How can communities with different values and beliefs be part of the same civilization?.?

Question

Common Values, Different Values Which elements need to be in place for this to happen?

Answer 1

This is an interesting question, and one that might be answered from several different approaches.

In my answer, I will point to the need for various types of personalities and values to be present within a community for the survival of individuals and the group as a whole, that is, the phenomenon you describe is an in-built survival mechanism.

Let us say that a primitive society was made up solely of people who were risk-takers and held the value that the best defense is an always an offense and thus were quick to jump into battle or violent situations with wild creatures. In time, this society would become threatened with extinction, without some of the members holding different values --such as "better be safe than sorry," "family comes before community," "home life comes first," etc.

In a larger sense, the various and diverse personalities within a community tend to stabilize it --typically communities are a mix of risk takers, innovators, caution-minded people, nurturers, artists, passionate people, calculating people, thrifty people, extravagant people, quiet people, outgoing adventuresome people, care-givers, liberals, conservatives, middle of the road types, etc. All these different types hold and perpetuate within the group sets of values that tend to stabilize the group.

I'll paste some references below for further reading.

Answer 2

In one civilization there MUST be a common set of basic values and beliefs. There can be some room for disagreement on which of those values or beliefs are more important than others but an agreement that they are all vital.

I'm waiting to see if an Islam can emerge that respects human rights.

Answer 3

We are now living in a fragmented civilization, we have different preferences how to live our life. These preferences are the very dividing force to live in harmony. Understanding how our mind cling to this divisions and go beyond it is the way to live sanely. Each and everyone must understand all the limitation of our consciousness in order to give birth to a new and intelligent civilization.

Answer 4

Why not? Look at India, a country of Hindus, muslims, christians, sikhs, buddhists, jains, parsis , not to forget different culture, language and lifestyle in every region. what unites people there? Probably just a common attitude of acceptance and tolerance.

Answer 5

Clearly they need seperate governments.

Athens and Sparta in greece pre-roman empire are great examples of this. Are they both greek? yes. But their values are extremely different. Athens is democratic, peaceful, and rich. Sparta is dictatorial, militant, and poor.