They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety.
~Benjamin Franklin Recently I began attending services at Spiritus Christi Church.
Their community practices what Jesus taught rather than just talking about it.
No "waa" here.
That's Hawaiian for all talk and no action.
Thanks Bob and Carol.
I got to thinking about what happens to new and innovative ideas and approaches.
Political movements form to meet social needs.
As time passes, they become stodgy, self righteous and entrenched in their beliefs.
Religious groups arise with fresh approaches to spirituality.
Visionaries forge new paths toward seeking God.
Eventually they too become encrusted with doctrine, rules and the belief that they have the corner on communicating with God while everyone else misses the boat.
Civilizations across the globe and over the centuries became glorious spectacles but eventually crumbled under their own weight.
As much as I hate to admit it, our once noble American experiment is in danger of collapsing due to our greed and selfishness.
Why does this happen and what can be done about it? I have been thinking about both questions lately and seeking opinions from fellow thinkers.
I am not happy with what I have discovered but it's better to know what's going on than living in blissful ignorance.
Many factors might contribute to the decline of political groups, religions and civilizations.
I have settled on two which I think play an important part.
One is power.
Each movement began with the vision of idealists.
Their enthusiasm excites people ready for change and the enterprise takes off.
At some point, when the movement is better established, the idealists move on to new challenges while those who wish to preserve the venture end up creating an institution with rules to control those not in charge.
The other factor is money.
These movements started with the goal of improving life for their followers.
With success comes an interest in expansion.
Patrons contribute funds and adherents are eventually taxed in one way or another.
This attracts people more interested in money than in the original goals.
They end up battling each other for as much of the pot as they can control.
At least that's the way I see it.
My second question is whether these developments are inevitable.
Because new ideas usually take this course does not mean they must do so.
What could keep them fresh? Once an enterprise meets its initial goals, it might not need to continue.
Sometimes an ongoing purpose remains.
Power could be shared by all the constituents rather than being left in the hands of administrators to whom power becomes paramount.
Leaving a few people in charge seems to lead inevitably to decay.
As Lord Acton said, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
" Amassing great wealth and leaving it in the hands of a few administrators creates too great a temptation for the greedy.
Keeping everyone actively involved might provide the best protection against decay.
Life Lab Lessons *What matters most to you? *Do your goals also benefit others? *Who works with you toward common goals? *Stay involved.
*Don't let others live your life for you.