Why does adherence to religion
decline as we advance economically? Why has Christianity weakened as society
has grown more affluent. A recent study announced Feb. 27 in the Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences might shed some light:
·
As an individual’s wealth and status rise, so
does their tendency to be unethical, concludes a new study of the relationship
between socioeconomics and ethics.
Psychologist Paul Piff of the University of California,
Berkeley
concluded,
·
“Occupying privileged positions in society has
this natural psychological effect of insulating you from others…You’re less
likely to perceive the impact your behavior has on others. As a result, at
least in this paper, you’re more likely to break the rules.”
·
“When pursuit of self-interest is allowed to run
unchecked, it can lead to socially pernicious outcomes…The same rules apply to
liberals and conservatives. We always control for political persuasion.”
These conclusions are not new. We
have often heard that “Absolute power [or success] corrupts absolutely.” But why
would we become less sensitive to the needs of others and more inclined to
violate the dictates of our conscience? Certainly, the extensive findings of
this study fly in the face of contemporary wisdom that tells us that as we
become more fulfilled, we also become more ethical and loving; as our needs are
met, we can better attend to the needs of others.
These findings also contrast with
other observations. College students, most of whom come from more stable homes
where the values of diligence and honesty (as opposed to cheating one’s way
through school) have been successfully inculcated, tend also to be more ethical
than drop-outs. If this is the case, then what happens to them as they climb
their professional and monetary ladders? Why the dramatic turn-around from
idealistism to self-centered-ism? (Perhaps we don’t know what’s good for us?
Perhaps success kills?)
It is also obvious that as we
abandon the dictates of conscience, we also abandon the dictates of church. As
we insulate ourselves against conscience, it stands to reason that we would
also shield ourselves against the demands of religion. Why?
Perhaps, we become a “religion”
unto ourselves? Through success, we have “proved” our own adequacy, worthiness,
personhood, significance, self-sufficiency and self-righteousness. With these
issues “settled,” well, who cares what my conscience has to say, or even society!
We now have the leverage to defy the conscience. These other sources of
self-definition – society, church and conscience - are banished into
irrelevancy: “I am the captain of my own ship, and don’t you dare tell me how
to navigate it!”
It is therefore unsurprising that
the writer of Proverbs would pray:
·
Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me
neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I
may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may
become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:8-9)
·
Brothers, think of what you were when you were
called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were
influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of
the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame
the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised
things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no
one may boast before him. (1 Cor. 1:26-29)
Our Lord reminds us of the dangers of a success-fed boasting heart, guarding us against this great evil. It therefore becomes very difficult to believe in our superiority as God continues to remind us of our humble beginnings, and even present condition.
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