Michaela Pettway
Dr. Andrew Jacobs
Mr. Don Myers
Practical Evangelism and Missions with Honors
2/20/17
The Quest for Community
Robert Nisbet best exemplifies the distinction between the relational perspective and the religious view concerning the fate of the community in his book, “The Quest for Community.” Here, the author makes a distinction between the two viewpoints by creating order within the society. The natural sense of identity for man can be found in his religious beliefs, and an attempt to destroy it can cut off his spiritual roots. Therefore, the moral being of an individual can be found in his religious rather than rational foundations. In essence, a community does not need a relaxed moral understanding, but a defined religious system, more specifically Christianity, to be successful.
The public norms can be well-defined in various ways. Terms such as int grwtion, membership hierarchy, status, and identification can all be used to describe it. For instance, past regimes sought to establish community through the seizure of power, a practice that caused people to re-examine how they perceived the nature of their society. Based on the above definition of community, it becomes evident that its meaning evolves with time to encompass new realities. Nisbet conceived community as a product of revolutions, where new identities were created from those that existed in the past. In this regard, the enlightenment philosophies that were cherished by the French made the society to build new identities. Thus, the society esteemed community in the sense that crimes committed against institutions, personal status and groups became more punishable than those against individuals (Nisbet 22). Even then, the author acknowledges that the creation of new communities dismantled the meal order as had been created by Christianity (Nisbet 23). As a consequence, Nisbet constructs society upon a modern rational perspective and defines it to the Christian foundations.
Revolutions worked against the conservative ideals of the community. Based on the fact that contemporary societies are more individualistic in nature, religion acted to use superstition and prejudice to maintain order within the community (Nisbet 26). As a concern, the definition of community in the perspective of Nisbet is based on the reality that contemporary man is determined to create an individualistic paradigm that is distinct from religious and family associated which he considers are extremely conservatives.
Even then, religious systems that revolve around Christianity are much more significant to the life of the community as compared to a moral perspective that is relational. For instance, despite contemporary man having realized a sense of fulfillment through the usurpation of power, the society has become estranged to spiritualism, causing it to suffer disintegration. As a consequence, a relaxed moral understand that is devoid of Christianity has not bequeathed the society the order that it so desires (Nisbet 9). A sense of community has collapsed, and contemporary states have failed to provide order through the testimonial approaches.
In the midst of creating social order through a relaxed moral understanding, secularism and individualism have come about and defined contemporary thought. Thus, a set of problems has come forth. The quest to release the individual from the traditional aspects of religion and kinship may have liberated him, although it becomes evident that it has caused him to become alienated. Christianity helps to protect people from alienation and generates a sense of fellowship. In this regard, the apparent search for order and progress in an individualistic society has resulted into insecurities and anxieties. Instead if propagating moral development, a relaxed moral understanding associated with individualism has led to social disintegration. In this regard, one cannot try to create a social order in a society without the input of Christianity. Moral values are a factor of Christianity. Nisbet considers that the modern world would witness the disintegration f human image if Christian values are compromised (Nisbet 10). In essence, the proletarian, an individual who has no religious roots, is associated with the kiss if a sense of identity and belonging.
With the rise of intellectualism, rational thoughts have been used to define moral standings of the society. It seems as though philosophical aspects are competing with religion to provide a moral compass for the society. An assortment of philosophers has sought to give the people moral perspectives that contradict those that are found in Christian literature. In the wake of time, Christianity has become more timeless, precisely when the work of such philosophers is made obsolete by new studies.
Contemporary societies have tried to create a form of a relaxed moral understanding devoid of the Christian perspective. Such an undertaking has however failed and resulted into anxieties. In essence, it becomes evident that the notion that Christianity is a conservative theme that has no place in the contemporary society is faulty. On the contrary, the relationship between God and man is a timeless theme (Nisbet 10). The modern society is struggling to find meaning in aspects such as creating a form of moral community. Moreover, it has become hostile, with values being detached from human direction. People have become helpless before external forces as exhibited in the lack of formidable religious outfit. As a result, modern man is struggling to attain ethical significance by creating a sense of a compromised moral understanding through racial and class associations.
Based on the interpretation of Nisbet’s ideas about the creation of a moral order, it becomes evident that modern man is striving to create a system of identity that contradicts the conservative Christian perspective. Unfortunately, all these have not been achieved considering that the society is becoming engulfed in fear as a consequence of uncertainties. Therefore, religious faith, and in particular, Christianity, can create a form of stability that offers humanity confidence. The aspect of setting up a compromised moral understanding in the society has failed. Such can be envisaged in the manner in which individuals have tried to create principles of hierarchy which have only resulted in fear in people. Unfortunately, modern people are not acknowledged the significance of Christianity, as envisaged in the declining role of Protestantism. In fact, people are chasing after individualism and often think that religion is inadequate and irrelevant (Nisbet 13). The rising tide of alienation has resulted into spiritual insecurity in modern societies, with secularism being celebrated. However few people can acknowledge associative and symbolic relationships that were associated with conservative religious communities, where the order was visible.
In essence, symbolic relationship between individuals through religion helps to foster an aspect of integrity. Unfortunately, quest to alienate a persons from the person as envisaged in contemporary society is causing alienation of self from God. With time, when individuals seek to isolate themselves, it causes them to lose a sense of invisibility (Nisbet 13). People may think that individualism created order. However, the decline of the community can be witnessed by the religious consequences that modern societies face. Compared to the past, the present society has seen the emergence of helpless people who cannot find solace in Christianity. The sense of community ensures that vulnerable populations can get sympathy from Christians through the supply of essential needs for their sustenance. Therefore, the contemporary church seems to have been compromised by an emphasis on the individual rather than on the community.
In every sense, a contextual Christian perspective adheres to social norms of identity. The relationship between man and God can best be exemplified through genuine communion rather than the isolationism creeds being propagated by present day theologians. In fact Nisbet borrows heavily from the arguments of Emile Durkheim, who observed that the moral and economic individualism that is associated with contemporary living brings forth insecurity, and results into insanity and suicidal tendencies, which were seldom witnessed in conventional societies that stood to the Christian perspective (Nisbet 14). Consequently, it becomes evident that a society that esteems a relaxed sense of moral understanding is associated with the social and moral individualism that brings about vice. In essence, a compromised moral understanding is usually supported by urban dwellers, people who are not married and industrial workers, all of whom live an isolated life and may become susceptible to suicidal thoughts. Thus, an organized religious system akin to conservative Christianity creates an aspect of moral as well as social involvement with others. It is worth noting that the moment an individual decides to isolate himself, he loses an association with others and becomes susceptible to guilt and anxiety. In most cases, self-destruction often follows as a way of surrendering oneself to fate. Conversely, with an organized religion such as Christianity, there is no way that people would surrender to self-destructive aspects such as suicide. Thus, the lack of an appropriate relationship with God and others through a community of Christianity has been on the increase in western societies and this has resulted in the contemporary challenges.
Compared to other religions, Christianity is the best place to provide a sense of identity and solace to the sufferers in the society. Through a meaning of the community, it becomes evident that one can overcome the pressures associated with uncertainty. Compared to other religions, Nisbet considers Christianity, specifically Protestantism, by emphasizing the relationship between the individual and God. The traditional faith of the religion can overcome aspects of despair and loneliness that characterizes modern living. In contrast, it is quite easy to consider how other religions focus more on the principles of hierarchy and status, and this makes them fail to provide a sense of community for its adherents. In essence, Christianity is best placed to provide the faithful with valid values of spirituality and includes righteousness and stability of faith. Although Nisbet regrets that contemporary churches are slowly receding away from the real values of Christianity, he is swift to point out that they can best exemplify symbolic relationships. In perspective, there is all reason to believe that Christianity illustrates a genuine and subjective relationship between man and God. Thus, the personal communion between these two should not be mediated by historical facts, since it may make it insupportable and amorphous. Through Christianity, people came to understand the essence of a formidable community in Christ. Based on the fact that Christianity is founded on the message of Christ, it becomes evident that visibility can easily be lost without Him. The church community in this sense is best placed to ensure that the masses find solace in their challenges.
General moral codes have failed to provide comfort to individuals who are suffering as a consequence of modernity. Such people include the drunkards, the unemployed and the insane. Indeed, alienation has reached an extraordinary degree, and Christianity as a religion is best suited to resolve such problems. With the rising nature of unhappy individuals within the society, people are becoming frustrated, with a sense of emptiness and void becoming the norm (Nisbet 23. Consequently, Christianity can ensure that individuakl who are obsessed with individualism enjoy a sense of joy and comradeship.
In essence, Christianity us best place to sustain the health of a community. Through its association with the family and the local community, one can be able to consider its relevance. Any attempt to remove a person from society will cause the subject to demon Jc fear and extreme aloneness (Nisbet 24). As a result, Christianity provides a healthy community since it makes people relate to each other and reduces current challenges associated with own stressful living. Although one would think that conservative spiritual ideas are no longer applicable to present life the current generation is benefiting immensely from the use the 19th century. In fact, there is a protracted individual rationalism akin to that of the French Revolution. Such rebellion suggests that modern people are coming to accept the relevance of Christian ideals of community. As such, it has become standard for a person to integrate with others through Church activities, an aspect that has given him or her a sense of identity. As a result of being frustrated by contemporary moral philosophies, Protestant leaders are now coming to terms with the essence of traditional doctrines of Christianity (Nisbet 26). Nisbet concurs that the Jewish and Catholic orthodoxies have become relaxant to contemporary worshippers. In creating a sense of community health, religion had become influential in the meaning that it has inspired the masses within the industrial society (Nisbet 27). Therefore, religion is best placed to sustain communist ties between man and man, before propagating a correlation between an individual with God. Therefore, the language of worshiper must resonate well with family and friendship.
Christianity can sustain a prosperous community. On the contraryM relaxed moral approaches that have been associated with contemporary livings have all failed. Christian principles of community ensure that individuals can associate with each other and this helps them to find solace in their day to day life challenges. Modern living can be quite stressful, and some people have committed suicide due to individualism. Therefore, it becomes evident that the notion of creating religion as irrelevant to modern lifestyles is faulty. Nisbet in his book roots for a whole faith a kind to the Catholic and Jewish orthodoxies. Besides, the author believes that Protestantism can help to alleviate the suffering of many people who have become hopeless and are seeking for true identity. Rational perspectives created by philosophers are not as timeless as Christian principles of faith and righteousness. In this regard, a successful community would be envisaged by the strength of its human and Godly fellowship.