Modern Society's Departure from Biblical Norms
Modern society is moving away from biblical norms for a number of interrelated reasons, rooted in shifting priorities, historical upheavals, and the influence of new ideological trends.First of all, the primary loss of direction toward religious principles occurs because priorities are shifting toward material and secular values. As noted in one source, even if the spirit of Christianity permeates society’s life, the very pursuit of material success, greed, and the chase for wealth contradicts the simplicity and unconditional nature of the biblical commandment that no amount of wealth is worth a man’s soul:"It is said that although nowadays people attend church less and, though they fast little or not at all, the spirit of Christianity in our society is more developed than ever before; the gospel commandments, though distantly preached by the Church, have entered the spirit, aims, and activities of society!
But where are the fruits of this faith?We see that both public and private forces are immersed in concerns about life's conveniences: everywhere there is a vast demand, boundless needs, and from there — an insatiable thirst for greed, profit, kickbacks, a constant chase for wealth, for acquisition... Meanwhile, the gospel command is clear and simple: What good is it for a man, even if he were able to acquire the whole world, if he loses his soul?" (source: link txt).Moreover, historical events have left a deep mark on the public consciousness. Centuries-long efforts to radically change religious values, violent revolutionary upheavals, and aggressive campaigns against religious institutions have led to human relationships being distorted and reversed. Historical retrospection shows that such destructive processes as the destruction of temples and the death of priests resulted in the loss of fundamental moral guidelines, leaving society in a state of continuous spiritual struggle (source: link txt).Furthermore, modernity presents challenges that complicate adherence to biblical norms. In an era when unprecedented and sometimes frightening phenomena come to the fore, society faces various ideological temptations and shows an interesting attraction to those phenomena that contradict traditional spiritual roots. As noted in one statement, people are increasingly coming into contact with what might be termed as contradictory to the sacred, allowing evil to influence their lives:"Therefore, brothers and sisters, life is becoming more and more difficult for us, and it is as it should be, as it is written in Scripture... Satan now completely controls people, evidently." (source: link txt).Equally significant is the radical transformation of moral norms under the influence of social and cultural revolutions. The sexual revolution, mentioned in one document, not only disrupts traditional foundations but also introduces a new moral order, often based on an aggressive and even terror-inducing reinterpretation of moral values. This frequently leads to a clash with the principles of Christian ethics, which remain unchanged and demand sincerity and self-sacrifice:"One of its expressions is the so-called sexual revolution, which for a long time has operated not only permissively but also aggressively, unleashing a moral terror that seems poised to surpass all the nightmares of hypocrisy, sanctimoniousness, and the 'prudishness' of bygone times..." (source: link txt).Finally, the basis of the modern worldview becomes the cult of personality and the deification of man in his current, fallen state, perpetuating passions and tendencies that contradict biblical ideals. Thus, in conditions where naturalness and individualism are prioritized, society increasingly turns away from sincere spiritual values, something that is reflected even in art and everyday life:"Modern Western civilization — and modern Russian reality is already a part of it, whether we like it or not — places deified man on a pedestal. Modern society deifies man in his fallen state as he is now, with all his, as Christianity calls them, passions..." (source: link txt).It is also important to consider that the moral rules adopted by society sometimes not only diverge from biblical teachings but also represent openly contradictory and even absurd norms, further underscoring the gap between traditional religious commandments and modern practices (source: link txt).Thus, the combination of factors — from the prioritization of material values and historical shocks to the influence of ideological temptations and radical cultural transformations — creates conditions under which modern society is moving away from biblical norms and principles.Supporting citation(s):"It is said that although nowadays people attend church less, and though they fast little or not at all, the spirit of Christianity in our society is more developed than ever before; the gospel commandments, though distantly preached by the Church, have entered the spirit, aims, and activities of society! ... Meanwhile, the gospel command is clear and simple: What good is it for a man, even if he were able to acquire the whole world, if he loses his soul?" (source: link txt)"For three hundred years they tried to overturn it all, to finally blow up all these temples, shoot all these priests, and all those who believe, who prudently run their household, to finally let them rot, and to turn their children away from faith, to make them fear everything sacred, to make them tremble for their lives, so that they would constantly betray one another, to become such despicable people who only care about their own skin..."