THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE FAMILY
Few
realize it! But even in affluent America. Britain, and other Western
countries, we face an enormous and growing tragedy. The institutions of
marriage and family life are being formidably attacked.
A
solid family structure is the very foundation of any stable and
permanent society. But today in the affluent countries a conspiracy is
developing which seeks to destroy marriage as an institution, as well
as the family. This is another decisive bit of evidence that this
world's civilization is definitely in the end time — the end of this
world as we know it!
The threat is dual: (1) Unrealized by most,
there is a widespread and aggressive conspiracy to destroy the
institution of marriage. (2) Marital relations and family life are
breaking down, and divorces are increasing alarmingly.
I talk to
heads of nations and those high in their governments all over the world
almost every month. We discuss the seriousness of world conditions, the
causes of the evils, and the way to world peace. But I feel strongly
the need to talk to my Plain Truth readership of many millions about
this major threat to civilization itself — and thus to your life and
mine. It's time the facts were made known.
Today many
psychologists are saying that the institution of marriage is doomed —
on the way out. And there is a definite movement to bring that about.
The
conspiracy consists of a two-pronged attack: (1) a well-organized
movement to subtly influence college students to prefer alternatives to
marriage, and (2) an attempt to influence the general public by
newspaper and magazine articles, television programs, the lecture
platform, the women's lib movement, and student or former student
rebels of the "New Left." How much of all this propaganda has been
planted in the minds of the psychologists, professors, writers,
publishers, women's lib crusaders. and others by trained communist
propagandists can only be estimated.
There are publishers that
seek out writers and authors to supply them with material offering
alternatives to marriage — such as homosexuality. group marriages, sex
outside of marriage, communal families — writers who will shout the
gospel that "marriage is finished, outdated, OBSOLETE. ON THE WAY OUT."
This
is a war which is being vigorously and fanatically waged. Every subtle
method is being employed to capture the minds of those of premarriage
age.
Today virtually every college and university in the United
Slates offers numerous courses in psychology and sociology. And almost
without exceptions, these courses make required reading books and
articles that picture marriage as now outdated and soon to become a
relic of the past.
They represent that both men and women want
variety in sex and other social relationships. They ridicule as a
worn-out. old-fashioned idea the belief that one should confine all
intimate relations to one person.
Some, especially some women's
lib enthusiasts and propagandists. represent that marriage represses
and degrades women. One's only commitment, some contend, ought to be
only to no commitment. "Why should we need a piece of paper — a
marriage license — to link our lives?" some ask.
One book,
required reading at some one hundred campuses in the United States, has
a chapter on mate swapping, including the statement: "The family that
swings together clings together." The book represents mate swapping as
a beneficial experience.
A few years ago, the pioneers in
applying methods of scientific research to the subject of sex. Masters
and Johnson, held a symposium in Chicago with some six or seven couples
who freely admitted to "swinging" as a regular experience at certain
chosen intervals. They exchanged their philosophies on the subject,
probed by questions from Dr. Masters and Mrs. Johnson (actually Mrs.
Masters). Masters and Johnson checked five years later and found only
one of the couples was still married.
But now what about
existing marriages. home and family life? These have given great
encouragement to the conspiracy against marriage and the family.
The
so-called new morality — which is actually nothing but gross immorality
— has gained considerable public acceptance since the end of World War
II. This crusade of the "new morality" has brought about, first, far
more openness and frankness of discussion and conversation about sex
and morals; and second, a much more lax behavior. especially among the
oncoming younger generation. And one of its greatest dangers is the
advent of a new and almost total permissiveness.
I think it
probably started in the "Roaring 20s" in the days of the "flappers."
Those, especially the girls who were in their late teens and early 20s
in the 1920s, became much more permissive. They married and became
mothers, but they relaxed authority and parental guidance over their
children. Then World War II produced another generation — still more
permissive. exercising even less authority and parental guidance over
growing children.
Discipline relaxed and virtually-disappeared
in almost all of the public schools. And now, in the past decade, most
of the college and university campuses have provided "co-ed dorms"
where men are free to visit girls in their rooms, and girls are free to
visit men with almost no restrictions.
On Ambassador College
campuses the conditions have been different. Here there is discipline,
though we have recognized that even when using discipline, a proper
balance must be maintained. Faculty and administration cannot build and
develop right character in students with a harsh and over-zealous use
of authority. But I think the character of Ambassador students — and
graduates — speaks for itself.
Of course the worldwide
conspiracy against marriage and the attack against the family
institution has not. as yet. made any sensational dent in the number of
marriages taking place. But it is becoming a threat which I feel our
readers should know about.
By Herbert W. Armstrong Personal from the Editor Plain Truth Magazine July 1976
