When one thinks about morality, it is most commonly associated with the sanctioned values and ethics of a particular religious creed or belief system. Of the thousands of extant religions, Christianity and Islam have by far the greatest number of adherents. The many religious sects and divisions we see today have set rituals and dogmas to determine principles of morality and ethics.These were developed historically to establish normative ideas of right and wrong, and how neighbours were expected to behave towards each other for the common good. Local gods were used to enforce the expected moral behaviour.
Like a psychic thunderbolt, three major events occurred in the year 2020, striking the hearts and minds of people everywhere, and having the potential to make a major shift in the underlying values regarding morality. They have the potential to initiate a major shift in how humanity deals with the environmental, social, and political issues we are all facing.
First, the catastrophic wildfires in Australia and California lasted for months, costing billions of dollars in damages to not only due to human infrastructures and lives lost, but also the destruction natural ecosystems. Record-breaking temperatures and drought resulted in the incineration of thousands of hectares of forests and millions of animals. Coupled with other climate change issues, the horrific images of wildfires in Australia and California have caused deeper thinking about the human condition and our dependence on fossil fuels for energy. The dire warnings of the IPCC Agreement on limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C between 2030 and 2050 are presently not being met by any country.
Second, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced humans to pay attention to scientifically based facts about the covid virus. Social isolation and the wearing of face masks have radically altered human behaviour, as old modes of communication have been disrupted. The rise of online social distancing has only been partially effective, as the negative psychological consequences are being noted in troubled youth, heightened anxiety, increased crime and drug overdoses. We are learning that at our survival rests on an understanding and acting upon accurate scientific information from the medical community. With an increasing awareness of our own mortality, we are seeking workable adaptations to the virus.
Third, the insurrection in the US Capital on January 6, was led by a malevolent president, who denied the science behind climate change and the covid epidemic, refused to accept his loss of the presidential election and orchestrated the historic attack on the United States Capital. Wrapping himself in the American flag and under the false rubric of patriotism, Donald Trump gave license to a mob of racists, neo-fascists, white supremacists, science deniers, and evangelical Christians to invade the US Capital, the citadel of American democracy. His divisive promotion of ‘alternative truths’ ‘fake news’, demonization of the Democratic Party, and calling those who disagree with him ‘losers’, demonstrate the dangers of his Patriot Party. Historic parallels abound – one is reminded of Hitler and his role in the extermination of 6 million jews, gypsies, and ‘defective’ persons, or Mussolini who worked to eliminate all political parties except his own. Several autocratic governments today hold their citizens in bondage by similar exhortations to ‘patriotic duty’ as defined by the tyrant in power.
Finally, it has become clear that all humanity must embrace new understandings with respect to morality. That is we can no longer subscribe to a human-centred universe, or that the world runs its course for human benefit alone. While it is certainly important to care for humanity, we
now know that all life, including human beings, is based on a healthy well-functioning earth, with all its physical and biological components working sustainably together in a dynamic process called homeostasis. With regards to religion, it no longer is important whether one believes in creation or evolution, or some hybrid of the two. With the human population now approaching 8 billion, the biblical injunction to multiply and dominate the earth is over. The
dominant paradigm of limitless growth is destroying the planet and all its life. We must acknowledge that most religious groups today have accepted the facts about the covid pandemic, and have altered their sacred rituals to protect the members of their flock. This is a positive sign that persons of faith will be able to adapt to the new realities of the covid epidemic and climate change.
The newly elected Biden administration understands that we now must transition to a government based on Transparency and Truth, based on the best scientific evidence. We now realize that political parties, corporations, and governments everywhere must work cooperatively to solve the covid pandemic, climate change, a weakened economy, and the restoration of democracy. Achievement of these new goals will require a new moral and ethical stance, needing the support of all citizens of good will. The good news is that there are already many individuals and groups of people using newly developed skills and methods to make the necessary changes.
The paradigm of applying morality and ethics in this broader sense can serve as a much needed roadmap for finding our way, and reducing the ongoing tensions. If we can think and begin to behave from an understanding of a more global concept of morality, 2021 may be the year of a positive transition to a better world of peace, love, and joy.