Relgious Efforts To Improve The World

In the late 1960's, certain theologians in Latin-American countries took up the fight for the poor and downtrodden. To this end, they developed liberation theology in which Christ was interpreted no longer as a savior in just the Biblical sense but in a political and economic way as well. In the United States,, a number of church leaders who become deeply concerned about the erosion of moral values formed an organization called the Moral Majority. Its objectives was to get into political office people who would legislate wholesome family values. Similarly in many Muslim lands, groups have tried to curb corruption and excesses by promoting closer adherence to the Koran.

Do you believe that the world is a better place because of such efforts? The facts show that, overall, moral values continue to decline and the gap between rich and poor continues to widen, including in those countries where liberation theology was prominent.

Because the Moral Majority failed in its key objectives in the United States, it founder Jerry Falwell, folded the organization in 1989. Other organizations have taken its place. Nevertheless, Paul Weyrich, coiner of the term "moral majority," write in the magazine Christianity Today: "Even when we win in politics, our victories fail to translate into the kind of policies we believe are important." he also wrote: "The culture is becoming an everwider sewer. We are caught up in a cultural collapse of historic proportions, a collapse so great that it simply overwhelms politics."

Columnist and author of Cal Thomas, a revealed what he viewed as fundamental flaw in trying to elevate society through politics: "Real change comes heart by heart, not election by election, because our primary problems are not economic and political but moral and spiritual.

But how do you resolve moral and spiritual problems in a world where there are no absolutes, where people decide for themselves what is right and wrong? If influential ans well-intentioned people -religious or not -are unable to make this world a truly better place, who can? As we shall see in the next article, there is an answer. In fact, it lies at the very heart of why Jesus said that his Kingdom was not of this world.

Next time: The Key To A Happy World

Watchtower, 2001