FAITH & CULTURE PROJECT: How to Destroy Any Society

Lessons from J.D. Unwin

It’s easy to see how catastrophic war, invasion, natural disasters, economic instability, disease, famine, etc., could destroy a society, or even an entire civilization, but can extending do the same? In the lost and mostly forgotten sex study of , some important discoveries were made concerning sexual behavior and how it relates to . His findings demonstrated a direct link between and what Unwin called the "" of civilization [i.e. human flourishing]. He conducted an extensive study of throughout history, uncovering a consistent pattern in their rise and fall. His research revealed a direct link between sexual permissiveness and the decline of civilizations. Unwin found that societies flourished when they valued sexual fidelity and monogamy, but inevitably declined as they became more sexually permissive. This cycle repeated itself across cultures, with no exceptions. Unwin concluded that “In human records, there is no instance of a society retaining its energy after a complete new generation has inherited a tradition which does not insist on pre-nuptial and post-nuptial continence." In other words, once a society embraces sexual permissiveness for a full generation, it loses its "expansive energy" and begins to decline, often irreversibly —Sex and Culture, Oxford University Press, 1934

“It’s important to note that Unwin held no Christian convictions and was not merely imposing a Christian interpretation on his findings. Many scholars were shocked by his discoveries, including himself. He found that societies flourished only during times when they valued sexual fidelity. They would subsequently decline as they became more sexually permissive. They would then rise again as they returned to stricter standards. Again, he found no exceptions.

The reasons for this are not difficult to understand when you consider the basic laws of nature. These laws govern the behavior of all things. Whether we are talking about a plant, an animal, or a human being, it will only function at its optimum when obeying these natural laws. When a society begins to adopt lifestyles and behaviors that violate these principles, they often injure themselves beyond repair. Without question, children reared within the are far happier and healthier than those who are not. This makes sense when you consider the necessary conditions and the length of time required for a child to develop and become self-sustaining. When compared to animals or insects, which we should not try to emulate, parental investment is clearly a necessity—and both mother and father supply different and essential needs (this is now supported by scientific evidence; single-parent homes, and gay couple homes, produce unbalanced children). It’s not hard to see how extending sexual permissiveness would have the potential of opening a of self-gratifying behavior, including abandonment, that would inevitably destabilize the family structure and destroy a healthy society. When self-fulfillment and the happiness of the individual becomes the only meaningful goal in life, it no longer makes sense that a discontent parent should continue to be oppressed by a worldview, or religious doctrine, that tells them to remain with the family.”—American Bloodlust: The Violent Psychological Conditioning of Today’s Young People (another essay in this series)

The Sexual Revolution, Bad Parenting, and Family Breakdown

The marked a turning point for Western civilization, particularly the United States. By removing traditional restraints on sexual behavior, this cultural shift set in motion a series of changes that have been undermining the foundations of our society ever since. One of the most devastating consequences has been the breakdown of the traditional family structure. With the rise of and a cultural devaluation of marriage, the divorce rate skyrocketed. This has led to an epidemic of , with over 20 million children in the U.S. living without a father present. The consequences of this family breakdown are severe:

• 71% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes
• 71% of teenage pregnancies occur in fatherless homes
• 85% of children with behavior disorders come from fatherless homes
• 90% of homeless and runaway children come from fatherless homes
• 63% of youth suicides occur in fatherless homes
• 85% of youth in prison come from fatherless homes

These statistics paint a grim picture of the social decay that follows the erosion of the traditional family unit.

The Psychological Impact on Children

The breakdown of families has profound psychological effects on children. Those raised in neglectful environments created by divorce, fatherlessness, or (another product of the sexual revolution) (includes intensive parenting), often develop severe self-esteem problems, leading to a host of issues:

• Insecurity and anxiety
• Depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts
• Inability to form healthy relationships
• Feelings of emptiness, loneliness, and lack of purpose
• Difficulty facing life's challenges as adults
• Hypersensitivity to criticism (safe spaces, political correctness)
• Inability to admit faults or show gratitude
• Increased risk of mental health issues
• Poor social skills and difficulty connecting with others
• Vulnerability to developing addictive behaviors
• Increased risk of substance abuse
• Disrespectful behavior toward others
• Difficulty forming healthy relationships
• Same-sex attraction, gender confusion, and identity problems
• Escapism through social media, drugs, or other addictions
• Anger, resentment, and a desire for vengeance
• Entitlement mentality and disrespect for authority
• Struggles with emotional regulation
• Lack of ambition, motivation, “failure to launch” in young adulthood
• Higher likelihood of engaging in aggressive behavior toward others

These psychological issues create a self-perpetuating cycle, as damaged individuals struggle to form healthy families of their own.

Cultural Reinforcement of Destructive Behaviors

As the family unit weakens, cultural forces step in to fill the void, often reinforcing destructive behaviors:

Media and Entertainment:

• Violent video games and movies normalize aggression
• Social media platforms exploit psychological vulnerabilities
• Pornography becomes increasingly accessible and extreme

Political Landscape

• Entitlement programs create dependency on government
• Policies that undermine traditional family structures are promoted
• Victimhood narratives encourage blame-shifting and resentment

Education System

• Schools adopt permissive disciplinary policies
• "Safe spaces" and participation trophies shield children from necessary challenges
• Traditional values and history are deemphasized or rewritten

The Erosion of Social Cohesion

As these forces work together, they erode the social fabric that holds a society together:

Disrespect and Incivility:

• Public discourse becomes increasingly hostile and polarized
• Bullying and cyberbullying become rampant
• Basic courtesies and respect for authority figures decline
• Police harassment and brutality
• Increased violence in society
• Increased acts of sexual deviance

Loss of Shared Values

• Traditional moral frameworks are rejected
• Relativism and moral subjectivity gain prominence
• Unifying cultural narratives are dismantled

Atomization of Society

• Community bonds weaken
• Individuals become increasingly isolated
• Loneliness and mental health issues proliferate

Economic Consequences

The social decay inevitably leads to economic decline:

• Declining birth rates threaten economic stability
• A less stable workforce reduces productivity
• Increased social welfare spending strains government resources

The Final Stages of Decline

As these trends continue unchecked, a civilization enters its final stages of decline:

• Rising crime rates and social unrest
• Inability to defend against external threats
• Collapse of institutions and infrastructure
• Potential balkanization or conquest by outside forces

Why Not the Best of Both Worlds?

The following quotes are taken from American Bloodlust: The Violent Psychological Conditioning of Today’s Young People

“Of course, the original intent of law-makers for extending sexual permissiveness, and then redefining marriage and family accordingly, was never to produce a society of abandonment, perversion, whoredom, and utter chaos. It was designed (at least originally), to provide that would make the pursuit of happiness available to all citizens. The nonconformist and the traditionalist could both coexist and define happiness on their own terms. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. You cannot have a united plurality of structural designs when only a strict adherence to one of those designs is capable of producing a healthy society. You can’t have it both ways. For the common good of society, the nonconformist must come to realize there is more to life than personal happiness and self-fulfillment. There is the bigger picture to consider. The futility of these ongoing attempts to restructure society and somehow produce the best of both worlds was also noted in the findings of J.D. Unwin:

“Sometimes a man has been heard to declare that he wishes both to enjoy the advantages of high culture and to abolish compulsory continence. The inherent nature of the human organism, however, seems to be such that these desires are incompatible, even contradictory. The reformer may be likened to the foolish boy who desires both to keep his cake and to consume it. Any human society is free to choose either to display great energy or to enjoy sexual freedom; the evidence is that it cannot do both for more than one generation.” —Sex and Culture, Oxford University Press, 1934

“In no case was sexual opportunity reduced to a minimum unless married women, and usually unmarried women also, were compelled to suffer legal and social disadvantages.” —Sex and Culture, Oxford University Press, 1934

Conclusion

So there you have it. The path to destroying any society, as outlined by J.D. Unwin's research and corroborated by modern trends, begins with the erosion of sexual ethics and family structures. This initial breakdown sets off a cascade of psychological, social, and economic consequences that, if left unconstrained, can lead to the total collapse of a once-thriving society. To reverse this trend would require a radical reassessment of cultural values and a renewed commitment to the natural laws that govern human flourishing. Without such a course correction, the continued decay of all social institutions, and the fabric of civilization itself, seems all but inevitable. Will the United States destroy itself from within?

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