Bob Schwartz

Institutions, traditions and movements have a tendency to work at making members and followers better models of the institutions, traditions and movements. For example, this 250th anniversary of America declaring independence, leadership is asking that we learn more about their version of what it means to be a real American, and act and think like a real American.

The rationale is that these institutions, traditions and movements have “the answer”, and by wholeheartedly joining in and acting and thinking like a real ________, you will help make a better world and life for yourself and for everyone.

It is easy for the institutions, traditions and movements to fall into that role, and for members and followers to fall into their role.

That is dangerous nonsense, though it may be hard to see that and hear that.

Our institutions, traditions and movements should not be there to make us better Americans, Christians, etc. They should be there to make us better people, who in turn recognize and work for better lives and a better world for all people. Once in the institution, tradition or movement, we can discern whether what it is doing and what we are doing in it is leading to such an ideal. If it doesn’t or if it is going in the wrong direction, we should evaluate ourselves and our membership and following.