Personal and Community Values (Leaving Cert Religious Education): Revision Notes
Personal and Community Values
What are personal and community values?
Personal values are beliefs and principles held by individuals that guide their behaviour and decision-making. These values are often shaped by personal experiences, religious beliefs, family upbringing, or individual convictions. What makes them "personal" is that they may not be shared or valued equally by the wider society.
Community values are beliefs and principles that are widely shared and accepted by society as a whole. These represent what most people in a community consider important and worthwhile. They reflect the collective moral standards and priorities of a group or nation.
The key distinction is that personal values are individual and may differ from person to person, while community values represent the shared beliefs of society as a whole.
Examples of personal and community values
Personal values examples:
- Religious dietary laws: Kosher food laws in Judaism guide what Jewish people can eat and how animals should be prepared for consumption
- Medical treatment refusal: Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions based on their religious beliefs, even in life-threatening situations
- Individual moral convictions: Personal beliefs about right and wrong that may differ from mainstream society
Community values examples:
- Education: Most people in society believe that being educated to a high standard benefits both individuals and the community
- Right to life: Society generally values preserving and protecting human life above other considerations
- Freedom of speech: Both individuals and communities typically value the right to express opinions and ideas
How personal and community values interact
In many cases, personal and community values work together harmoniously. Most personal values align with what society also considers important. For example:
- Education is valued both personally (for individual fulfilment and success) and communally (for social progress and tolerance)
- Freedom of speech benefits both individuals (personal expression) and society (democratic participation)
This alignment helps create social cohesion and shared understanding within communities.
When personal and community values align, society functions more smoothly because individuals naturally follow behaviours that also benefit the broader community.
When personal and community values conflict
However, tensions can arise when personal values clash with community values. In these situations, community values often take precedence over individual preferences, especially when broader social interests are at stake.
Understanding that community values typically override personal values is crucial for comprehending how modern democratic societies function and make difficult decisions.
Case Study: The Incinerator in Ringsend
When Bord Pleanála granted permission for an incinerator in Dublin Bay, they acknowledged that local residents faced increased health risks from cancer-causing particles released during waste burning. However, the decision prioritised community needs:
- Dublin's landfill sites were rapidly reaching capacity
- This was seen as a pressing concern for a much larger population
- The incinerator reduces waste mass by 90%, extending landfill site usage
- Planning permission was granted because it served the common interest
This demonstrates how individual concerns (health risks for local residents) were outweighed by community values (waste management for the greater good).
Case Study: Mrs K (2006)
This case from the Irish Independent illustrates a direct conflict between personal religious values and community medical values:
The situation:
- Mrs K, a Jehovah's Witness, gave birth and lost 80% of her blood due to complications
- Doctors prepared to give her a blood transfusion to save her life
- She refused the treatment on religious grounds, believing blood transfusions were sinful
The conflict:
- Personal value: Religious conviction that receiving blood transfusions is morally wrong
- Community value: The medical principle that if a life can be saved, doctors must try to save it
The outcome:
- Mrs K fell unconscious after refusing treatment
- The hospital sought legal intervention to save her life
- A judge ruled in favour of the community value of preserving life
- The court permitted the blood transfusion against her expressed wishes
This case shows how personal religious values can be overridden when they conflict with society's commitment to preserving life.
Key Patterns in Value Conflicts:
When personal and community values clash, several patterns emerge:
- Community values typically prevail: Society's broader interests often outweigh individual preferences
- Legal intervention: Courts may step in to enforce community values over personal choices
- Minority values face challenges: Personal values held by few people are more likely to be pushed aside
- Life-preserving values are prioritised: Community values that protect life often override other considerations
Key Points to Remember:
- Personal values are held by individuals and may not align with society's views
- Community values represent what most people in society consider important
- Many personal and community values work together harmoniously
- When conflicts arise, community values typically take precedence over personal ones
- Real-world cases like Mrs K and the Ringsend incinerator show how these conflicts play out in practice