The Credit Crisis
The crisis that initially manifest as the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the United States, then quickly morphed and evolved into the global credit crisis — critically threatening the vital systems at the core of the developed world — is in essence not a financial crisis at all, but rather a crisis of values.
A crisis produced by human behavior. Human behavior in turn is determined by cultural conditioning. Cultural conditioning can be understood as a shared sense of value and normative behavior arising from an agreed upon set of values. Therefore, the crisis is in fact a crisis of values. The values underlying our cultural complex and socio-economic system depreciate the integral values of community (connectedness), service (selflessness), well-being (contentment & health) and sustainability while exalting greed, competition, selfishness and materialism. Even our health care system has adopted the menacing complexion of a for profit industry!
The crisis is rooted in the very essence of culture, an unfortunate product of our cultural norms. Seen from this perspective its linkage and relationship to the ecological crisis (i.e. climate change) becomes immediately and absolutely clear.
The Character Deficit
What we are suffering from is a crisis of character, or as Krishnamurti termed it a Crisis of Consciousness, or as I have termed it a Character Deficit.
The resolution to this crisis lies in a radical reordering of the foundational values, narratives and paradigms at the very heart of our cultural complex. A radical transformation.
However, there is a certain paradox at play here. In order to effect change at the cultural level, we must recognize and address the issue and problem of transforming our personal consciousness. We must accept personal response-ability and alter our behavior. This involves developing an acute awareness of our governing values, and motivation, and continually monitoring of our emotions, thoughts, words and deeds.
Zeitgiest: Addendum by Peter Joseph
For an intriguing, enlightening and insightful movie providing a detailed examination of a few of the systems at the heart of our cultural complex (and suggestions for change), I recommend Zeitgeist: Addendum. (See the movie online by clicking here).
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
A good book examining how each of us might effect the required changes in our personal lives is A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle.
