The Unholy Trinity: Me, Myself and I

“We have learned to live with unholiness and have come to look upon it as the natural and expected thing.” – A. W. Tozer, 1897-1963

“The uncontested absurdities of today are the accepted slogans of tomorrow. They come to be accepted by degrees, by dint of constant pressure on one side and constant retreat on the other – until one day when they are suddenly declared to be the country’s official ideology.” – Ayn Rand, 1905-1982

There are many across America who are concerned about morality. Morality is defined as:

Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.

There are those who believe that morality is a non-binding social construct determined by the individual himself (if it feels good do it). Morality is relative and defined by the individual man not by any higher authority be it law (government) or God (religion).

There are others who believe that morality (a overwhelming majority of moral men) is fundamental to a healthy society. Many believe that morality is objective and defined by the laws of nature (God) and the laws of man (the U.S. Constitution).

Has morality changed over time, and if so, in what ways?

In May, 2017 Gallop issued a report titled “Americans Hold Record Liberal Views on Most Moral Issues.” Gallop showed the changes in “liberal views” on “morally acceptable” issues starting in 2001 (unless otherwise indicated) to May, 2017.

First year asked 2017 Change
% % pct. pts.
More liberal views
Gay/Lesbian relations 40 63 +23
Having a baby outside of marriage (2002) 45 62 +17
Sex between an unmarried man and woman 53 69 +16
Divorce 59 73 +14
Medical testing on animals 65 51 -14
Polygamy (2003) 7 17 +10
Human embryo stem cell research (2002) 52 61 +9
Doctor-assisted suicide 49 57 +8
Cloning humans 7 14 +7
Pornography (2011) 30 36 +6
Suicide 13 18 +5
Death penalty 63 58 -5
Sex between teenagers (2013) 32 36 +4
No change
Extramarital affairs 7 9 +2
Gambling (2003) 63 65 +2
Birth control (2012) 89 91 +2
Abortion 42 43 +1
Cloning animals 31 32 +1
Animal fur clothing (buying/wearing) 60 57 -3
Items were first asked in 2001 unless indicated.

NOTE: Figures above are percentages saying practice is morally acceptable

GALLUP

What does this shift toward “Liberal Views” mean?

Let’s look at the top “liberal views” that Gallop reported: gay/lesbian relations (+23%), having a baby outside of marriage (+17%), sex between an unmarried man and woman (+16%), divorce (+14%), polygamy (+10%).

What do these liberal views do for society?

The Witherspoon Institute published an article titled “Manhood Is Not Natural” by Glenn T. Stanton.  Mr. Stanton notes:

Few would disagree that manhood is in crisis today. Men are falling behind women in important measures of personal and social well-being. This is well-documented in books such as Hannah Rosin’s bluntly titled The End of Men. In deeply consequential ways, they have become the weaker sex.

Some women celebrate this. Most, however, are deeply concerned, especially since the weakness of the men in their lives makes it increasingly difficult for them to become wives and mothers. The equation is really quite simple: if boys don’t become good, dependable men, they can’t become good, dependable husbands and fathers.

Why is it important for men to become good (moral), dependable husbands and fathers?

Mr. Stanton explains in the section of his column titled “What Happens When Manhood Isn’t Taught?”:

It is then certainly no coincidence that the term “feminization of poverty” was coined as the sexual revolution initiated the great divorce between sex, babies, and marriage. Feminist scholar Diane Pearce, who introduced this term in an important essay, lamented that while large opportunities were opening for women due to greater equality, “Poverty is rapidly becoming a female problem.” She blamed the significant increase in the number of female-headed families.

Ghettos are not created by city planners, crime by the police, or failing health by big pharma. Each of these social ills arises by inattention to the sexual behaviors of males. If he doesn’t have to marry before having sex (and potentially fathering children), the average man won’t. So he hasn’t. The feminization of poverty and the accompanying declines in female happiness and childhood well-being are the tragic results. [Emphasis added]

Men have, according to the Gallup report, fully embraced the unholy trinity of me, myself and I.

Are “Liberal Views” Good for America?

In Manhood in the Making, anthropologist David Gilmore provides an essential insight:

One of my findings here is that manhood ideologies always include a criterion of selfless generosity, even to the point of sacrifice. Again and again, we find that “real” men are those who give more than they take away; they serve others. Real men are generous, even to a fault. Non-men are often those stigmatized as stingy and unproductive.

Stanton notes,

“A good man is the fountain, not the drain. The formation of such men is the first task of human civilization, and its largest threat when ignored.”

Stanton asks,

“The question is, how can we recover manhood today? We must find the answer. For it is not only the fate of men that is at stake, but the fate of our women, children, and society as well.”

Homosexuality, the lack of fathers in families, promiscuity, divorce and polygamy are all warning signs of a larger existential threat, the deformation of men. These now commonplace “liberal views” turned into policies and practices inextricably lead men to pursue lives that are all about me, myself and I, the unholy trinity.

As John Adams wrote,

“Public virtue cannot exist in a Nation without private Virtue, and public Virtue is the only Foundation of Republics.”

We as a society ignore prive virtue and morality at our own risk. It is time to restore the first task of human civilization – the formation of virtuous and moral men.

RELATED ARTICLES:

The War Against Morality, Women and Children

How George Washington’s Sterling Character Set an Example for the Ages

EDITORS NOTE: Glenn T. Stanton is the director of global family formation studies at Focus on the Family and the author of eight books on various aspects of the family, including The Ring Makes All the Difference: The Hidden Consequences of Cohabitation and the Strong Benefits of Marriage and Loving My LGBT Neighbor: Being Friends in Grace and Truth.

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