Book of the Month: March

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”

Right now, that quote from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland feels very much like the messages we hear on a daily basis. What used to constitute the self, the truth, and what is moral no longer seems to apply. In the current climate, our pick for book of the month offers an insightful examination of how we got here, what it means, and how faith can play a role in forging a common ground for future generations.

Morality by Jonathan Sacks

Jonathan Sacks is no stranger to tackling big topics. His previous book, Not in God's Name, was a deep look at the roots and responses to religious violence in the world. Following this, and drawing from his esteemed BBC Radio 4 series, Jonathan Sacks explores morality and the pressing need for firm moral footing in the world today.

About Morality by Jonathan Sacks.

We are living through a period of cultural climate change. We have outsourced morality to the markets on the one hand, and the state on the other. The markets have brought wealth to many, and the state has done much to contain the worst excesses of inequality, but neither is capable of bearing the moral weight of showing us how to live.

This has had a profound impact on society and the way in which we interact with each other. Traditional values no longer hold, yet recent political swings show that modern ideals of tolerance have left many feeling rudderless and adrift. In this environment we see things fall apart in unexpected ways – toxic public discourse makes true societal progress almost unattainable, a more divisive society is fuelled by identity politics and extremism, and the rise of a victimhood mentality calls for ‘safe spaces’ but stifles debate. The influence of social media seems all-pervading and the breakdown of the family is only one result of the loss of social capital. Many fear what the future may hold.

Delivering a devastatingly insightful critique of our modern condition, and assessing its roots and causes from the ancient Greeks through the Reformation and Enlightenment to the present day, Sacks argues that there is no liberty without morality, and no freedom without responsibility.

If we care about the future of western civilisation, all of us must play our part in rebuilding our common moral foundation. Then we will discover afresh the life-transforming and counterintuitive truths that a nation is strong when it cares for the weak, and rich when it cares for the poor.

Here is an inspiring vision of a world in which we can all find our place, and face the future without fear.

Buy Morality by Jonathan Sacks Today 

March 3rd, 2020 - Posted & Written by Aaron Lewendon

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