Recreating value systems

There is no such thing as a purely material crisis; the crisis in values is at the root of all issues. The present world crises, including increasing crime, drugs, the widening gulf between rich and poor, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, the destruction of the environment, the population explosion and the impotence of governments, are examples of the worldwide erosion of philosophical and moral guidance in the conduct and interpretation of life. In addition, the intensification and diffusion of the market economy is endangering indigenous value systems, religious teachings and social wisdom. Progress in technology and science must be accompanied by a deeper understanding of human nature, morality and the natural world.