A community needs a continuing source of new members in order to flourish. Otherwise, over time, it stagnates and dies.

For obvious reasons, the only community assured of continuing renewal is the family. It’s the only community which creates new members—provided young women and men continue to join in responsible relationships.

Simply having babies doesn’t count. Babies and children need care from parents and the larger community. The young are helpless and cannot flourish without care. Children without care drain a community’s resources.

Other communities besides the family also may welcome children. Religious communities are often gatherers of the young. Recently, the growth of youth with no religious affiliation has led to some decline of these communities.

Today, associative types of communities—popularized by digital membership—grow rapidly. So do casual relationships.

How will we meet our needs for the more traditional physical and emotional joining?