Political Cartel

Earlier tonight Harding’s Honors College L.C. Sears Collegiate Seminar Series and the Center for World Missions are co-sponsoring a presentation by Hemant Mehta, author of “I Sold My Soul on eBay: Viewing Faith Through an Atheist’s Eyes.”

I thought the presentation was a bit irresolute, but the important thing is the symbolic value of an atheist speaking at Harding. There should always be the opportunity for the free flow of ideas, regardless of the source. Kudos to Brett Keller, Dr. Hopper, and whoever else organized the event.

Not to further review the presentation as a whole but to narrow it down to a question asked to Mr. Mehta during the Q & A time. An audience member asked where Mr. Mehta got his morals from. Mr. Mehta answered, plainly, that society shapes his morals. This statement, however simple, carries much weight to it, especially in a postmodern society.

The idea that morals are shaped by society can be traced throughout the progression of humanity. From the biblical times of concubinage and mistresses, to the modern age of slave trade as a humane and moral practice, society sets the threshold of what is acceptable and what is immoral. The laws that governments legislate and people’s perception of fairness and justice influence our perception of morality and accetable behavior. Regardless of what any religious doctrine may say, society is the ultimate arbiter in the establishment of right and wrong.

In the postmodern society of the 21st century, society more than ever shapes one’s perception of humanity. Many today hold the pervading viewpoint that there is no real absolute, only relative perception. As uncomfortable as that statement makes some people, this relative perception doesn’t have to be a derisive human axiom. Over the progression of time humanity has proven its reliability to correct itself. Through the facet of liberalism and human rights, society has hastened an environment free of slavery, governments where women wield power, equal opportunity provided regardless of race, and a free flow of education and information. As my fellow blogger David has stated before, morality is evolving, times are getting better, and people are becoming freer. This evolution has been adopted and implemented by society, regardless of religious affiliation, and will continue to advance with or without the auspice of religion on its side.

Niccolo Machiavelli once said, “God doesn’t want to do everything.” Free will cannot be discounted altogether. Humanity (Christians particularly) cannot simply wait for God to do everything for them. Society shapes all of our morals, whether we want to acknowledge it or not. Although religion cannot be discounted, it cannot be upheld as the sole basis of morality. Don’t miscontrue this statement as sacreligious or godless. Rather, view it from the perspective of a humanistic Christian, as one who accepts society as a real means, not just a dead universe. With that free will, humanity has a great responsibility to take care of itself.

We aren’t all that hopeless. I like to think we learn, sometimes.