Changes

==68:2. FACTORS IN SOCIAL PROGRESSION==

==68:2. FACTORS IN SOCIAL PROGRESSION==

68:2.1 [[Civilized]] [[society]] is the result of [[man]]'s early [[efforts]] to overcome his dislike of [[isolation]]. But this does not [[necessarily]] signify [[mutual]] [[affection]], and the present [[turbulent]] [[state]] of certain [[primitive]] [[groups]] well [[illustrates]] what the early [[tribes]] came up through. But though the [[individuals]] of a [[civilization]] may collide with each other and [[struggle]] against one another, and though [[civilization]] itself may appear to be an inconsistent mass of striving and struggling, it does [[evidence]] earnest striving, not the deadly [[monotony]] of [[stagnation]].

68:2.1 [[Civilized]] [[society]] is the result of [[man]]'s early [[efforts]] to overcome his dislike of [[isolation]]. But this does not [[necessarily]] signify [[mutual]] [[affection]], and the present [[turbulent]] [[state]] of certain [[primitive]] [[groups]] well [[illustrates]] what the early [[tribes]] came up through. But though the [[individuals]] of a [[civilization]] may collide with each other and [[struggle]] against one another, and though [[civilization]] itself may appear to be an inconsistent mass of striving and struggling, it does [[evidence]] earnest striving, not the deadly monotony of stagnation.

68:2.2 While the [[level]] of [[intelligence]] has [[contributed]] considerably to the [[rate]] of [[cultural]] [[progress]], [[society]] is essentially [[designed]] to lessen the [[risk]] element in the [[individual]]'s mode of living, and it has [[progressed]] just as fast as it has succeeded in lessening [[pain]] and increasing the [[pleasure]] element in life. Thus does the whole [[social]] [[body]] push on slowly toward the goal of [[destiny]]—[[extinction]] or [[survival]]—depending on whether that goal is [[self]]-[[maintenance]] or [[self]]-[[gratification]]. Self-maintenance [[originates]] [[society]], while excessive self-[[gratification]] destroys [[civilization]].

68:2.2 While the [[level]] of [[intelligence]] has [[contributed]] considerably to the [[rate]] of [[cultural]] [[progress]], [[society]] is essentially [[designed]] to lessen the [[risk]] element in the [[individual]]'s mode of living, and it has [[progressed]] just as fast as it has succeeded in lessening [[pain]] and increasing the [[pleasure]] element in life. Thus does the whole [[social]] [[body]] push on slowly toward the goal of [[destiny]]—[[extinction]] or [[survival]]—depending on whether that goal is [[self]]-[[maintenance]] or [[self]]-[[gratification]]. Self-maintenance [[originates]] [[society]], while excessive self-[[gratification]] destroys [[civilization]].

68:2.3 <u>Society is concerned with self-perpetuation, self-maintenance, and self-gratification, but human [[self-realization]] is [[worthy]] of becoming the [[immediate]] goal of many cultural [[groups]].</u>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_69#69:1._BASIC_HUMAN_INSTITUTIONS]

68:2.3 Society is concerned with self-perpetuation, self-maintenance, and self-gratification, but human [[self-realization]] is [[worthy]] of becoming the [[immediate]] goal of many cultural [[groups]].[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_69#69:1._BASIC_HUMAN_INSTITUTIONS]

68:2.4 The herd [[instinct]] in [[natural]] man is hardly sufficient to account for the [[development]] of such a [[social]] [[organization]] as now exists on [[Urantia]]. Though this innate gregarious [[propensity]] lies at the bottom of [[human]] [[society]], much of man's sociability is an acquirement. Two great [[influences]] which [[contributed]] to the early [[association]] of [[human beings]] were [[food]] [[hunger]] and [[sex]] [[love]]; these instinctive urges man [[shares]] with the [[animal]] world. Two other [[emotions]] which drove [[human]] [[beings]] together and held them [[together]] were [[vanity]] and [[fear]], more particularly [[ghost]] [[fear]].

68:2.4 The herd [[instinct]] in [[natural]] man is hardly sufficient to account for the [[development]] of such a [[social]] [[organization]] as now exists on [[Urantia]]. Though this innate gregarious [[propensity]] lies at the bottom of [[human]] [[society]], much of man's sociability is an acquirement. Two great [[influences]] which [[contributed]] to the early [[association]] of [[human beings]] were [[food]] [[hunger]] and [[sex]] [[love]]; these instinctive urges man [[shares]] with the [[animal]] world. Two other [[emotions]] which drove [[human]] [[beings]] together and held them [[together]] were [[vanity]] and [[fear]], more particularly [[ghost]] [[fear]].

68:2.8 Almost [[everything]] of lasting [[value]] in [[civilization]] has its [[roots]] in the [[family]]. The [[family]] was the first successful [[peace]] [[group]], the [[man]] and [[woman]] [[learning]] how to [[adjust]] their antagonisms while at the same time [[teaching]] the pursuits of [[peace]] to their [[children]].

68:2.8 Almost [[everything]] of lasting [[value]] in [[civilization]] has its [[roots]] in the [[family]]. The [[family]] was the first successful [[peace]] [[group]], the [[man]] and [[woman]] [[learning]] how to [[adjust]] their antagonisms while at the same time [[teaching]] the pursuits of [[peace]] to their [[children]].

68:2.9 The [[function]] of [[marriage]] in [[evolution]] is the insurance of [[race]] [[survival]], not merely the [[realization]] of [[personal]] [[happiness]]; [[self]]-[[maintenance]] and self-[[perpetuation]] are the real objects of the [[home]]. Self-[[gratification]] is incidental and not [[essential]] except as an incentive insuring [[sex]] [[association]]. [[Nature]] demands [[survival]], but [[the arts]] of [[civilization]] continue to increase the [[pleasures]] of [[marriage]] and the [[satisfactions]] of [[family]] life.

68:2.9 The [[function]] of [[marriage]] in [[evolution]] is the insurance of [[race]] [[survival]], not merely the [[realization]] of [[personal]] [[happiness]]; [[self]]-[[maintenance]] and self-perpetuation are the real objects of the [[home]]. Self-[[gratification]] is incidental and not [[essential]] except as an incentive insuring [[sex]] [[association]]. [[Nature]] demands [[survival]], but [[the arts]] of [[civilization]] continue to increase the [[pleasures]] of [[marriage]] and the [[satisfactions]] of [[family]] life.

68:2.10 If [[vanity]] be enlarged to cover [[pride]], [[ambition]], and [[honor]], then we may [[discern]] not only how these [[propensities]] [[contribute]] to the formation of [[human]] [[associations]], but how they also hold men [[together]], since such [[emotions]] are futile without an [[audience]] to parade before. Soon [[vanity]] [[associated]] with itself other [[emotions]] and impulses which required a [[social]] arena wherein they might [[exhibit]] and gratify themselves. This [[group]] of [[emotions]] gave [[origin]] to the early beginnings of all [[art]], [[ceremonial]], and all [[forms]] of [[sport]]ive [[games]] and contests.

68:2.10 If [[vanity]] be enlarged to cover [[pride]], [[ambition]], and [[honor]], then we may [[discern]] not only how these [[propensities]] [[contribute]] to the formation of [[human]] [[associations]], but how they also hold men [[together]], since such [[emotions]] are futile without an [[audience]] to parade before. Soon [[vanity]] [[associated]] with itself other [[emotions]] and impulses which required a [[social]] arena wherein they might [[exhibit]] and gratify themselves. This [[group]] of [[emotions]] gave [[origin]] to the early beginnings of all [[art]], [[ceremonial]], and all [[forms]] of [[sport]]ive [[games]] and contests.