The human family in the contemporary world cultures: Its problems and the way forward for the catholic church, her leaders and the Lay faithful

Abstract

The human family has been recognised in all cultures, religions and past civilizations as the basic unit of society, of the church or other faith communities and of the world at large. All such cultures have regarded the family as the most fundamental unit, beyond the individual human person, for all the duties of community leadership, including those in the political spheres of life: in terms of individual and community health, protection, and of fostering their growth and development. The most of successful new families (of procreation) start from proper marriages; which themselves are products of healthy courtships between properly nurtured children of previous families of birth, of (healthy; i.e., truly loving) life orientation and socialization - as the primary unit of human socialization; being the primary social support unit of society. However, since the onset of the Modernist Movement of the 19th century, through its transformation of the 1910s, to their maturation through the 1930s and 70s to this third millennium, with the articulation of the first (1933), second (1973) and third (2003) editions of their scriptures as the modern (religious, atheistic, imperialistic, ideological) Secular Humanism, these attributes of the human family have started to be undermined. This paper explores the nature of the human family as well as the marriages and family upbringing that lead to their success. It is also examines the functions and human ends of these three issues, their dynamics and virtues or charisms. It is also looks at the tenets of the Secular Humanist scriptures in relation with the human family, marriage, human love and societal organization. In that way, the author expects an understanding by all who will have the privilege of reading the article, of the reasons for the problems of these in the modern world. It also brings to the fore an understanding of what we should do as individuals, leaders and church in the proper response to these contemporary problems.