John Hayward Posted: 29 April 2008
Keywords: Worldviews & Culture,
“I noticed there was a bunch of youths standing around and my immediate reaction was to stop and think ‘Oh my goodness, shall I go the other way?’ Until two seconds later I realised it was my own son and his friends. But that reaction was in me already.”
This anecdote encapsulates perhaps better than anything else the mistrust that has become so prevalent across society in recent years. New research published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has identified the ten "social evils" that people are most concerned about in the UK today:
- a decline of community;
- individualism;
- consumerism and greed;
- a decline of values;
- decline of the family;
- young people as victims or perpetrators;
- drugs and alcohol;
- poverty and inequality;
- immigration and responses to immigration;
- crime and violence.
It is noteworthy how many of these focus around relationships: an interest in neighbour has been eclipsed by a concern for self; an obsession with materials things has replaced a belief in shared ideas; where the family was once the cradle of society, poor parenting has left young people ill-equipped to deal with life's challenges and fear seems to characterise our approach to anyone different from ourselves. Of course, it is easy to identify the symptoms. The bigger question is why society has become so dysfunctional and, perhaps more importantly, what prospect there is of any change.
Anyone who is familiar with the work of the Jubilee Centre will know we maintain that the problem lies with our whole political framework and that broad-based reform of society will prove impossible until we place relational objectives at the heart of public, private, and corporate decision-making. This belief is echoed by those participants in the new research who suggested, "Social evils are entrenched in current ways of living and thinking and that we seem to be locked into a culture where consumerism and greed are prioritised over other people and the community." Michael Schluter, the architect of modern relationism, has observed:
"Many features of Western society today undermine relational proximity. High levels of mobility make it difficult for people to develop close relationships with neighbours. Modern communications have had the effect of dividing our time among more and more people, so that each contact tends to become more superficial; television and the music culture often inhibit conversation; urban planning norms and high-rise buildings have lessened opportunities for people to have frequent contact; the large size of companies, schools and hospitals today reduces frequency of interaction between colleagues."
Our Cambridge Paper How to create a relational society: foundations for a new social order last year explored the connection between social relationships, institutions and organisations. Here are a couple of practical suggestions arising from application of these ideas that would help overcome the social evils we all face today:
- To rebuild the relational foundation to our communities, we should promote personal financial services on a group rather than an individual basis, so that money helps bind people together rather than forcing them apart.
- Regions, sub-regions and cities should be encouraged to take financial responsibility for their future in terms of both investment and welfare; after all, having devolved to Scotland powers such as education, health, housing, and economic development, there is no reason why these powers couldn't also be devolved to county councils - if Wyoming in the States, with a population of just half a million, can manage such powers, there is no reason that even the smallest of our county councils (Shropshire: 289,000) could not also cope.
Let us know in the comments below, how you think we might pursue a more relational society.
I can sympathise with that fear of a group of teenagers.
A few weeks ago I was in the jacuzzi atop the Island Star, moored in Barcelona. the cruise was cheap and going well but my back was aching a little after a long walk around the city in the warm damp air.
As I relaxed in the hot bubbles my solitude was suddenly gone! Six 'chavvy' boys and two skinny white girls in teeny bikinis shoe-horney their spotty bodies into the pool.
I'm 44and a bit tubby - nothing 'cool' about me and an awkward silence made itself heard. My first reaction was to get out.
Then I thought, 'Why?' so I sat there and looked around the group. I spoke to the oldest looking one
(go to the leader!) and asked if he'd had a good day.
Quite nicely he said yes he had. The others fidgeted.
I asked where he was from and did he have exams to look forward to when he went home? (show interest in them). He did so I asked his best subjects and mentioned I had a daughter in senior school etc. Now one of his friends joined in and everyone else seemed to relax.
The bubbles and chat continued. The girls didn't understand our conversation but smiled cheaply. They were just happy to be with boys - that's the only 'goal' for many these days (typically they wear burbary or pineapple clothes and have their hair pulled back into a pony revealing huge hooped earrings)but to them that indicates 'acceptance' and 'success'. They and two of the other boys were very dim and when I started doing some humour they just didn't get it - but they smiled because the original two 'bright' boys were laughing.
Then I really blew them away! I told them the sun would go in, there would be thunder and lightening and then hard cold rain !!
They studied me as if I were a guru.. they asked how I could possibly know that.. I replied that I was OLD and "knew stuff" - they were delighted and it seemed that their distain for 'oldness' began to crumble.
Sure enough the thunder rolled, then the lightening flashed and then the monsoon struck.
Being in a warm jacuzzi it just meant more bubbles.
Then sharply I told them to put their hands over their heads and duck as low in the water as they could.. just in time.. huge hailstones hammered into us and the resulting mayhem sounded like the Jackson Five in a deep fat fryer - 'Oooh!' 'Owch!' 'Stinger!' 'Yipe!' 'Sh*t' etc
Then a huge flash overhead turned everything into photo-negative for a moment - I called out over the panic that as water and electricity was not a great mix .. I didn't have to complete that !
Crowds of holidaymakers who had sheltered under the half-deck nearby burst into laughter as 8 white spotty twigs leapt out of the pool only to find the hair covered deck impossible to walk on! Arms and legs flailing they skidded for cover, followed by a tubby older chap retaining what dignity the storm afforded. I walked slowly out, picked up my dripping Tshirt and towel, and headed below decks for a shower.
I had a lot of young friends on the ship after that.
Hmmm..
Blessya,
Tim
St Tim of Sussex 15 May 2008
err.. do you have some sort of auto-correct or did I do such serious typo's ??
SHOE-HORNED not 'shoe horney'
HAIL COVERED DECK not 'hair covered'
he he - quite funny really but not intentional !
Thanx
St Tim
St Tim of Sussex 15 May 2008
That was my dad writing that, note his words got changed by something =S I think teenagers can be scary...and I am one =D
x
Alice Hill 15 May 2008
Hey Tim, great to see that at least SOMEONE was listening on wednesday!
you're lucky, John skimmed you'r post, and was about to delete it as he thought it was spam till he saw the (memorable) name and read it properly.
agreee with you too Alice, the scary ones being mostly the half that are on the streets beating each other up, as compared to the other half who spend their lives on MSN or X-box live.
two comments from teenagers in two days! john will be pleased.
Robin H 16 May 2008
One helpful thing churches can do is employ ministers and youth workers LONG TERM !
I started in Horley in 1992 as Associate Pastor at the Baptist Church - the children in Infant schools got to know me and I also did assemblies and lessons and special events and youth clubs in the town over the next 8yrs.. so they saw me through Junior and into Senior school.. this was far-sighted of the chuch.. and their youth outreach still grows.. committed, long term helpers, prepared to make friends with the kids and support them even through the bad times.
Now as a Chaplain at the Crawley Shopping Mall they call out to me.. and at Gatick.. and around the town.. I can sign Passports and driving licenses and chat..
come on churches !! we're into 'life work' not 'projects'
people are REAL not 'study fodder'.
Long term committment to community and unashamed Bible teaching - the kids can take it - believe me !!
don't be soft on them.. it doesn't help. they respond to firm teaching, (with people who like them) so show them Jesus the leader not just the fluffy guy who talked about sheep !
Amen ??
St. Tim
St Tim of Sussex 17 May 2008
err.. that was 'Gatwick' sorry. Certainly my fault this time !
Anyway whilest I'm on again..
Another thing churches can do to help is be less rigid about ages for youth groups.. drop the school rules about "if your Birthday is on the 1st Sept. your are in a different Youth Group or Sunday School class to your friends !
Lighten up - kids 'flock'.. people are 'tribal' - dates don't matter! Fit them in where they fit ! Welcome them to a group with similar kids eg. 'Emo's' might be ok with 'Grungers' and even 'rock chicks' but don't mix them with 'chavs' or 'townies' !!
Older leaders whose kids have been through Uni are ideal for a 'Emo/Rock' type group. Young marrieds who at least understand (if not LIKE) R&B (now if you're thinking that's the old school like the Stones etc. forget it ! Think bling and pimping carz)and Rap are ideal.
Style matters, Respect is the keyword. Black/Red and deep are the elements for the Rock/Emo lot whilst Gold/Pink and superficial are the traits of the Townie and Chav brigade!
Hope this helps someone!
St. Tim
St Tim of Sussex 17 May 2008
Absolutely right about the youth workers Tim. Our Church doesn't have a full-time youth worker, but since the age of around 11, I have had pretty much the same youth leaders, both on sunday mornings and the friday and monday night youth groups. Being able to build great friendships with theese people has been fantastic.
dividing people up into their own little cliques doesn't sound quite right though, surely christianity is about bringing people together, not saying "here, your're all similar, stick together and stay away from those guys over ther"? don't you want different types mixing and getting to know each other? (i'm assuming a little here, as we don't really have any different cliques at our church). but if you're succedeing in getting chavs to your church, then well done.
Robin H 19 May 2008
hi how are you i hope to read you are comment it is to beautifull i never seen in my life
bye have fun
see you
neamatullah 27 October 2008
And I thought I was the seisnble one. Thanks for setting me straight.
Krystal 21 May 2011
And I thought I was the seisnble one. Thanks for setting me straight.
Krystal 21 May 2011