I have been thinking about and have embarked on a research project posed by the question: “Have we experienced a paradigm shift in society from morality to personality?”  I believe that the question is germane to the discussion and consideration of almost everything humans face and experience today.  If this has happened, it has occurred in the political, social, relational, economic, spiritual, and political worlds. 

Are there any examples of it that we can hang our hats on?  Is there any evidence that suggests that such a shift has happened?  What are we discussing in a ‘paradigm shift from morality to personality’?  I cannot answer all those questions but will attempt to identify only some of what set me on this journey. 

I believe that I saw a significant shift in the American paradigm a couple of administrations ago.  What caused me to ask this question and embrace this thought while observing the relational, entertainment and sports communities was the ‘cult-like’ following that Barack Obama received that made me question our society on this front.  It has continued with various activist groups and politically correct agendas poured upon us.

When people begin to adopt ‘cult-like’ worship and following of a person or ideology, they cannot see the flaws of the individual or ideology.  The kinks in the armor become so inconsequential that they are ignored or dismissed.  Mr. Obama, Mr. Biden, and a myriad of others have been the beneficiaries.  Mr. Obama was granted godlike status even when he advanced policies that are diametrically opposite of the belief of most in the Christian Faith. Yet, many followers of Christ followed Mr. Obama and supported him unquestioningly. 

I have observed preachers who embrace the progressive revisionism of today’s leftist political ideology. That stance is an affront to what they preach and write about.  Yet, the morality they call for in sermons and print takes a back seat to the personality of the candidate and the ideology they endorse.  There can be any number of reasons for this phenomenon.  I believe that it goes beyond race or gender and demands the question, “Have we had a paradigm shift from morality to personality?”

Some have examined this from the perspective of “moral hypocrisy” and “moral inconsistency” to explain where we are and the condition of the human heart and thought.  There is some validity in those arguments.  We are seeing a tremendous amount of moral hypocrisy and inconsistency in today’s political world. 

Most of us have heard or been told, ‘Practice what you preach,’ and that has been the foundational definition of hypocrisy.  Most are put off when anyone ‘says one thing and does another’ or, as the old saying goes, ‘Do as I say, not as I do.’  We view that as hypocritical and correct.   Politicians are notorious for that; most dismiss it because we ‘expect’ politicians to be hypocritical regarding campaign promises.

There was a time in our society when we not only expected but demanded that political figures, business leaders, and religious leaders be ‘consistent’ in their display of morality and were not swayed by their personalities.  Today, whether it is sports figures, movie stars, entertainers, or political figures, we seem to be far less concerned about ‘morality’ than we are about ‘personality.’  Could that result from a paradigm shift in our society where ‘morality’ is of lesser worth today than a charismatic personality that can be worshipped to some degree?

I saw a study (I do not recall who did the study) where a group of individuals were given the option of flipping a coin to decide upon assigning particular tasks to themselves or an unknown person. 

It turned out that about half of the participants opted for the coin flip, but when the results were tabulated, 90% of those who flipped the coin reported that they received favorable tasks for themselves.  That was the same percentage as those who arbitrarily made the decision.  That is suggestive that those who opted for the coin flip skewed the results seeking to ‘appear fair’ but, in reality, were being hypocritical.  That is true in the political world today and is alarming. 

Yet, because it seems we have made a paradigm shift from morality to personality when the president or some other political figure opts for that ‘apparent fairness ’ when fairness is not even part of the equation, they receive ‘cult-like’ approval.  The personality rises far above morality, and the hypocrisy is ignored.

If I am right and we have made a paradigm shift from morality to personality (identity politics) in our society, we are in deep trouble as a people, a nation, and a world.  As a Christian, this is deeply troubling to me because I see it not just in the political but in every facet of society, including the Church.  I pray to God that I am wrong!

May God be with you, and may God bless America again!