The global financial crisis teaches us the significance of trust -how a system is based on trust that leaders and members will do their job responsibly without cutting corners or deceit. In fact, trust is a majoy part of the global society. Take the powdered milk crisis of China as a case in point. We trust that food companies will provide appropriate ingredients in their products. But perhaps the problem is blind trust.
I believe the concept of trust is just as important in religion because committing to a church or an organisation involves contributing time and money and that the reputation of the organisation could reflect on you as well. Therefore it’s a good idea to test out an organisation before you get absorbed into its social network and culture -even as the New Testament says: “test everything” and as Sean Connery says in Entrapment ”First we try, then we trust”.
What’s interesting about the global financial crisis is that, theoretically, people could have seen the signs before it was too late (as I’m sure there were economists and marxists who did predict a fall). However, the signs may not have been obvious amongst all the financial activity and herd like beliefs that spread without necessarily any reason involved.
It seems now looking back people have 20/20 vision: how could mortgage companies lend to so many people without proper income or assets? After all, you won’t lend money to a friend who probably won’t be able to pay back a debt, let alone strangers. It seems so obvious to us all now as the media focuses on all the issues -but before the bubble burst, only those knowledgeable would have known the difference.
Perhaps a general life-long lesson to learn is that it’s important to read the subtle signs. It’s important to sometimes sit back an observe, rather than just follow the herd. Don’t take comfort in the fact that “everyone else is doing it, so it must be okay”. Like termites that eat wood below the surface, not everything is as it seems.
So my advise is, when looking into religion -whether its Buddhism or Christianity, do a bit of research. Ask questions. Don’t be conned by appearances. Look for subtle signs. Beware of too much persuasion, pressure to make rushed decisions and pressure on you to not ask questions. Also, if it seems dodgy, run.
