WE can approach this quest from two points of view. One is that we
need to enrich our culture by deepening the knowledge of our own
culture and that of the others. We need to monitor developments of the
different cultures around.
The other is to enrich culture itself, whatever and wherever it is,
and regardless of whomever it belongs, by conforming it to an
objective and universal law that governs the whole of mankind.
The first one involves the abiding effort to know more and more about
our culture and that of the others. We cannot deny that in this
regard, we tend to take things for granted.
We tend to be contented with what we have, what we know, what we are
more familiar with at the moment. We hardly make any move to go beyond
that level or exert any systematic effort to know more about our
culture and that of the others—their history, their mentality,
lifestyle, etc.
Thus, we tend to have a shallow and narrow-minded culture that becomes
a hindrance in our effort to know more about ourselves and others.
Such level of culture does not facilitate communication, let alone,
communion which is what is meant for us.
We see this problem spreading around. In spite of the new and powerful
technologies of communication, we still are not communicating as we
should. Any communication that is done is restricted to the immediate
and subjective, if not, selfish needs and interests.
Beyond these, communication practically stops. It’s no wonder then
that we continue to have serious misunderstanding among ourselves, and
even conflicts and wars. Yes, we will always have some legitimate
differences, but if handled well by knowing the cultures of different
peoples, these differences need not undermine our common sense of
unity and harmony.
As to the other point of view, that of conforming whatever culture
there is to some objective and universal law, we can also say that
there is hardly any development either. The main problem here is that
people have their own idea of what is objective and universal.
In fact, some people think there is no such thing as an objective and
universal law or standard that can be applied to all. They even say
that what is objective and universal is that there is nothing
objective and universal in our life. Everyone can have his own idea.
What may come out as the dominant culture is often simply a result of
some majority consensus based on very transitory values like
practicality and profitability. It’s more a matter of opinion and
preferences and some conditionings, physical, social, ideological,
etc.
We have to be more concerned about building up a good and healthy
culture that at once may be peculiar to a certain group of people in
the different levels and aspects of life, and yet open to the cultures
of others. It has a certain specificity that would distinguish it from
other cultures, but at the same time, it has a universal openness.
This will involve, I imagine, a continuing review and study of core
beliefs among the different peoples, and ongoing dialogue among them.
The new technologies should be a big help for this purpose. In this
regard, we should encourage the practice of reading and study that has
to be done properly.
It should be a reading that would know how to read ‘between the lines’
in order to discern the assumptions and immediate implications of what
are written. It should also be a reading that knows how to read
‘behind the lines’ so as to get to the philosophical and ideological
foundations as well as the destination to which what are shown,
described, promoted, etc., are heading.
Culture is a living thing that always needs to be worked on, purified
and enriched. Its goal is to attain a certain level of wisdom that is
shared by everyone in society. It’s a common effort of all people who
have to contribute to its development in their own ways and
possibilities.
Obviously, some people have to lead that process. These can be the
intellectuals and educators, and specially spiritual leaders who ought
to articulate well the core beliefs of the people and to translate
these beliefs into some shared practices and customs.
The homes, churches and schools are the basic centers of cultural
formation and development. That is why they ought to be properly
guided and motivated to their responsibilities in this regard well. Of
course, the government also plays a very important role in this.
Let’s hope that we can get serious with our cultural formation and development!
need to enrich our culture by deepening the knowledge of our own
culture and that of the others. We need to monitor developments of the
different cultures around.
The other is to enrich culture itself, whatever and wherever it is,
and regardless of whomever it belongs, by conforming it to an
objective and universal law that governs the whole of mankind.
The first one involves the abiding effort to know more and more about
our culture and that of the others. We cannot deny that in this
regard, we tend to take things for granted.
We tend to be contented with what we have, what we know, what we are
more familiar with at the moment. We hardly make any move to go beyond
that level or exert any systematic effort to know more about our
culture and that of the others—their history, their mentality,
lifestyle, etc.
Thus, we tend to have a shallow and narrow-minded culture that becomes
a hindrance in our effort to know more about ourselves and others.
Such level of culture does not facilitate communication, let alone,
communion which is what is meant for us.
We see this problem spreading around. In spite of the new and powerful
technologies of communication, we still are not communicating as we
should. Any communication that is done is restricted to the immediate
and subjective, if not, selfish needs and interests.
Beyond these, communication practically stops. It’s no wonder then
that we continue to have serious misunderstanding among ourselves, and
even conflicts and wars. Yes, we will always have some legitimate
differences, but if handled well by knowing the cultures of different
peoples, these differences need not undermine our common sense of
unity and harmony.
As to the other point of view, that of conforming whatever culture
there is to some objective and universal law, we can also say that
there is hardly any development either. The main problem here is that
people have their own idea of what is objective and universal.
In fact, some people think there is no such thing as an objective and
universal law or standard that can be applied to all. They even say
that what is objective and universal is that there is nothing
objective and universal in our life. Everyone can have his own idea.
What may come out as the dominant culture is often simply a result of
some majority consensus based on very transitory values like
practicality and profitability. It’s more a matter of opinion and
preferences and some conditionings, physical, social, ideological,
etc.
We have to be more concerned about building up a good and healthy
culture that at once may be peculiar to a certain group of people in
the different levels and aspects of life, and yet open to the cultures
of others. It has a certain specificity that would distinguish it from
other cultures, but at the same time, it has a universal openness.
This will involve, I imagine, a continuing review and study of core
beliefs among the different peoples, and ongoing dialogue among them.
The new technologies should be a big help for this purpose. In this
regard, we should encourage the practice of reading and study that has
to be done properly.
It should be a reading that would know how to read ‘between the lines’
in order to discern the assumptions and immediate implications of what
are written. It should also be a reading that knows how to read
‘behind the lines’ so as to get to the philosophical and ideological
foundations as well as the destination to which what are shown,
described, promoted, etc., are heading.
Culture is a living thing that always needs to be worked on, purified
and enriched. Its goal is to attain a certain level of wisdom that is
shared by everyone in society. It’s a common effort of all people who
have to contribute to its development in their own ways and
possibilities.
Obviously, some people have to lead that process. These can be the
intellectuals and educators, and specially spiritual leaders who ought
to articulate well the core beliefs of the people and to translate
these beliefs into some shared practices and customs.
The homes, churches and schools are the basic centers of cultural
formation and development. That is why they ought to be properly
guided and motivated to their responsibilities in this regard well. Of
course, the government also plays a very important role in this.
Let’s hope that we can get serious with our cultural formation and development!
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