My son asked a great question recently: “How did society ever become peaceful and ordered?” His ‘G’ rated online gaming experience was that people weren’t adverse to breaking the rules and behaving in anti-social ways, even at the risk of being kicked off the site.
PICTURE: Mayur Gala/Unsplash
How did we become civilised? The reality is, much of the world still lives in chaos.
There are only two ways that order comes to chaos. The first is fear – some entity fills the power vacuum and controls the environment through fear. Like the Peace of Rome at the end of a sword.
The second is when an entity is able to reach deep into the human soul and motivate individuals to love. Love results in the good life.
Our society has both in operation. Some will only ever conform out of fear. Others have found the excellent way.
The sad truth is, we probably all need both.
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.