Social codes

Unifying culture

In monocultures, social codes and practices usually reflect dominant religious or ethical belief systems present in the culture. European history from the 4th to the 19th century is an example of social codes based on Christian beliefs and teaching. Some Muslim countries today operate under Sharia law - where the law of the country is derived from laws and the teachings of their religious scriptures, the Qur’an. The societies of countries such as North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba and China would claim to operate under the secular values and beliefs of Marxist socialism. Many Western societies, including Australia, would still claim to have social codes based on the values and beliefs of Christianity, but the increasing phenomenon of multiculturalism in those societies has seen changes in social attitudes and codes to reflect the fact that significant groups in the society no longer give credence to the beliefs behind those laws. A most recent example in Australia is the change in Sunday trading laws, where the concept of Sabbath or reviving rest is no longer identified with the Christian holy day.

Usually then, it is not a problem for religious adherents in a society to abide by social codes that are usually less stringent than or at least similar to, their religious codes. Most religions encourage their adherents to be good citizens of their society and to support governments and societal leaders. In the past, as noted above, this has not been a problem. For society is built upon the premise that people will conform. To achieve its objectives, it sets definite goals and values for its members, things that it regards as worth striving for. It also defines the means by which these goals are to be achieved. These regulations and procedures must be adhered to if the social structure and the status system are to remain intact. Society spells out in regulations and procedures with negative and positive norms. Positive norms say what individuals must do; they define the kinds of behaviour society esteems and honours. Negative norms tell them what they may not do; they warn them of activities that are forbidden.

Cultural diversity

However, in a changing world where national boundaries no longer contain single cultures or religions, socialisation may be inappropriate: the norms that individuals have learned may not apply in the situation in which they find themselves. This often occurs when conflicting cultures come together - that is, when adherents of religions come into conflict with the laws and codes of their societies. In Australia in recent years, we have seen religious groups harbouring illegal refugees in opposition to Australian law; pacifists have broken laws to protest against Australian involvement in controversial wars.

The Pope, while head of the Roman tradition of the Christian church, is seen by many world leaders as the “world’s conscience” and not just for Catholics. In authoritarian countries, he speaks for freedom and individual dignity. In capitalist countries, he speaks of respect for life and against our obsessions with material things. There are times when people of religious beliefs practice civil disobedience, because their religious beliefs come in conflict with social laws. The most common example is in times of war when people refuse to support conscription and conscientiously object to the law of the land.

For Christians, often medical and bioethical issues bring them into conflict with social codes. For Catholics, for example, there are problems with society’s attitudes to abortion, artificial contraception, in-vitro fertilisation and stem cell research - all of which are legal in Australia, but which the Catholic Church challenges as violating, in one aspect or another, Catholic moral teaching.

Social sub-groups

More influential on the individual than societal norms, are the codes and rules of sub-groups to which they belong. For example, there exists an extensive body of literature, which claims that schools have replaced other social institutions such as the Church, the medical profession and government welfare agencies as the most important agencies of influence in the lives not only of children, but also their parents. Service clubs, community associations and organisations, volunteer groups and cultural groupings all have codes of behaviour and membership rules. Most mirror those of the wider society, but reform groups may well have codes which challenge the status quo. In an Australian society where the alienation of suburbia and the depersonalisation of welfare and government agencies have left people feeling isolated and powerless, local, community-based organisations have become the basic “glue” that holds society together.