There is a current division in modern politics as to whether Americans want to move backwards or forwards. Some liberal advocates see the fifties and before as being oppressive, constrictive, and inequitable. On the other hand, conservative advocates see the fifties and before as teaching virtue. Arguably, both perspectives have some validity. While there is risk to becoming radically traditional and oppressing vulnerable people, there is usefulness in maintaining societal morality. How can we do both?
It should first be addressed why we need “American values” and how we are without them. With Gen-Z practicing “spirituality” rather than disciplined religiousness, we are less and less grounded. Organized religions such as Christianity teach individuals to love their counterparts, to work hard, to form families, and to pay their debt to society. Without these morals, a person would be unkind, undisciplined, without community, and selfish. We are seeing those exact things today. It’s been proven that social capital is a core reason for what makes an individual happy, as well as taking part in practiced skills and dedications – for this reason, the vast majority of Gen-Z are finding it hard to maintain their mental health, with over 40% struggling with conditions such as depression.
A church serves the purpose of connecting you with a community that teaches you virtue. With no one holding you accountable, you fall into a trap of risky behavior and self-seeking. Not only this, but they involve you in a global faith that has objective rationale – rather than being confused on how the world works. These are the core reasons why the morals of the fifties and before taught people meaning. The substance of religious immersion allows individuals to have a greater purpose and a true community. It’s not questionable why society without it is divided, cruel, and inhumane.
So how do we invest in morals commonly based in organized religion without force and oppression? Well, regardless of the fact that we can’t force religious immersion, we should at least teach the morals that come with it. Secular society has chosen, rather than teaching morals without faith, not teaching morals at all. The propaganda of today is faced with consumerist tactics, drama-seeking, and harmful political rhetoric. Is this to say other decades were perfect? Obviously not. They faced similar issues. But the groundedness of society is what allows people to wipe their minds clean from the evils of the world – something which we should be teaching in our schools, institutions, and homes.
Ultimately, we can provide ourselves and fellow Americans with the ability to have true happiness by changing how our propaganda looks. We should focus on not only wiping out oppression perpetrated by previous eras, but also on carrying on their classical morals that helped them survive a threatening world. Gen-Z has hope to take a new approach to virtue and morality – having religious and ethnic diversity, societal acceptance of both men and women, while still immersing themselves in a faith that gives them roots. With this, Gen-Z may be able to even contribute something revolutionary to the philosophical problems of the contemporary world.
Acknowledgement: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual author, not necessarily Our National Conversation as a whole.
