THOUGHT TO CONSIDER

Chuck Colson wrote in an article that it might be impossible to
teach ethics in Harvard’s Business School because Harvard had
abandoned a belief system based on a foundational understanding of right and wrong. Soon after the school invited Colson to expand his views as part of their Distinguished Le...cturer series. On April 4, 1991, in a lecture hall filled to capacity, Colson delivered the speech, a compelling case that to do what is right, people need not only the intellect, but also the will---which can be transformed only through Jesus Christ. Colson also argued that a society without a foundation of moral absolutes cannot long survive.

- FROM NERIO CLOMA, email

RESPONSE from WS Orozco

Right now, there is a dilemma in governance. On one hand the people are spiritually inclined; on the other the government is purely anti-religious, meaning does not include religious values in its conduct of activities. Instead, religious values are imparted through informal structures -- masses inside government offices conducted by informal sectors.

A need exists to include spiritual values in governance without invoking any specific religion; otherwise, the issues of corruptiona and other negative aspects in political life will persist.

To some people spiritual values are hogwash; to many they serve as mirror to our lives. Are we fulfilling our value systems as we work, as we lead, as we serve?

Many spiritual value-laden beliefs originated in the East and are now persisting in the West. Maybe the resiliency of Asians to global economic recessions can be attributed to our own spiritual values -- we can ride over our problems, not losing our cool, while our neighbors are reeling in crises. We know that our existence does not rest on material wealth alone. Or as the Bible says "No one lives on bread alone." Perhaps there is great need to Asianize the world.

Wilhelmina S. Orozco