Purpose Of Marriage and Families

Marriage is the foundational relationship
for all of society. All other relationships
in society stem from the father-mother
relationship, and all relationships thrive
most if that father-mother relationship is
simultaneously intimate and closed
between a husband and wife. Marriage
contains all the five basic institutions, or
tasks, of society: family, church, school,
marketplace and government. Within a
family built on a strong marriage, the
child gradually learns to value and
perform these five fundamental tasks.
They gradually grow in competence and
are ready to strike out into society and,
eventually, to build their own family. How
they do that will depend much on what
they experienced in growing up in their
families of origin. This section outlines
the benefits of a healthy marriage and
family not only for the individual but for
all societies.