Any answers? I suggest anyone who does give an answer first explain just what a society is and what "our" society consists of!
Don't look in the sociology books. None of them are consistent on the subject and, besides, they really only deal with "groups"---"groupology"!
We evolved in hunting-gathering groups, so it would be logical to assume we are instinctively geared to function best in 40-50 people size groups. But civilization would be impossible if all people were organized only in such small groups.
So, we have ideological system which bind us (or our small groups) into big groups. Naturally these big groups ("societies") weaken as their ideological core divides.
Our secular ideology united the religion-bonded societys (Christendom, Islam, Hindus Society, etc.). Now that we have a religious Administration and Islam is become more militant, we need to recognize that it can only happen because our secular ideology is weakening, in decline.
As the world grows increasingly divided along the old religion lines, the threat of catastrophic war increases. These are increasingly dangerous times.
charles, http://humanpurpose.simplenet.com