In the 1939 classic movie "The Wizard of Oz," Auntie Em rips into the "wicked" Elmira Gulch with these words, "Just because you own half the county doesn't mean you have the power to run the rest of us. For 23 years I've been dying to tell you what I thought of you. And now, well, being a Christian woman, I can't say it!"
We recently learned through recordings of actor Mel Gibson ripping into his former girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva -- being a Christian didn't help this man hold his tongue. Oh my! How things have changed in 71 years!
Christian or not, one of the hallmarks of modern life in the U.S. is the complete lack of shame for acts and words that in previous times would have landed you in jail, or at least ostracized from the community. Now, a Britney Spears exposing herself to a camera or Wall Street titans shamelessly destroying the economy for personal gain are more or less considered part of doing business. The game seems to be how to top the last outrageous act in a society where there are seemingly no limits to what is acceptable and there is little or no punitive cost to be paid for them.
Have we lost our ability to even know what a moral compass is? John Bradshaw argues in his latest book, "Reclaiming Virtue," that each of us has an inborn "moral intelligence," an inner guidance that when cultivated can lead us to do the right thing at the right time for the right reason.
That's right; science is proving morality is not based on religious or spiritual beliefs. Researchers led by Paul Bloom, professor of psychology at Yale University, have found babies as young as six months old already make moral judgments. They think we may be born with a moral code hard-wired into our brains.
The implications of this science are fascinating. If a properly working moral compass is a fundamental part of being human, what structures can be built into secular society to encourage it? Morality based on ancient religious codes of behavior was part and parcel of Auntie Em's world. In today's fast-paced, multicultural America, most people are not interested in being bound by strict religious rules that limit personal expression and relationships. What will replace them?
John Bradshaw points the way towards cultivating a healthy moral compass in a nonreligious framework. Drawing on Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, he writes emotion is centrally involved in moral choice. The ability to feel informs what we give meaning to in our lives and the choices we make. The feeling of shame is a built-in mechanism that "keeps us human." Bradshaw continues, "Natural shame safeguards our humanity and guides us to find a balance between extremes..." Without a sense of shame, there are no limits or boundaries to what is said or done.
Many factors have contributed to the decline in morality and the increase in greed and shamelessness that dominate society. One of them is the elevation of individual achievement. In "Stiffed: The Betrayal of Modern Man" by Susan Faludi, she documents that around World War II society shifted from valuing group achievement to worshiping the superstar flying solo. Placing individual success as a high value has resulted in devaluing anyone who gets in the way of achieving it.
The economic crisis is forcing many people to reevaluate what is important and to feel and reflect deeply. Drawing on friends and family for much needed support is helping people see the value in community and working together. One silver lining of the crisis may be a shift away from our obsession with accumulating wealth and toys to a lifestyle where morality and shame take their rightful place in human experience. Perhaps it can help us regain part of our humanity and, make us happier.
As always, I welcome your thoughts.