No Virginia, there is no “cult of family.” I reflected a bit on the “cult of family” in The C Word. It’s an idea that creeps into use from time to time. Personally, I never understood how it could possibly be meaningful.
If I were rude, I’d say that it was just a clever-sounding phrase used by people who understand neither cults nor families. But, as we know, QuestEon is never rude.
One cannot generally classify the concept of “family” as good or bad. It is an essential component in the development of humans and humanity itself. It is what it is. From that perspective, the phrase “the cult of family” means as much to me as “the addictive drug oxygen.”
In other words, you could say that humans are addicted to oxygen, but that would just mean you are stupid. (Whoa! Hey! QuestEon! Back in your cage, rude boy!)
You know, I didn’t think of it until just now, but it seems to me the term “cult of family” is most often used by cult leaders themselves! Consider this. The primary goal of a cult is to separate you from family and friends (anyone who might influence you away from the cult), correct? What better mind-game for a cult leader to play than to convince you that your family is a cult and the cult is “freedom”? (Shades of George Orwell!)
Of course, research and empirical evidence immediately explodes this notion. As noted in “The C Word,” wikipedia’s entry on Adolescent Psychology, suggests adolescence is typically a time of rebellion, not robotically following your parents around:
The social behavior of mammals changes as they enter adolescence. In humans, adolescents typically increase the amount of time spent with their peers. Nearly eight hours are usually spent communicating with others, but only eight percent of this time is spent talking to adults. Adolescents report that they are far happier spending time with similarly aged peers as compared to adults. Consequently, conflict between adolescents and their parents increase at this time as adolescents strive to create a separation and sense of independence. These interactions are not always positive; peer pressure is very prevalent during adolescence, leading to increases in cheating and misdemeanor crime. Young adolescents are particularly susceptible to conforming to the behavior of their peers.
Oh, wait—adolescents rebel against their families? Who knew? Well, there goes the cult, I guess.
Indeed, some psychologists are beginning to suggest that peer influence is the dominant shaper of an adolescent’s personality. If the “cult of family” is so freaking strong, why can’t it stop horrid little 15-year-olds from sharing the Percocet in the family medicine cabinet with all of their horrid little friends? Exactly.
Stefan Molyneux believes that FreeDomain Radio is there to help young people break free from their families.
The truth is, they’re already breaking free!
He just wants to take credit for it.