Religious organizations:

"Practice what you preach" philosophy is key to success

The biggest problem at the University of Hawai`i-Manoa, as I see it, is that we have an uncanny inability to practice what we preach.

We have assembled here an incredible number of experts from a number of fields necessary for success: industrial relations, finance, management, architecture, engineering, etc. and yet we cannot achieve a level of success above mediocrity.

I think the same goes for a lot of Hawaii's religious organizations. There are a lot of people who claim to be experts, but few—if any – show themselves to be anything more than just great talkers.

So here are a few characteristics I think you might find useful in evaluating the quality of a religious institution or organization.

• People are changing. If they are not, then why are they there? To be a part of a social circle? To feel good about themselves or assuage their sense of guilt?
  
  
• People are genuinely happy. No to be confused with the feeling you get from watching three straight episodes of Family Matters. If marriages are failing left and right or if half the membership doesn't show up on Sunday, you can bet there's no real sense of joy among its members.
  
  
• Community service. They are involved in community service projects that benefit the poor. After all, what kind of benevolent institution can say it cannot afford to give?
  
  
• Everyone is involved. The leader is not the only one acting out the ideals of the religion. If that were the case, it would be nothing more than a smaller, mini-religion of its own.
  
  
• Racial diversity. If he organization appeals only to one specific culture or ethnicity or class, there can be no universal truth in it.
  
  
• "A-traditional." Not traditional; not non-traditional, but a an absence of reliance on human traditions altogether. Reliance, in my opinion, should be on a timeless source document, independent of the shifting sands of popular trends.
  
  
• Challenging and rewarding. Lessons should actually apply to real life. Religious organizations are very similar to breakfast cereals. Sure, there are the sugar-coated, "don't worry, be happy" junk food cereal-types, but getting your "100 percent daily vitamin intake of vitamins and minerals" is better for you in the long run.
  
  
• Well-defined purpose. Organizations that call for allegiance to the group first are automatically suspect. And if they mention ritual goat sacrifices, well … use your best judgment.
  
  
• Member enthusiasm. Why bother going to something when those who do aren't enthusiastic about it? Ever heard, "You can come if you want to … I might see you there"? How about "I'm tell you – you'll have a great time! I'll give you a ride."
  
  
• Conversations. Members have got to have dialogues, not just greetings. They talk about day-to-day stuff, which is a sign they see each other fairly often, and care about each other. People who only see each other every once in a while or who are not concerned for each other tend to have conversations like this: How are you? Fine and you? OK. All right, see ya!
  
  
• Effort. Granted there is always room for improvement, but he most important characteristic is that they are trying. What really matters is that they recognize the weaknesses and work on improvement.

In conclusion, I would like to offer the hope that the truth is out there. Although I cannot use these pages to tell you where, I can this this: it is not very far, and it is easy to find if you are willing to look.