Broadway, Suite 211, NY, New York 100233

Marriage in a Global Context

There is powerful evidence, not just that marriage is important to society, but that human beings are in some basic sense made to be married.

There is powerful evidence, not just that marriage is important to society, but that human beings are in some basic sense made to be married.

Maggie Gallagher The Moral and Social Significance of Marriage in the Global Context,

IIFWP Assembly 2000, p. 4.4

“The well-being of society and children depends on the health of

our marriage culture.”

Marriage and the Law: A Statement of Principles,Institute for American Values

New York, NY, Web: www.americanvalues.org5

Family: Essential for Society

As far back as our knowledge takes us, human beings have lived in families. We know of no period where was not so… Again and again… human societies have reaffirmed their dependence on the family as the basic unit of human living—the family of father, mother and children.

Margaret Mead and Ken Heyman, Family (New York: Macmillan, 1965): p. 77-78.6

Gandhi-ji

I would like to see India free and strong… the individual, being pure, sacrifices himself for the family. The family for the village, the village for the district, the district for the province, the province for the nation, the nation for all. I want Khudai Raj, which is the same thing as the Kingdom of God on earth.

Raj Ghat, Eastern Gate, New Delhi, India7

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“…the individual, being pure, sacrifices himself for the family…”

Where does Peace Begin?

The Mission of Religion

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Religions should not only focus on the individual as the center of salvation (moksha, nirvana), but must also

understand and support the family as the key to solving social problems.

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ECONOMICS

EDUCATION

RELIGIONMoral Values

SCIENCE

POLITICS

CULTURE

Religion: The Center of Civilization

① To resemble God

② To perfect love (individual perfection)

③ To give ownership of your sexual

organ to your partner (love is

experienced and perfected through a

partner） .

The Purpose of Marriage

God’s Ideal of True

Love

Seed from a True Father

Womb of True

Mother

Conception

(Seed of True Love)

(Lineage of True Love)

(Body of True Love)

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Absolute Sexual PurityPalace of Love, Life and Lineage

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Universal Family Values

1st Abstinence Brahmacharyia

2nd Be Faithful Grihastha

Peace Message #10

There is an absolute requirement that all people

must fulfill, no matter who they are. This is the

requirement of maintaining their purity, which is the

model of absolute sexual morality…

The first stage is maintaining absolute sexual

purity prior to getting married… Second is the model

of absoluteness in the love of husband and wife.

14Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon,

Peace Message #10, November 21, 2006

Three Responsibilities

God

Mind Body

Man

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God

Man Woman

Children

God

ManAll

Things

IdealWorld

The greatest among the Three Responsibilitiesis the Marriage Blessing.

Character ofGoodness

Families of True Love

Societies of Co-prosperity

1. Heart of Children

Four Great Realms of Heart

Father &Father &MotherMother

PerfectedWoman

PerfectedMan

God＋ －＋ －

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Filial Son Filial Daughter

True SisterTrue Brother

True Husband True Wife

Children

4. Heart of a Parent

3. Heart of a Couple

2. Heart of Siblings

SocietyFa m ily

Husband / Wife Love

Brother / Sister Love

Parent’s Love

Children’sLove

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Importance of an Ideal Family

The family is the framework and environment for human growth.

Moon, Dr. Rev. Sun Myung. (2005). The Providential Path to True Liberation and Complete Freedom. Washington D.C.: IIFWP.

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Social Harmony:Learned in the Family

1. Parental love Respect for Children2. Sibling love Respect for Friends3. Filial piety Respect for Elders4. Conjugal love Respect Human Sexuality

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Family Contribution to Human Development

The family plays a key role in developing good character.

1. Develops conscience.

2. Learn to live for others (to sacrifice).3. Sets proper priorities:

Family well-being > individual4. Experience the co-existence of

love and law.

United Nation’s

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Many of the goals are directly connected to the family… but the institutions of marriage and family are overlooked.

The Value of Marriage & Family

These are essential social values… • Free speech,• Private property,• Free enterprise,• Public education, • Health care,• Equal protection of the law, and• Democratic elections

But the institutions of marriage and family are more important!

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Man’s Last Revolution

There have been many revolutions…

Industrial, Political, Religious, Cultural Revolution

Solve problems? No!

Unified Peaceful World? No!

World of Happiness? No!

Why not?

Revolutions centered on Power or Control

—

a violation of Human Responsibility.23

Revolution of True Family Values Absolute Sexual Purity

What weapons will we use?

True Love and Principle flowing from Shimjung.

Last Revolution:

⇒ Centered on Shimjung (Roots)

⇒ True Love (Flowers, fragrance)

⇒ True Character (Fruit)

⇒ Revolution of Absolute Sex (True Family)

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Man’s Last Revolution

Thank you !

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