In a World of Shifting Values

 Hello everyone! Welcome to my first post on this blog, hope you enjoy what you read. 

As I read through all of the many different studies conducted on families, and how different variables can have long lasting consequences, it amazes me how different they are sometimes. Prior to this class, when I would read something online, I normally would presume it was true. It looks like research was done; different people were interviewed, observed, and monitored; therefore, there must be some sort of factual basis to be seen. However, I've learned throughout the past week that it is not always the case. Yes, there are so many studies conducted throughout a variety of subjects, and there has been research involved in each of those studies. But does that mean that all of it is entirely true? Not necessarily. 

So now, instead of taking things point blank, I've learned that maybe I should do a little questioning and research myself. Cause there are a variety of ways a particular research study could be, in fact, questionable or biased. It could have something to do with sampling, the lack of a control group, maturation, terminology, and researcher bias. These are all things to look for when dealing with different studies, and how to tell if the claims could be true, or if they could not be true. It allows us to completely take our head out of the sand. To not be led astray by the different fallacies or misconceptions we may face in our day-to-day life. There are different methods that we can use to determine what is true. Lawrence E Corbridge touches on each of these in his talk, which is titled, "Stand Forever." These methods include the Scientific Method, the Analytical Method, the Academic Method, and the Divine Method. Each of these can help us to be more aware, and more cautious about the information that we consume each day. 

However, with all this said, there are still studies that are good out in the world. There is one finding that I want to highlight here in this post, one that has been found true through many different studies. It is said that "children who grow up in a household with only one biological parent are worse off, on average, than children who grow up in a household with both of their biological parents...regardless of whether the resident parent remarries"(McLanahan and Sandefur (1994)). 

There is danger in veering off the path. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it is observed that children who grow up in difficult or societal concerning circumstances have issues regarding health, mortality, and suicidal risks; criminality and incarceration; intergenerational poverty; education and/or labor force contribution; early sexual activity and early childbearing; and divorce rates as adults. 

If anything, I think these findings really emphasize the importance of families, especially for children to be brought up with two loving parents who are together. We have been put into families on this earth for a special reason; God has placed us here to be reared by a loving father, and a loving mother. And when that bond is broken, it is very hard to be repaired or replaced. It's a crazy world we live in today; where divorce, same sex marriages, and broken hearts seem to be the norm. It may be easy to be distracted, especially when there is a numerous amount of false data, manipulative studies, pushing us to believe a certain way. But we can rest assured that God has given us certain principles, and that He will not change. 

There's a great scripture that teaches this eternal principle: "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Though the world may change, let us stand firm on the principles that God has established. Let us love our spouses, our children, and make sure that they grow up under the best care imaginable. And let us be cautious whenever we stumble upon different studies, however convincing it may sound.