THE HIBBERT ASSEMBLY
Bringing Religion down to Earth: the 1997 Hibbert Lecture
By Jonathon Porritt
Giving the 1997 Hibbert Lecture in Manchester on 15 October, Jonathon Porritt emphasised the need for a change of ideology in western societies, and he criticised the world's major religions for their failure to inspire this.
Porritt focused on two broad areas of moral and spiritual concern: the sheer imbalance between the rich and the poor, and the despoilation of the environment. He argued that only a radical change in ideology could address these. He rejected the notion that humankind is, essentially, 'fallen'. Rather, he urged, the absence of transcendent purpose has left a spiritual vacuum which is being filled by materialism and consumerism. Our current belief is that we should have freedom of choice and plenty to choose! The ideology of consumerism depends on our never being satisfied. It imposes the basic 'duty' of endless shopping and spending.
However, despite economic theories that have justified 'growth' in terms of the benefits it brings such as full employment, it has now become clear that neither fulfilling work, nor job security are really being delivered by consumerism. Moreover - and here lay the gravest failure - the consumer ideology cannot create a sustainable environment. But politicians don't know how to escape from the 'pact' of giving their constituents more, and few political leaders offer any spiritual leadership.
Porritt outlined some of the evidence of a shift in values towards post-materialist thinking. The World Values Survey showed that one person in five is ready to reject consumerism; there has been some voluntary downshifting; people are losing confidence in institutions; there is a declining trust in the powers of science and technology; authority is being questioned; there is more emphasis on finding one's personal path; the whole principle of economic growth is being questioned; there is greater tolerance of pluralism; more roles are being found for women; there is a growing interest in religions - but especially in New Age ones or in fundamentalism.
However, Porritt emphasised, it is only a minority of people who are changing their attitudes and these tend to be the ones already most comfortably off. There was insufficient data to encourage one to believe that any major change in ideology is really occurring.
Porritt argued that the world's principal religions are simply ignoring the fundamental questions, whether about the fair distribution of the world's resources or about pollution and the exploitation of the natural world. Religious organizations have vast resources whereby to pursue a necessary redemption, but post-materialist values are simply not on their agenda.
There was a bleak note of warning: if religions fail to inspire a shift towards an ideology of caring, other - and destructive - ideologies might take hold instead.
We must learn to regard pollution as a sin and to reject the orthodox belief that nature was created solely for the service of humankind.
In a note of hope in his conclusion, Porritt suggested that the sheer scale of the environmental crisis might bring human cultures more closely together. But this could only happen at a political level is there were massive efforts at the 'higher' level of ethical and spiritual concern.
About Jonathon Porritt



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