Religion as a cornerstone of society
Jun. 17th, 2004 03:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sobriqueOne of the things I was pondering the other day was this.
Our society, for a good long time now, has been build with organised religion as a cornerstone.
What effect is this having on our society?
I don't think that anyone would disagree that the influence of religion in this country has waned substantially
over the last hundred years. And I think that's actually starting to turn into a problem.
You see, it used to be that we had law and religion working almost as 'stick and carrot' - the law stopping 'wrongdoers'
and religion providing direction for 'how to live'.
It provided a central 'focus' for a community - everyone met up in church on sundays.
When was the last time you spoke to your neighbours? What about 3 doors down?
The problem, I think, is not so much that people have gotten less spiritual. That, in my opinion, is a fairly personal decision.
The problem is that there are a great many people who are lacking guidance on how should they live - the 'priest' used to play
a central role as advisor in a community. It wasn't perfect, but there's certainly worse ways to live than following the Ten Commandments.
So now, we're gradually moving towards a state of anarchy. There's still those able to choose their own paths, and numerous good and sensible
people in the world. The thing that worries me is the increase in those who don't see the moral responsibilities towards children, family, communities
etc. And who do things because "It's not illegal".
I wouldn't say I was a religious person, however I can definitely see the advantages of a 'community guidance counselor'. This used to be the priest, and he carried with him the respect conferred through the church. Now 'counselors' are seldom welcomed, being seen as intrusions into our divine right to do whatever we damn well like.
Perhaps it's time to change that.
So, hypothetically, if we were to perform an amazing act of social engineering, and create our role of 'Arbitrator'.
What would be the Commandments? The things that would result in one becoming a pariah in the community?
And how should we choose our Arbitrator and advisor? Does it require training? Does it require 'education' (and if so, to what level?)?
Let's start with:
Thou shalt love thy neighbour.
What goes around comes around. Give freely of your compassion, and it shall be returned tenfold. Enhance the world around you, and find that it has been enhanced.
Further suggestions and amendments for the 'secular commandments'?
Our society, for a good long time now, has been build with organised religion as a cornerstone.
What effect is this having on our society?
I don't think that anyone would disagree that the influence of religion in this country has waned substantially
over the last hundred years. And I think that's actually starting to turn into a problem.
You see, it used to be that we had law and religion working almost as 'stick and carrot' - the law stopping 'wrongdoers'
and religion providing direction for 'how to live'.
It provided a central 'focus' for a community - everyone met up in church on sundays.
When was the last time you spoke to your neighbours? What about 3 doors down?
The problem, I think, is not so much that people have gotten less spiritual. That, in my opinion, is a fairly personal decision.
The problem is that there are a great many people who are lacking guidance on how should they live - the 'priest' used to play
a central role as advisor in a community. It wasn't perfect, but there's certainly worse ways to live than following the Ten Commandments.
So now, we're gradually moving towards a state of anarchy. There's still those able to choose their own paths, and numerous good and sensible
people in the world. The thing that worries me is the increase in those who don't see the moral responsibilities towards children, family, communities
etc. And who do things because "It's not illegal".
I wouldn't say I was a religious person, however I can definitely see the advantages of a 'community guidance counselor'. This used to be the priest, and he carried with him the respect conferred through the church. Now 'counselors' are seldom welcomed, being seen as intrusions into our divine right to do whatever we damn well like.
Perhaps it's time to change that.
So, hypothetically, if we were to perform an amazing act of social engineering, and create our role of 'Arbitrator'.
What would be the Commandments? The things that would result in one becoming a pariah in the community?
And how should we choose our Arbitrator and advisor? Does it require training? Does it require 'education' (and if so, to what level?)?
Let's start with:
Thou shalt love thy neighbour.
What goes around comes around. Give freely of your compassion, and it shall be returned tenfold. Enhance the world around you, and find that it has been enhanced.
Further suggestions and amendments for the 'secular commandments'?
