FlippED is An ED Original Style wherein two bloggers come together to share their opposing or orthogonal perspectives on an interesting subject.
Before our flickering thoughts shed light on the ongoing debate of the two opposing doctrines, let’s get clear about the tenets of life and death defining the cultural capacity in simple terms.
“Culture of Life” dictates that religion would revolve around the joys of life and it creates societies based on love. Moral values are given prominence and human lives are valued.
Proponents of a “culture of death” devalue human life, glorifying death as sacred. Basically, any culture which describes the attraction to sin, lust, and death, denying mankind peace and solidarity come under the doctrine.
There are horrifying events happening all over the world, but have we completely given ourselves over to a state of hopelessness to say that a culture of death is gaining supremacy over us? I strongly disagree
∼ Deepa Thomas
A culture of death devalues human life and the natural features of a healthy mind. It claims that human beings have become desensitized to death through over-exposure to grotesque scenes in entertainment.
In other words, even the news of mass-murder produces a numb reaction.
Proving Desensitization Wrong
In reality, a person’s sensitivity to such horrific events mostly depends on the proximity of the event and the direct/indirect impact it will have on his/her life.
We have not become so emotionless as to be unaffected by the problems of loved ones or even of residents of a known locality.
But we have also seen in cases like #MeToo, that otherwise completely unrelated men and women from different parts of the world, stand united to show solidarity and speak out against the sexual assault and harassment against both men and women.
Can this be the doing of a desensitized culture?
A Culture Of Life Is Still Holding Strong
The term “culture of life” was originally used in moral theology. It is against all practices that are destructive to human life.
A “culture of death” is often associated with the collapse in familial and moral values, currently viewed as an outcome of modernization.
Yet even in the corporate sector, which is a product of modernization, a balance between work-life and personal-life is advised.
The choice between these cultures is impacted by the kind of life we choose to lead, which in turn is impacted by our desire. Till a point comes where the outcomes of a culture of death are desired, it cannot gain supremacy over life.
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In the present society which reeks of corruption, inequality, and crime, the culture of death is gaining an upper hand. I am an atheist which affirms my belief in the fact that only we have full power over ourselves, not some superhuman entity like Bruce Almighty.
∼ Aatreyee Dhar
Death Is Glorified As Salvation
The erratic behavior of suicidal jihadi terrorists during the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai or the Paris attacks suggests the sacred utopia of their fanatically religious movements.
What led them to forget the core Islamic teachings of compassion, forgiveness, and humanity indulging in tactics endorsed by groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS?
The culture of death would also propose suppression of their vital desires which the guilt-ridden martyrs recruit by being killed in a final act of explosive attack.
When mankind is motivated by a sense of revenge against societies ill-treating and ostracizing them, they are liable to have their brains addled in the brutalizing concept of the culture of death.
Constant Dehumanization Process
In the culture of death, acts of violence and killing each other would be considered “normal” where people would be desensitized to question their feelings and conscience incapable of objection and protests.
Nazi Holocaust which was the cold-blooded state-sponsored murder and persecution of six million Jews on racial, political, ideological and behavioral grounds is a classic example of the prevalent culture of death in our society.
Not to forget the alt-right rally in Charlottesville where a Nazi supporter drove a car into the crowd of protesters, killing one and injuring 19.
Moral Values Are Susceptible To Change
The culture of life bans the promotion of abortion, divorce, homosexuality, promiscuity, infidelity and embryonic stem cell research claiming that humans shouldn’t contradict the laws of God imposing their right of privacy and freedom of conscience.
But moral values are set to change as the per the time and space dimensions of an ever-evolving society.
The Culture of Life is outright wrong in labeling such fundamental rights as immoral just because we are creating a diversion from the seemingly appropriate acts that serve God.
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