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33.DOC
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1994-12-20
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ESSAY 33
THE "A FAMILY IS ANYTHING" MYTH
Around Christmas time, millions of Americans enjoy the
Frank Capra classic, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Gary Bauer
reflects,
I've often wondered what accounts for this film's
enduring and remarkable popularity. Jimmy Stewart
once suggested that all of Capra's films, and
perhaps IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE most of all, are
popular because they show "that life's true riches
lie in family, country and God." [Gary Bauer, OUR
JOURNEY HOME. (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1992),
p.28].
Interesting combination ... family, country and God!
THE FAMILY is a valid institution because God establish-
ed it. Science also validates it. Children need both a father
and mother in order to develop right psychologically. Child-
ren of both sexes need both parents. In families where a
father or mother is missing, the single parent can find a
substitute father or mother figure. The single parent needs
to avoid choosing bad role models and those who would abuse
their children. Many believe the myth that crime is caused
by economic conditions. If this were true, then crime
would have been rampant during and after the great depres-
sion. And now a 1988 study of over 11,000 crimes in
Rochester, NY; St. Louis, MO; and Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL
found no significant connection of crime with either poverty
or color. Crime was directly related to the absence of a
father at home. (Bauer, OUR JOURNEY HOME, p. 40).
The PC "family" is a mockery of the family. Some
definitions of the family do such violence to it that it no
longer resembles a family. The homosexual lobby would have
Congress pass laws to redefine the family and to justify
their perverted lifestyle.
What do people think of life in America today as compar-
ed to the past? Lawrence Research executed a poll for the
Free Congress Foundation in 1992. (Bauer, OUR JOURNEY HOME,
pp. 32-33). The question asked was, "Generally speaking, do
you feel that life in America in the past was better than,
worse than, or about the same as it is today? Of the
thousand polled, 49 percent said American life was better in
the past, while 17 percent said it was worse. Here is a
table on more detailed questions asked:
NO
BETTER WORSE SAME OPINION
Moral Values 74 15 10 1
Community and Family Life 70 15 14 2
Environment 66 21 12 1
Pace of Life 64 17 16 3
Economy 62 19 16 2
Quality of Workmanship 57 20 20 3
Quality of Services 51 26 21 2
Our Culture 43 25 27 5
Looks like there really is a moral majority! About three-
fourths of our people think we have devolved morally. The
radical left social engineers have struck out again! Seventy
percent of the American people say community and family life
is worse since the great social experiment!
CIVIL GOVERNMENT is also a valid institution because God
instituted it. It is to protect the rights, lives and prop-
erty of citizens. However, government has usurped roles
that it was never intended to have.
ONE OF THE ROLES USURPED BY GOVERNMENT IS THAT OF TEACH-
ING CHILDREN. Parents should have both the responsibility
and authority to teach their own children. Government schools
have become one of the nation's largest monopolies. The
federal government would not allow such a monopoly in the
private business sector!
Another role usurped by government is religious in
nature. It is also unconstitutional. CONGRESS HAS ESTABLISHED
THE RELIGION OF SECULAR HUMANISM AS THE NEW STATE RELIGION BY
NEGLECT. Actually, THE SUPREME COURT CIRCUMVENTED CONGRESS
BY "LEGISLATING" VIA DECISIONS THAT DISESTABLISHED CHRISTI-
ANITY AS THE NON-SECTARIAN STATE RELIGION AND ESTABLISHED
SECULAR HUMANISM AS THE NEW STATE RELIGION. In short, the
"activist" Supreme Court usurped the function of Congress by
making new laws through its decisions. These new laws were
unconstitutional on two counts: (1) It is unconstitutional
for the Judicial Branch to make laws by fiat and (2) It is
unconstitutional for one branch (Judicial, Executive, or
Legislative) to perform the function of another. Congress
and the Executive branches were at fault for not "checking"
the Judicial branch and for allowing it to violate the Con-
stitution. If Congress had made the series of laws disestab-
lishing Christianity and establishing Secular Humanism it
would have been more easily recognized.
These two illegal and immoral procedures have created
an extensive national system of theological seminaries. It
includes day care through doctoral programs in tax-supported
educational institutions. Educators who specialize in philo-
sophy can easily detect the religion of Secular Humanism
throughout all courses, including academic and physical
education courses.
Not only has the state illegally seized authority, IT
HAS RELINQUISHED SOME OF ITS PROPER AUTHORITY. IT HAS ALLOWED
CITIZENS TO END THE LIVES OF CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO CANNOT PRO-
TECT THEMSELVES. Philosopher Russell Hittinger phrases it
well:
By transferring the power over life and death to
private choice, the state violates the civil con-
tract. In effect, the power originally invested in
civil government is relinquished.
THE CHURCH was also instituted by God. Biblically, it is
the body of believers throughout history, and must be distin-
guished from human institutions such as denominations. The
biblical church supports the existence of the family and the
government.
END