What has been the common theme underlying various meanings of society?

Answer 1

The relationship of men to one another when associated in any way; companionship; fellowship; company., Connection; participation; partnership., A number of persons associated for any temporary or permanent object; an association for mutual or joint usefulness, pleasure, or profit; a social union; a partnership; as, a missionary society., The persons, collectively considered, who live in any region or at any period; any community of individuals who are united together by a common bond of nearness or intercourse; those who recognize each other as associates, friends, and acquaintances., Specifically, the more cultivated portion of any community in its social relations and influences; those who mutually give receive formal entertainments.

Answer 2

Unless you created your own existence, meaning is defined by the greater power. Parents describe meaning for children, employers define meaning for employees, teachers give meaning to students, the artist gives meaning to color, the musician to the piano, etc.

That fact that humanity did not create humanity means that meaning in society is not ours to define. It is given to us by our creator, the Maker of things, the Definer of meaning. God, the creator of society, has laid it all out in The Bible. Those who understand this will accept God's reasons and meanings and purpose for life, both individual and societal.

Those who don't will have to construct their own meanings. This is where it gets interesting. For Hitler, meaning was all about eliminating Jews, as though they were the source of all problems on earth. He was wrong (not only in his conclusion, but fundamentally, in his decision to blow off God and develop his own meaning) and many people suffered accordingly. Non-Biblical systems and forms of meaning always bring suffering to humanity.

So, there are only two themes/meanings in society throughout the ages. Those meanings laid out for us by God, and meanings laid out by anti-God, or other-than-God "spinners" of meaning. History speaks for itself.

War and death, poverty, starvation, disease and other evidences of societal meaning that is "other-than-Godly," flourish in such societies and their geographic areas. The hell holes of the world abound in "third party meaning and themes." By contrast, the best societies on earth to live in are those who have, at least to a greater degree, accepted the meanings and themes presented in Scripture. I am my brother's keeper, the Great Commandment, the Great Commission, human responsibility to a fierce yet forgiving God (forgiving only because of Jesus) and bearing one another's burdens are some of the themes that have made the most peaceful and productive societies on earth and in history.

What has been the common theme underlying various meanings of Society? The answer is a question. Who is God? Jesus or Hitler? Jesus or Caesar? Jesus or Mohammed? Jesus or Stalin? Jesus or money? Jesus or me? Imposters to the throne abound. Cool thing is, no matter what society you find yourself in, you're free to chose. Read the Bible, so you know what's UP.