This will probably open a Pandora's Box of differing opinion, primarily due to semantics. If it does then I have accomplished one of my goals in writing these long winded posts, so here it goes. Is it "why," or is it "what?" Isn't what the family exists for, the same as why the family exists? Don't the family values define the value of family? I guess this would depend on how you want to define it, objectively or subjectively. You might look at a family and see what is defined as the perfect family unit which exhibits all the characteristics defining the perfect family. And the outward appearance might tell us exactly that, but the inside of the family unit might royally suck. It might just be the perfect example of having a family just to have a family; fulfilling some ambiguous obligation to church, parents, or society. Please read the rest of this post by following this link to, "The Path": The Value of Family