Numerous studies have begun to point out the seismic shift happening across Western society. It’s being noticed in all our once great cultural icons – Rotary, scouts, sporting groups and churches: the abandonment of community.
PICTURE:Nilotpal Kalita/Unsplash
That leaves me in a cold sweat. Westerners are abandoning community!? We are a human species, we only exist together; in teams, tribes and clubs.
The polarisation of our world is dividing us down to even mothers and daughters, fathers and sons. Marriage rates, birth rates, are falling.
We don’t know how to do community because we can’t deal with the discomfort of disagreement.
Is something like church attendance the canary in the coal mine, or is it the place where things can begin again? Where we can practice community. Where we can put things back together?
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.
