*The Level of Our Spiritual Lives

Today’s public discourse—both in mainstream and social media—reveals a consistent, radical shift in societal values. Perspectives on tradition, education, and life itself have transformed dramatically. Why? Time has changed: democracy champions unprecedented freedoms—gender identities, careers, lifestyles—with few restraints. Living standards have surged, extending lifespans. Youth form families earlier, fueling a global population boom. Education is democratized; degrees and titles flow freely (if not always meaningfully) from institutions. Technology shrank the world, and nanomedicine promises miracles. Even religious institutions now prioritize "well-being" over scripture, granting followers near-total autonomy.

Yet, amid this wealth, luxury, progress, and optimism, heinous crimes multiply. New diseases emerge. Unemployment and poverty persist. Deaths toll hourly. What explains this paradox? What defines today’s "refined" human?

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s diagnosis echoes:

"The strength or weakness of a society depends more on its spiritual life than its industrialization. Abundance alone cannot crown human achievement. If a nation’s spiritual energies decay, no government or industry can save it. A tree with a rotten core cannot stand."

Our core is rotten. We planted forests of progress—technological, material, intellectual—but neglected their roots. Spiritual decay feeds our crises. Until we tend to that decay, the tree will fall.

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