Worldview Analysis
Thomas Truitt
Liberty University
GOVT200
Darryll Dowell
11/13/2023
Introduction
What is the impact of process philosophy on marriage and family in America? Before we
can answer that question, we must understand what process philosophy is. It “represents a
process view of life that emphasizes becoming and progressive knowledge leading to a perfect
society, which stands in direct contract to absolute philosophy or an absolute view of life that is
the basis for Biblical Christianity.” (Ferdon, 2019) In simple terms, things are always in a state of
change, and nothing is static or absolute. One only needs to look back 50 years to see the drastic
change in the way Americans view marriage and family.
Marriage
What is marriage? Genesis 2:24 tells us that “a man leaves his father and mother and
bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh,” (CSB) Jesus affirms this in Matthew 19:4-6,
marriage is between man and woman, and no one should separate. God’s word tells us to marry,
that marriage is between a man and a woman, and no one should cause a divorce, except for in
the case of sexual immorality. For Christians, these are absolutes and are not subject to changes.
In an article published by Valerie Schweizer, we can see marriage rates drop from 76.5% in 1970
to 31.3% in 2020. (Schweizer, 2020) There has been a change in society and the importance of
marriage.
God also tells us that marriage is to be between a man and a woman, and what the
consequences are if someone choses to ignore it. Leviticus 20:9-21 covers family and sexual
offenses. “If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman, they have both committed a detestable
act. They must be put to death, and their death is their own fault.” (CSB) Again God is clear that
there is to be no change on who we can marry. The modern gay rights movement can be traced
back to Philadelphia, 1965 and the ripple affect of that could be seen in the United States
Supreme Court decision in 2015. The determination was made that “marriage is a fundamental
right that all couples are entitled to under the Fourteenth Amendment of the constitution.”
Process philosophy has not only changed the way Americans view marriage but the way we
value marriage according to God’s word.
Family
God tells us that we should marry, and he also tells us to be fruitful and multiply. (CSB)
Birth rates have been on the decline since 1990 and one change is Americans are forgoing
marriage or unlikely to have children at all. (Chapman, 2022) Americans are focusing more on
themselves rather than looking at the big picture God painted for us. Not only are we seeing
fewer people getting married and divorces on the rise, but the American culture would also have
us celebrate illegitimacy and adultery by promoting tv shows like teen mom, the bachelorette or
sister wives. The view of what a family is has changed a lot since the invention of the television.
The family dynamic has certainly changed over the past 50 years, but how families
interact has also changed. Social media has changed the way families interact with each other
and can have affect dynamics such as authority. “Communication through social media
characterizes modern lifestyles and relationships, including family interactions.” (Procentese,
2019) Children now have access to information and the availability to look up questions rather
than ask their parents. This can lead to miscommunication or children thinking they know better.
Ephesians 6:1-4 is the cornerstone in which we should build our relationships with our children
and our parents. Honor your father and mother, and fathers do not stir up anger in your children.
(CSB) The change in technology has changed society and our priorities. It has also changed
families and how we interact with each other.
Conclusion
Family dynamic and marriage are just two places where we can see the impact of process
philosophy in America. It replaces absolutism with relativism, exchanges fixity for fluctuation,
even in the area of truth and morals. (Ferdon, 2019) Getting away from God’s word will have
eternal consequences and we will pay the price for our sins. While I do not agree with some of
the family dynamics and same sex marriages, I must remind myself of the great commandment.
Love God with all my heart and soul and love my neighbor as myself. Even with the ever-
changing world we need to love other each other as God loves us.
Bibliography
Ferdon (2019). Constitutional Government and Free Enterprise: A Biblical Christian
Worldview Approach and Emphasis Interactive Notes (3 ed.). Kendall Hunt Publishing.
rd
https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9781792402081
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
Schweizer, V. (2020). Marriage: More than a century of change, 1900-2018. Bowling
Green State University.
https://www.bgsu.edu/ncfmr/resources/data/family-profiles/schweizermarriage-century-change-
1900-2018-fp-20-21.html
US: Supreme Court upholds same-sex marriage. Human Rights Watch. (2020, October
28). https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/06/26/us-supreme-court-upholds-same-sex-marriage?
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Jpymgzaqj-3_tgvpRAaAm4DEALw_wcB
Chapman, J. (2022, December 5). The Long-Term Decline in Fertility—and
What It Means for State Budgets. Pew.org.
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2022/12/
the-long-term-decline-in-fertility-and-what-it-means-for-state-budgets
Procentese, F., Gatti, F., & Di Napoli, I. (2019). Families and Social Media Use: The
Role of Parents’ Perceptions about Social Media Impact on Family Systems in
the Relationship between Family Collective Efficacy and Open
Communication. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public
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