> organized religion, marriage, sexual norms, social duty, gender roles, and cultural traditions Well, most of that is highly variable and contingent, local.

> organized religion, marriage, sexual norms, social duty, gender roles, and cultural traditions Well, most of that is highly variable and contingent, local. Ask an anthropologist, they'll tell you. Personally, I don't think one should prescribe the "one true" form of family for other people. The question you raise in my mind is "What are you going to do to the non-conformists?"