Great Construction

Crisis and Religion


  
Everyone seems to be using the word "crisis" these days. The word is used in international as well as domestic contexts, but here I would like to discuss how "crisis" is being used in the domestic scene and emphasize the relation of "crisis" to religion.
  In the domestic sphere, when we speak of "crises", we are usually referring to economic issues, and specifically to the high unemployment rates in agriculture and in middle-sized businesses. The basis of these economic problems, however, rests on politics. The poor state of the economy is what brought about the League of Blood and May 15th incidents.
  The goal of those involved in these incidents was to reform the errors of the bad influence of party politics on society, in particular, the protection enjoyed by the privileged classes, and the excesses of majority politics. Even supposing that the reforms called for could have been successful, would we still have been able to enjoy a perfect political system?
  I have grave doubts as to the possibility of that success.
  I have doubts about this possibility because the foundation of constitutional government is made up of both voters and those who receive the votes. Complaints about the system are usually made only of the political parties, that is, the groups of those individuals who receive the votes. There will be no true success in improving constitutional government until the other side of its foundation, the voters, also improve.
  If the cause of political corruption is in the buying of votes, then the sellers of votes, the voters, are equally as guilty as the politicians who try to buy their votes. Political forms are merely secondary, and the heart of the system is the degree of a sense of justice in those who are a part of the system. A sense of morality that absolutely refuses to entertain offers to buy their vote must be instilled in the people.
  The current situation certainly shows that education has been ineffective. I am sure that the power of religion can cultivate a sense of justice. Religious leaders should henceforth work hard to awaken a sense of political justice in the people. I do believe that this is why society does not hold religious leaders in high regard. Religious leaders have lost sight of the problems people face in daily life and are not awakening to the flow of time.

(The Light from the East, first issue, January 23, 1935)