The term “a formed conscience” is new to me. It instantly resonated. I understand the application in a religious setting, but my first thought was the necessity of a secular citizen’s need for a formed conscience.
The founding fathers had faith in a representative democracy if it was supported by a foundation of moral values, principles, and ethics. For generations the religious institutions provided the “formed conscience.” Since religious institutions have come under attack from the ACLU types and their kindred many in the last couple of generations had grown up without a formed conscience.
The battleground has shifted so far as to make a coherent teaching of religious values on which to bolster our form of government on that I suggest the need for a curriculum of basic values, gleaned from all prospering democracies, devoid of the direct religious references be taught in the form of citizenship. This inculcation should begin at the earliest ages; because what is lacking today is the notion of a collective “formed conscience.”
Wonderful,thoughtful, on point