The Rise of Religion - Part 1
Many people in the 20th century, particularly those aligned with Western philosophy and institutions of policy and economy, thought that liberalism and its underlying tenets--free market economies, but more pertinent to this article, science, the separation of church and state, and human rights--would prevail. Now, as we have seen throughout the world in recent years, religion is resurfacing as a forerunner of thinking and identity. Moreover, the concept of freedom of religion, itself a liberal ideal, is under attack. Why is this?
We must first consider the very nature of man, and in doing so partially support and partially deny the term “astra inclinant, sed non obligant” (the stars incline us, but do not bind us).
Is it not true that we all have our individual opinions and thoughts on many matters? Is it not true that a great percentage of the world entertains beliefs in some higher power? Is it not true that we all have a conscience, and that this conscience serves as a moral compass? And finally, is it not true that our world is in disarray and always has been? With schools of thought and opinion waxing and waning; and progressive and orthodox groups engaging in a war of doctrine?
Indeed, we were all made in such a manner as to understand what is good and bad. All ideologies and religions portray this notion, and so the “stars” do bind us. Yet, we are not bound because we are individuals with free will. Simply put, the acts of human beings are undetermined in a world that is usually/forcibly morally determined.
All movements and religions point to some extent to a code of conduct, a collection of ideals. They are attempts to advance the human character, quashing seemingly--they may in fact be--inherent vices. Nearly all have and will continue to fall short.
Even within systems of liberalism is an underlying principle of morality, the most predominant of which are the ideas that “moral people” should not be undermined by “immoral people and institutions,” and that laws uphold morality. Unfortunately, the views of humanity are shaped by the inclinations of the society which is dominant and influences other societies. However, this is not to disregard the role that less powerful societies themselves have on its members’ perceptions. In other words, at any given period of time, humanity has warped the definition of morality to fit its general desires. Society has done so yet again through liberalism.
Liberalism has perpetuated the state of moral loss and confusion in the world, inundating it with a plethora of perspectives. Perspectives are important and necessary to stimulate creativity and prevent the adverse effects of conformity. But they also are a hindrance, for people directly and indirectly use them to dilute and belittle the fundamental concepts of morality, justifying a lie uttered just a few seconds before or backing a years-long war.
I believe through liberalism, and especially due to its facilitation of academia and critical thinking, humanity has drawn every closer to understanding the ontological aspects of morality. Yet we have been unable to apply them effectively.
Consequently, we must not become too comfortable in our ever more comfortable world. We may be untouched by high rates of disease and attrition in the developed world, but we are still the victims, and sometimes perpetrators, of immoral and amoral acts, as much as we may normalise them.
Just observe the selfish foundations of liberalism, and the impact it is having on a world we often forget is both closed and inhabited by others--that is, our sending our waste to other countries adversely undermines any attempts at peaceful and prosperous society there, which only leads to backlash against the West and other proponents of the liberal order (whether it is through terrorism or prejudices). Selfishness has been an underlying principle in all ideologies throughout history. The trend continues, as do the consequences that stem from it.
In a follow-up segment, we will delve deep into the implications of the state of moral loss as drawn from and propounded by liberalism, or any other ideology. We shall also see that religion is important but misleading in many ways besides one.
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