Another attack on individualism.
Society is “losing the plot” as it becomes more secular and less trusting, the UK’s outgoing Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks has said.
Lord Jonathan Sacks told the BBC the growth of individualism over the past 50 years was responsible for a pervasive breakdown in trust.
He highlighted the 2008 financial crisis and the declining marriage rate.
Claptrap.
Society consists of individuals. Without them, you don’t have a society. A secular society is good for religious freedom, not the other way around. A secular society is also good for those of us who are not religious at all. But, then, religious leaders don’t see it that way. We must all fall into line behind their beliefs, or we are somehow bad people and individualism – the very essence of freedom of thought and the ability to throw off the shackles of religion is definitely bad. Can’t have those free thinking individuals pointing out that the messiah or prophet has no clothes, now, can we?
In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme, he said: “I think we’re losing the plot actually. I think we haven’t really noticed what’s happened in Britain.”
Oh, I can see alright. I can also see that more religion and more collectivism isn’t the answer, thanks all the same.
I am an individual, I am content to be an individual and I plan to stay that way. I have always been out of step with “society” and I want no part of it and the collectivism favoured by either the socialists or the various religious leaders who decry me for being a free-thinker. I will interact with others for mutual benefit, but otherwise prefer to be left alone to live my life as I see fit, not how others would like me to live.
A plague on all their houses.
If you didn’t have a job of work to do, you’d have to invent it.
As this non-work is, in the case of religious leaders, not shaped by market forces, it will appear to an impartial bystander to be a piece of utter bilge.
Much better, therefore, that individualism, and with it impartiality, are frowned upon, and stamped out where possible. This preserves the exalted places in society where we unaccountably place these pedlars of fiction.
I’m not religious and I’m certainly not a jew but I think it does no harm to examine our own moral position as individuals from time to time.
It is my understanding that that is the message that the Chief Rabbi tries to put over. You are your own person, be true to yourself.
We seem to be racing towards a new dark age where every man and his dog is out to tell us what is ‘acceptable’ to say or think. We should stand up for the right for others to actually say what they think and not to be silenced for being ‘off message’. That doesn’t mean we have to agree with them or that we have to shout them down.
You might find that if you ignore the prejudice against the religious that what the Chief Rabbi has to say is not that far from your own moral position.
Jim, while I agree with the thrust of what you are saying here, I am tired of religious leaders moralising and lecturing us when in fact, it is not individualism or secularism that is the problem, it is collectivism and a diet of infantilism imposed by a series of governments that has led to an abdication of personal responsibility. Sacks is specifically not blaming the government, yet that is where the blame should lie. Very much so. Collectivism is a poison that has seeped into the fabric of the society he wishes to preserve.
LR, I couldn’t agree with you more.
The whole of modern life seems to be a complete abnegation of personal responsibility
Naughty? it’s not your fault; you suffer from ADHD.
Fat/Obese? it’s all the fault of those evil fast-food merchants.
Unsuccessful in life? None of it is your fault (even if you ARE a lazy sod) – it’s your parents’/school’s/employer’s fault.
Can’t be arsed to think? Not your fault (see above) – the nice newspaperman will do it for you.
Also, many more examples, unfortunately, when any form of effort, responsibility or rational thought is called for.
But then, what do you expect from a populace reared on hand-outs, electoral bribes, and The Jeremy Kyle Show?
Fascism is an attack on individualism as Fascists – the enlightened few – have their own formula and order for a model society to which everyone should comply. Socialism likewise… how often the two have gone together in our recent history.
Attacking individualism is a curious position for a Rabbi.