Expanded Role of Religious Institutions

Expanded Role of Religious Institutions

 We are living in swiftly changing times. Automation and robotics are performing many jobs that people used to do. More and more people work independently, setting their own work schedules, working from their own homes and vehicles and paying their taxes and healthcare expenses by themselves. Advances in science and technologies are enabling the creation of new forms of life, new medicines, new ways to communicate, travel and much more. People are living longer. Social media and the internet have brought the entire world to our fingertips.

With all these great advances' comes perils. An increasing number of people feel isolated. They find themselves alone in front of a computer or smartphones. They have lots of online friends but few people to talk with. They have to create their own daily structures. With no training or experience, they are expected to do things such as pay taxes, save for retirement, pay for healthcare, save for sick days and vacation days. Social media enables people to hear and read only what they want to hear. We are creating new life forms without knowing what the new life forms should be or do. Should we be eliminating all disabilities and diseases? Should we forget about diversity? What should be the role for people when robots, artificial intelligence, and bio and genetically engineered forms of life are commonplace? We are seeing how people surrender their morality and civility in hopes of reinstating some semblance of the past.

Now, perhaps more than ever, we need religious leaders and institutions to help guide us to the future. We need new customs that help us see more than one side of an issue. We need new practices on how to engage in real conversations. We need new principles that will help steer scientists and technologists. New traditions for celebrating life-cycle events, including death, are required. We need a vision of how we want the next evolution of life to be and what the role of people should be.

Religious leaders and institutions should encourage the vitality of committees that reflect the passion of community members. Many religious institutions already have great committees that do a whole slew of activities including social action, ritual, sustainable urban farming, sports, caring for the ill, caring for mourners, community volunteering and many more. I suggest every religious institution have a Conversations Committee that encourages every member of a religious institution as well as members of the larger community to participate in periodic facilitated conversations where all sides of an issue can be freely discussed.

Religious institutions should also consider promoting and investing in community-based small businesses. They may want to hold a minority interest in these businesses, Clergy and lay leaders serving on Boards can ensure the enterprise operates with compassion, morality, and civility. These small community businesses can provide such things as:

1. Personal assistant services for people with disabilities and aging
2. Housing services for the homeless
3. Financial services including budget management, saving, business, disability and retirement planning, and healthcare coverage
4. Legacy services including preparing wills and ethical wills, planning memorial services, building and maintaining memorial websites
5. Daycare and after-school programs
6. Administrative services and/or workspace for people working independently
7. Mentoring services
8. Job placement services including finding civil service internships for all young adults
9. Event opportunities and work spaces for artists, performers, caterers, and others

The list of possible committees and small businesses is endless. None of the ideas are new. They all need to be shepherded with guidance that religious institutions may be in the best position to offer. The future is as bright as we will make it! Let's focus on making it so!