Why do We need a public affairs mission? The moral crisis in American public life

A review of Why Do We Need A Public Affairs Mission ? The Moral Crisis in American Public Life by Robert N . Bellah

Robert Bellah , a professor of sociology at UC-Berkley , whose research interests span the more mundane aspects of sociology to impotent issues of class , religion , and the role of government in society . This book draws on his ideas regarding communitarianism , civic responsibility , and Christianity making a strong case that the ethical paradigms we once cherished are falling by the wayside as consumerism rises , distances between classes increases , and the United States

simply becomes disenchanted

Bellah is not the right wing crusader that the title of his book may suggest . He argues against the global economy as it has marginalized the masses , pushed economic elites from the mainstream , and lead to a lack of cohesiveness in the worlds . He urges that international economic policy has not helped to guard against everyday economic ills like job loss , outsourcing , currency deflation , and commodity shortages . Bellah also makes light of the many leaders that have called for helping the poor , but have refused to see how religious texts have made this call for thousands of years . Much of Bellah 's text reminds us of the virtue and wisdom on the Bible and Hebrew texts . Could not the church play a larger role in support and in building community amongst diverse groups ? Bellah would argue yes and seems to be laying the foundation for the faith-based initiatives for which president George W Bush has argued under his banner of compassionate conservativism

Bellah does not add much to the scholarship on religion and social justice or on the moral vacuum that is the United States . It has been said before and said often . That being said , Bellah writes in a clean crisp style sure to attract readers and call them to question their responsibility to the unprivileged masses . The U .S . is truly suffering from a lack of social interest...