Institutions are like any other tool. They can be used for good or for evil.  An axe can be an essential tool for clearing away brush and acquiring firewood or it could be a weapon of war.  Institutions are a social and organizational tool that can be used to help others, or hurt them.  It seems nearly every institution experiences both if around long enough.  Our religious institutions provide great social services, especially lifting the poor.  Everything from nourishing, educating, housing, and medical as well and as importantly teaching the value of the individual soul.  And yet in the wrong hands institutions, as any tool, can be used to sow hate, to intimidate, to judge, to incite violence and destroy souls.  Witness the continuing religious incited power struggles in the Middle-East, where institutions have been corrupted and used as weapons of recruitment and justification of horrific violence.

Our governments are institutions as well, and in whose hands we place levers of power are vitally important as well for the same reasons.  Supporting the outsider that seeks power and access to our tools, our institution, for the purpose of benefiting one group over another, building an image of their exalted, never-failing self, maybe the most dangerous of all type of leadership.

We need our institutions to accomplish great and good things for the betterment of all, but beware the corruption of purpose.  The only way is to be involved, to be aware of the history, the direction, the experience and use our voice in the form of vote when we are able to express our intent on a better future.  We must be involved and a part of spreading good and value and ensuring that we helped, not impede the trudge toward a more intelligent and compassionate human race.   We lack not for teachers, scholars and reporters, and historical perspective to be used in making judgements, if only we’d read, listen and be clear of thought and purpose.