It is often beneficial to reflect on the core values that define us as a society. While opinions differ on what is “right,” there is always room for meaningful discussion about how we view certain rights, oaths, and shared values. In this reflection, let us consider the concept of religious freedom through the lens of a hypothetical scenario called the Clan.
The Clan is a philosophical and theoretical thought experiment designed for learning purposes. It explores what happens when a system defaults on its values and allows poor behavior to persist due to misunderstandings of religious freedom and human/civil rights. In this example, a corrupted “good old boy” network—bound by social ties and homogeneous views—benefited from institutional outcomes at the expense of fairness and justice (Most are unaware of these benefits and are for the most part good people.).
Those who tried to report wrongdoing of specific criminal behavior of some and fraud through manipulation quickly found themselves targeted due to the inner clan actors. The victims,witnesses and whistleblowers concerns were undermined, and longstanding patterns of misconduct continued. While religion became a central justification for mistreatment to some, this intolerance intertwined with corruption, created even more victims. The issue was not true faith, but rather a distortion of values—a misuse of belief to justify harm.
Thomas Jefferson understood the dangers of allowing bad actors to manipulate systems of power to impose their values on others. He may not known of the comingled corruption but he did seem to recognize tainted human nature to justify the unjustifiable. When that happens, governance becomes a game—a dangerous one—where people use authority to control others, sometimes through illegal means. In our example, the community eventually uncovered parts of the corruption, and though they may not have seen everything, they took action.
Working together with honest officials and loyal to oath officers (the vast majority but not all), the community chose to stand for freedom and equality. Through confronting the darker nature of some individuals, they rebuilt trust, strengthened unity, and refocused on social and economic progress. Jefferson would no doubt be proud of those who continue to stand for what is right and uphold the essential purpose of our shared humanity—even when doing so comes at personal risk (no matter the type of extremism).
So, what is appropriate when religious beliefs are misused to justify targeting others and violating civil and human rights? The answer is simple: to correct the wrongdoing. Jefferson championed freedom of conscience, and centuries later, we still face challenges that test that principle (Human nature needs laws and checks & balances to strengthen core universal values.). How we act today—and the choices we make—will shape the moral landscape for generations to come (People don't often see their behavior in the context of time, history and the long chain of choice impact).
These were my morning reflections before heading out to go fishing. I came across an article that reminded me just how relevant these lessons remain.
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