Cultures between good and evil
Author: P. Fernando Pascual, L.C | Source: Catholic.net
The dialogue between cultures has been, is and will be a key issue in the reflections on how to coexist among human beings.
When talking about this dialogue there is a danger: to use the term "culture" in a way too vague, which can put aside the differences.
It is true that almost always, when talking about cultures, one of the fundamental points is to recognize that there are differences between groups, peoples and nations.
But staying in the recognition of differences and not analyzing them in their positive and negative aspects is inadequate to put aside an important point when considering such differences.
It is necessary, then, to ask the question:) It is legitimate to distinguish between better and worse cultures, between positive and negative characteristics present in the cultures?
The mere fact of formulating the question arises from specific cultural visions. For some it is important to distinguish between good and bad when talking about cultures, while for others making distinctions of this kind would be wrong.
The question, however, cannot be left in parentheses. Although the distinction between good and bad actions does not coincide with many cultures, we cannot leave it aside when discussing cultural differences.
Even the most objective effort to collect what characterizes the cultures leads to discover that many of them consider good some criteria and ways of living, while condemning as bad other criteria and other behaviors.
In other words, a serious study of cultures cannot put aside the criteria of good and evil. Such criteria need a correct foundation, so as not to incur a subjectivism that distorts the perspective.
Even the most objective effort to collect what characterizes the cultures leads to discover that many of them consider good some criteria and ways of living, while condemning as bad other criteria and other behaviors.
In other words, a serious study of cultures cannot put aside the criteria of good and evil. Such criteria need a correct foundation, so as not to incur a subjectivism that distorts the perspective.
In so many societies where people from different cultures coexist, the great challenge is a healthy confrontation that evidence the common points and recognizes the differences, in order to deepen an indispensable theme: what characteristics of the Culture and cultures of others can be seen as good or as bad?