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Third Ways?
Sep. 22nd, 2005 12:40 amI don't wanna sink to the same level of Christian conservatives by finger pointing and blaming natural disasters on people. But I think it's particularly interesting that, as ideologies, science and religion seem to be particularly clear in their divisiveness on the issue of hurricanes in America this fall. Both generating similar theories that predict natural disasters as the result of cultural wrong doing. Be it abuse of the environment or acts of sin: for some reason we think we're being punished for past acts.
No matter what you believe in I think our hurricane guilt is particularly telling. At the end of the day I agree with Christian conservatives in part that societal morality is in decline. This is not, of course, the sole act of their favourite scapegoats but cultural shifts towards negative systems from what is "moral". For instance the issue of rewarding dishonesty. Increasingly we're living in a culture that encourages dishonesty not just to get ahead but often times to survive.
Think of, for instance, the moral dilemma where an ATM dispenses more money than deducted from your account. The majority of people would, most likely, take the money and hope they never get caught. Of course the law is that if the bank can prove that you received that money above what was deducted they will take it from you at a later date. But that's beside the point. It's a socially accepted system of morality that rewards dishonesty.
Quite possibly, it's assumed, that we are being punished for things like wide-spread dishonesty. That is, if you believe in God.
On the other side of the cultural divide, where yours truly resides, is science. Which has been warning of increasingly ferocious (aka "fierce") weather as we degrade the natural environment in various ways. It's clear that single persons driving around in cars the size of buses, waiting idle to get factory farmed fast food are a by-product of a more prosperous time. A time that's long past as the continual mounting evidence indicates quite clearly and repetitively.
That is, if you believe in Science.
The truth is, from my perspective, that our guilt as a culture is universal despite our beliefs. We know we're doing all sorts of things wrong and, in many cases, instead of leading exemplary lives ourselves we choose to be righteous and point out the failings of others.
The solution is on, of course, neither side of the cultural divide but both. We need stronger spirituality that is kind, inclusive and encourages us to live outstanding lives. And we need a respect for the environment that is not off-set by greed and convenience.
Easier said than done, but building a complete culture from soul to community, science and environment will absolve us of our guilt. Free us from righteous dogma and return us to a time when hurricanes were simply acts of God. And nothing more than that at all.
No matter what you believe in I think our hurricane guilt is particularly telling. At the end of the day I agree with Christian conservatives in part that societal morality is in decline. This is not, of course, the sole act of their favourite scapegoats but cultural shifts towards negative systems from what is "moral". For instance the issue of rewarding dishonesty. Increasingly we're living in a culture that encourages dishonesty not just to get ahead but often times to survive.
Think of, for instance, the moral dilemma where an ATM dispenses more money than deducted from your account. The majority of people would, most likely, take the money and hope they never get caught. Of course the law is that if the bank can prove that you received that money above what was deducted they will take it from you at a later date. But that's beside the point. It's a socially accepted system of morality that rewards dishonesty.
Quite possibly, it's assumed, that we are being punished for things like wide-spread dishonesty. That is, if you believe in God.
On the other side of the cultural divide, where yours truly resides, is science. Which has been warning of increasingly ferocious (aka "fierce") weather as we degrade the natural environment in various ways. It's clear that single persons driving around in cars the size of buses, waiting idle to get factory farmed fast food are a by-product of a more prosperous time. A time that's long past as the continual mounting evidence indicates quite clearly and repetitively.
That is, if you believe in Science.
The truth is, from my perspective, that our guilt as a culture is universal despite our beliefs. We know we're doing all sorts of things wrong and, in many cases, instead of leading exemplary lives ourselves we choose to be righteous and point out the failings of others.
The solution is on, of course, neither side of the cultural divide but both. We need stronger spirituality that is kind, inclusive and encourages us to live outstanding lives. And we need a respect for the environment that is not off-set by greed and convenience.
Easier said than done, but building a complete culture from soul to community, science and environment will absolve us of our guilt. Free us from righteous dogma and return us to a time when hurricanes were simply acts of God. And nothing more than that at all.
