The Conundrum of Authority in Contemporary Life

Team Members/Contributors

Michael A. Schuler First Unitarian Society of Madison Contact Me

About this pastoral study project

Confusion abounds in today's world about the nature and source of legitimate authority. Who to believe? Who to trust? Many religious, social and cultural issues become contentious because of widespread disagreement over the power and credibility of various individuals and institutions. For instance, a clergyperson's authority in moral and even spiritual matters can no longer be assumed. With the increasing tendency of young adults to self-define as "spiritual but not religious" the leaders of faith communities struggle to be taken seriously. In my own Unitarian Universalist tradition, with its long-standing emphasis on individual freedom of conscience, the reality is even more stark, since many members are dissatisfied "refugees" from other traditions and lack respect for the ministerial office itself. But the contemporary parish represents only one piece of a much larger puzzle. Are people today less willing to respect and heed authority in any manifestation, or has its locus shifted from institutions to the individual (hence, the rise of political libertarianism)? What forces (the free market, electronic media) have contributed to the weakening of authority traditionally vested in religion, government and our elders? These are some of the questions I hope to clarify in this book-length study.