In any group of people the accepted values become the lowest common denominator. This is not a derogatory statement but what happens. The values of a society can be extreme on occasion or merely unthought out beliefs because looking beyond the surface requires effort, thought and consideration. Groups are often not good at this sort of thing because even if ideas are explored there are always those who cannot see the reasoning and object. There is always the element of fear that changing ideas is risky and in any case it’s easier to stay with accepted values. There is no challenge then. What is known and understood feels safe and comfortable.

At a personal level we have the leisure to ponder, consider and develop ideas about what is right, fair, just and kind in our lives. Because these decisions have been made carefully they are sometimes difficult for society to understand or come to terms with. We can believe anything as long as it breaks no laws and does not impinge on anyone else’s freedom. Some personal values will emerge making sense, some will be bizarre because in making the judgements we are limited by our personal experience and the amount of effort we are prepared to put into finding out factual information.

Politicians talk about capturing the hearts and minds of the populace. This means presenting ideas in ways in which most of the population can understand them and in terms that are familiar. This is because anything new and radical requires miniscule shifts in society’s understanding and thinking. It’s a bit like the Victorian idea of ‘don’t frighten the horses’.

Unfortunately the sheer numbers in a society ensure that what is generally accepted is something it is tricky to challenge. Someone who thinks differently is considered odd at the least and an oddball and dangerous at the worst. New, radical thinking is often sidelined just because it presents a different value. Society takes time to come to terms with new. Women’s suffrage is an example. For generations it was thought that women had not got the brain to deal with politics. There are some who still think women should be in the kitchen looking after the children. Why else, in spite of laws making equal pay legal, do women still receive significantly less money than men?

Society is also ruled by those in power. They like the status quo because it gives them social position, status, more of a chance to get into the big money jobs and to enable their children to do the same.

At a personal level we can hold onto our values for the sake of our conscience but what we do with them is controlled by our courage and opportunity to dare to be different.