Editor,
It is with deep concern that I write about the moral decline I see in today’s society, both locally and globally. Change may be part of life’s journey, but what troubles me most is the growing lack of empathy and the confusion about what is right and wrong. I am not a psychologist nor a moral teacher, yet as a theologically trained person I can clearly sense that many of us are becoming less patient, less compassionate, and less connected to one another.
For generations, families and communities were built on love, care, and a strong sense of belonging. People stood by each other because they knew that unity meant safety and meaning. These values shaped our behaviour: good character was respected, while harmful actions were discouraged. This moral foundation helped societies survive and grow for centuries. But today, those values seem to be fading. The modern world we live in often rewards image over character, wealth over meaning, and so on. In fact, we appear more divided than being united. And on the personal level, we have created more enemies rather than forming more allies. Speaking of this, I am reminded of a scene from the famed The Lord of the Rings trilogy. When the wizard Gandalf reasons with his fellow wizard Saruman, who attempts to use dark power to gain control. Gandalf asks, “Since when did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness?” That movie moment for me was not ordinary, but rather it speaks volume to our thoughts and against our perpetual actions every day.
What is more concerning is how easily our society now shrugs at things that once disturbed our peace. We take for granted dishonesty as cleverness, selfishness as self-care, and cruelty as personal redemption. Most of us no longer ask whether something is truly right or wrong, but only whether it is convenient or popular. Gradually, this careless attitude pollutes our moral sense and leaves us spiritually confused, drifting without any clear direction for goodness. We are slowly becoming a generation of people who do less, feel less, and care less for others.
These problems are clearly visible at the family level. A friend of mine who is a police officer often shares cases they have taken almost everyday – cases that arise from petty issues between husbands and wives. This shows how love, patience, and respect within the home are weakening. Besides that, relationships, dating, and marriage are becoming harder as ego, social media, materialism, and unrealistic expectations distort our very understanding of love and affection. And with that, Jesus’ End times prophecy in the gospel of Matthew 24 says, “ Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” What we can grasp from the prophecy here is it feels painfully real day by day, as it is not a silly joke made up by somebody.
Finally, despite of all these, I believe Hope will, and still remains as one of our nearest ally. But much depends on our willingness to nurture it too! If we care enough, we can protect our humanity by choosing kindness, by sticking to strong and meaningful values, by listening more than we can speak, and by valuing a person over status. If we can return to these simple yet powerful principles, we may be able to preserve empathy, morality, and love during these difficult times – without compromising our conscience and moral integrity.
Sunrise Pohtam
Via e-mail
