St Therese, stained glass window, The Fort
DrAbe V Rotor
The six paradigms of good moral life apparently show parallelism with periodicity: man is born at a certain time and place. How can one choose his own paradigm or model of life to lead?
To better appreciate this concept let us first examine this parallelism in the context of history and evolution. Here we also take note of the reasons underlying paradigm shift.
Classical Period (Pre-Vatican)
“What must I do?”
The models in this period which dominated the Christian world for centuries are Noah’s Flood and Sodom and Gomorrah. The salvation of man lies in himself alone let his sinful society perish, if that is the will of God.
Many who have seen or heard Lakay Lakay, a figure of an old man and woman off the coast of Ilocos Norte and Cagayan, know it is the local version of this model. Even today sea travelers throw money into the water as their boat passes through the rough waters surrounding it with the hidden fear of biblical Armageddon.
Thus, a sinful people meet a dreadful fate, save he who is good. This is the rule that governed the faithful during this period. Who is considered good? First of all, he who believes in a God who punishes the wicked and rewards the good – typical in the preaching of the early missionaries such as Reverend Hale in James Michener’s novel, Hawaii.
The image of woman as the Tempter Eve prevailed, so that sex was considered taboo. The world virtually stood still as the masters feasted on their colonies. With the missionaries they took advantage of the promise that the soul will be freed from the suffering body and reach Heaven, the ultimate reward for living in asceticism. Eternal is soul, temporal is life. St. Augustine’s thesis, “the city of God and the city of man” haunts at the crossroad. Wrong choice leads to hell. Obedience was the rule and this rule remained unquestioned, save local revolts and tragic protests like those of Diego Silang and GOMBURZA (Gomez, Burgos and Zamora). The masters stayed too long in their colonies and enraged the people. Soon colonization gave way to the birth of nations. But first, let me present the transitory paradigm during the historical period.
Historical Paradigm
“What do I want to become?”
Enlightenment dawned in this period. Education began to catalyze the acquisition of knowledge among the subjects. “Education is the key to independence,” said Rizal. The so-called Third World countries followed this formula with or without armed revolution. Or it inspired revolution itself. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo inflamed the Katipunan.
Spirituality took several steps down from its pedestal of dogmas to have a “dialogue with the world.” The wheels of time moved faster, the unquestioning subjects soon entered the age of realism. Man, to be good, must realize the unity of body and soul, and the root of spirituality cannot be in the soul alone.
Women, though still looked down by society, began to see opportunities outside the confines of housekeeping. While facing the horizon of self actualization, the road that led the liberated societies was still the long and winding historical road that dictated many of their thoughts and acts. For example, truth is still historical truth. As the old folks would say, “I have eaten more rice that you had.”
But things have changed, particularly to the younger generations. The Sodom and Gomorrah model began to melt, and the concept of sin is no longer one that is indulgence or omission, but “breaking relationships” with God and fellowmen. This means, “We go to Heaven together.” Or vice versa.
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