THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION is a thinly disguised cultural death wish. It is a form of social suicide. There are good reasons for this statement. First, it is a well established fact that children growing up without their biological fathers suffer a variety of impediments.
“70% of juvenile offenders came from single mother homes (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Special Report, Sept 1988). 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes (Center for Disease Control). 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes (National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools).”[1]
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| Percent of Live Births to Single Mothers |
In addition, “Teens from fatherless homes are: 5 times more likely to commit suicide, 32 times more likely to run away, 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders, 14 times more likely to commit rape, 9 times more likely to drop out of high school, 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances, 9 times more likely to end up in a state-operated institution, and 20 times more likely to end up in prison.”[2]
What is the connection between the sexual revolution and fatherlessness? First, the sexual revolution has dissolved the social stigmas that reinforce chastity before marriage. It encourages men and women to live together before marriage without shame. And even though living together produces babies, the babies do little to encourage marriage.
Who suffers? Women and children. (You would think the feminists would be against the sexual revolution, but they are not). In addition, the entire culture suffers. A single parent is five times as likely to live in poverty. We could almost end poverty by doing one thing: get parents to marry and stay married.
The cost to society are astronomical. “Sociologist Paul Amato estimates that if the United States enjoyed the same level of family stability today as it did in 1960, the nation would have 750,000 fewer children repeating grades, 1.2 million fewer school suspensions, approximately 500,000 fewer acts of teenage delinquency, about 600,000 fewer kids receiving therapy, and approximately 70,000 fewer suicide attempts every year.”
In 1962, before the sexual revolution, less than 5% of live births were to single mothers. (See chart above). Keep in mind that abortion was not legal, and the pill was new. Fast forward to today. Over 40% of live births are to single moms, and that is after one million abortions each year and free and easy access to every kind of birth control. Close to 90% of these children will grow up without their biological fathers, and the pathologies cited above will only continue to proliferate.
Why do I say the sexual revolution is a death wish? Simply because no civilization can sustain a collapse of marriage over the long haul.
What is the solution? The Gospel of Jesus Christ. It disciplines our sexual desires so that in the end they produce the family “life” that God intends. Wherever the gospel goes men and women want to marry, they want to have children, and they want to have them after they are married.
[2] These stats have appeared in a variety of sources. The most recent is http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2014/june/when-dads-dont-stay.html
[1] Adams, Steven (2013-12-05). Women First, Men Last: Feminism’s War On Men and Its Devastating Effects (Kindle Locations 2592-2594). Steven Adams. Kindle Edition.
