The Social Reality

Recently a friend gave me a book as gift: "The Revelation and Social Reality" by Mr. Paul Lample. I was fascinated by some new concepts stated in the book. One of them is the concept of “Social Reality”. All of us probably agree that there is physical reality, and most of us also are aware that there is spiritual reality. Some of us may have tried hard to uncover the mysteries that are hidden in these two realities. But I have never consciously realized there is another reality as the book pointed out: that is the social reality. In fact, as human being, “most of what we perceive to be reality –the world with which we interact every day – is not physical reality at all. It is social reality.” Also it is this social reality that each one of us has the capacity to help to create anew through our actions. While discussing how this is going to come about, the book analyzed the role of religion:

“The purpose of religion, however, is not simply to describe reality but to change human conduct and create a new social reality. Interpretation (of the Scriptures) does not stand on its own. To test the soundness of our understanding we have to strive to apply it in action. As in science, where theory is tested by experimentation, spiritual insights must be tested by their expression in the world. The aim is to give effective material form to spiritual truth. Interpretation creates meaning. But meaning is tested in action, and action shapes reality.”