Cultural Preceptions of Future Generations

Ok, I am involved in an oral history class in school. In this class, we basically interview a bunch of people and then write a book on the subject. Anyway, we have been doing a book on the Civil Rights movement, and today I interviewed a black woman about what it was like to be black in the 50s and 60s.
Anyway, this got me thinking about two main things
1. Can we truly fault a past culture for doing something we consider offensive or taboo, but in their time it was perfectly normal. For example, does someone who ran a segregated restaurant really deserve to be called bigoted and racist when that was the social norm of the time?
2. What cultural practices do we have today that our generation will likely be scorned for 50 years from now?

Good topic. Anyway:
For the first one, I would say it depends. In the case of segregation, I would say we can still fault them, because they knew what they were doing was bigoted, and did it anyway. However, its different with other cultural practices. For example, a cannibalistic island tribe should not be considered barbaric or evil because they are cannibals, because for them eating other humans is normal, and they have never been exposed to anything different.

For the second one; I predict (or at least hope) homophobia will be considered on the same level as racism 50 years from now. I'd also bet that the number of openly religious people will have dropped more in 50 years (it has been dropping since the beginning of the 20th century), so being religious will be considered taboo as well.

While things in the past may have been "the norm" and something that was widely practiced, it doesn't change the fact that it was wrong. It's kind of like saying "Everyone else is doing it, so why can't I?".

As for things going on now... hard to say. I think I would agree that discrimination against homosexuals would be wrong by then, or so I would hope so.

Originally Posted by YoungLinkFan

While things in the past may have been "the norm" and something that was widely practiced, it doesn't change the fact that it was wrong.

Yes, but what a culture decides is "wrong" often changes over time. For example; in Ancient Greece, bisexuality and homosexuality was considered acceptable. However, it was later deemed "wrong" by society, and only in the last 50 years is it starting to become acceptable again.

Just playing devils advocate here.

Originally Posted by Hell Hawk

For the second one; I predict (or at least hope) homophobia will be considered on the same level as racism 50 years from now. I'd also bet that the number of openly religious people will have dropped more in 50 years (it has been dropping since the beginning of the 20th century), so being religious will be considered taboo as well.

although I agree that, fifty or so years down the line, homophobia will hopefully be around the same level of taboo as racism, I don't think the same thing about religion. Rather than religion being viewed as taboo, I predict that non-religion will simply be seen as more acceptable and less taboo. There are a lot of religious people in the world, and I don't see that changing all that significantly any time soon.

Originally Posted by Hell Hawk

I'd also bet that the number of openly religious people will have dropped more in 50 years (it has been dropping since the beginning of the 20th century), so being religious will be considered taboo as well.

I've got to agree with Lysis on this one; I can't see being religious as becoming taboo within the next century, let alone 50 years. The reason for most religions' existences won't have been countered by then, and I believe that some religions will just get stronger as time goes on.

Originally Posted by Wrath of Pong

1. Can we truly fault a past culture for doing something we consider offensive or taboo, but in their time it was perfectly normal. For example, does someone who ran a segregated restaurant really deserve to be called bigoted and racist when that was the social norm of the time?

I think that it's simply a matter of different standards. Compared to today's standards, racism (and especially one of that magnitude) is not acceptable, of course. Back then, it was considered okay because it was a part of their standard. I'd like to say that they are people that adapted to the standards of that time and simply went with the flow and what they were taught.

I would definitely call it wrong, not just because of today's standards, but the actual downsides of racism such as segregation, simple as that. Accepted or not, it is a weak mindset - it's not productive or logical. That is truly why I find it wrong, no matter what the standards were back then or what they are now.

2. What cultural practices do we have today that our generation will likely be scorned for 50 years from now?

Homophobia, and chastity before marriage.

Originally Posted by Sabbo

I've got to agree with Lysis on this one; I can't see being religious as becoming taboo within the next century, let alone 50 years. The reason for most religions' existences won't have been countered by then, and I believe that some religions will just get stronger as time goes on.

Sort of. My guess is that most religions will become less widespread and more insular in order to survive. Much in the same way as Amish communities would represent older religious beliefs, current religions will probably live in their own little communes and religion as we know it will become seen as similarly backwards. Many people will probably retain a quantum of spirituality, but this is not the same as being religious.

Originally Posted by Bravo

Sort of. My guess is that most religions will become less widespread and more insular in order to survive. Much in the same way as Amish communities would represent older religious beliefs, current religions will probably live in their own little communes and religion as we know it will become seen as similarly backwards. Many people will probably retain a quantum of spirituality, but this is not the same as being religious.

I disagree. While yes, such communities will likely exist, I still think mainstream religion will have similar influence as to what it does now. Even in the face of extreme evidence against it, religion will always have a knack of sticking around. If what you're saying were the case, religion would've withdrawn entirely into insular groups centuries ago.

Remember that we're only taking half a century here, not hundreds of years. For religion to go from being as big as it is now to as small as you're implying in just 50 years is ridiculous.

Originally Posted by WillZ4E

Homophobia, and chastity before marriage.

I'd say chastity before marriage is already being considered strange.

Originally Posted by Bravo

Sort of. My guess is that most religions will become less widespread and more insular in order to survive. Much in the same way as Amish communities would represent older religious beliefs, current religions will probably live in their own little communes and religion as we know it will become seen as similarly backwards. Many people will probably retain a quantum of spirituality, but this is not the same as being religious.

The reason the Amish seclude themselves is because their rejection of high technology means their lifestyle wouldn't work living in many areas. Most religions don't require such drastic practices, so there is no need for them to seclude themselves.

In some parts of the world, like Finland, religion already is a some kind of tabuu.

I guess it's kind of hard to say towards people that used to do things that were acceptable back then but aren't now. I don't know what kind of mindsets and beliefs people had back then so I can't really relate. Sure, I think segregation was incredibly wrong, but people back then might not have had a second thought about it.

I guess what's more important is what the people themselves think now. Do they regret what they did or do they still think they were perfectly fine with what they had done? I guess it comes down to how the person reflects on their past.

Gee, I feel like I just danced around the question a bit...

Ooh, I'm going to have to come up with an answer to this topic. I've always wondered what the future will think of us.

I would like to think that people would generally be more open minded, more self-analytical, and more honest, but I know immediately that I'm projecting what I respect in people into a hope for the future; logically, I know that that's not going to happen. I can't offer that as a genuine prediction because it's contrary to what you can observe in the world today. People, in general, are not becoming more honest or thoughtful.

There are definitely going to be some moral shifts in the next 50-100 years, propelled by scientific advancements. Things like abortion, stem cell research, and so on, will likely be more accepted. People might find it odd that we had grievances against these practices when they have obvious benefits. Which will be entirely hypocritical, because they'll be frowning on new discoveries which make abortions look like a dinner table party trick.

In the future, I believe homophobia will be far less prevalent, however, undoubtedly something else will take its place. I mean, when we got rid of racism in the 70s, homophobia took its place. Its likely 50 years from now, homophobia will be considered wrong, but bashing some other minority will be the norm.

Originally Posted by attackʞɔɐʇʇɐ

In the future, I believe homophobia will be far less prevalent, however, undoubtedly something else will take its place. I mean, when we got rid of racism in the 70s, homophobia took its place. Its likely 50 years from now, homophobia will be considered wrong, but bashing some other minority will be the norm.

Agreed. Humanity will never run out of minorities to oppress.