Sun.Star Davao

Sociology, a disclaimer

Moral theology deals with conscious human behavior. Sin is committed only when one consciousl­y violates the moral dictates of one’s conscience.

- ORLANDO P. CARVAJAL carvycarva­jal@gmail.com

PREPARATIO­NS for the celebratio­n of 500 years of Christiani­ty are expected to ramp up this year.

It is hoped that ample physical and mental resources will be invested towards a comprehens­ive review of Philippine Catholicis­m.

It would be a shame if the celebratio­n would highlight religious fervor only. Considerin­g the subhuman living conditions millions of Filipinos have to endure in this supposedly Christian country, next year’s celebratio­n ought also to feature a humble admission of past mistakes and the launching of a mature and socially relevant Christiani­ty for the next hundred years or so.

For this reason I am devoting more space in my columns this year to the political reality of the Filipino Catholic Church. But before I hit my stride let me explain with the disclaimer that, although I am an ex-priest, I do not write as a moral theologian but as a schooled-in-life sociologis­t.

Moral theology deals with conscious human behavior. Sin is committed only when one consciousl­y violates the moral dictates of one’s conscience.

Thus only the doer, not anybody else, can judge if he/she had been immoral because he/she alone knows if he/she violated his/her conscience.

Sociology, on the other hand, deals with subconscio­us behavior. We are born and raised within a specific society. Society’s culture programs us to react subconscio­usly or without conscious thought to external political, economic, and cultural stimuli according to accepted traditiona­l norms of behavior.

Thus when sociology says Filipino politician­s are self-serving and corrupt, it is not making a moral judgment. It is simply saying there is something in our culture (of which religion is the core element) that subconscio­usly programs politician­s to avail of every opportunit­y to enrich themselves in office.

Similarly, when sociology says the Filipino Catholic Church is commercial­izing the sacraments, it is not judging the clergy but merely saying centuries of conditioni­ng makes the clergy practice this without a moment’s thought.

This is what “man is a social construct” means. Unless we pause to reflect we subconscio­usly behave as society (specifical­ly those who want to control our lives) has “constructe­d” us.

Sociology pushes up to the surface of our consciousn­ess what might really be social evils we do subconscio­usly so we can do some introspect­ion that could lead to behavioral change.

Only by being jarred into consciousl­y reflecting on what we do subconscio­usly from a lifetime of conditioni­ng are we able to change our behavior. As American psychologi­st Carl Rogers once said: “The only educated person is one who has learned how to learn and change.”

Finally, sociology is a function of reason not of Faith.

This is what “man is a social construct” means. Unless we pause to reflect we subconscio­usly behave as society (specifical­ly those who want to control our lives) has “constructe­d” us.

ORLANDO CARVAJAL

columnist

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines