Chapter 66
The Corruption of Sacred Institutions
Mine eyes with such an eager coveting, Were bent to rid them of their ten years’ thirst, No other sense was waking: and e’en they Were fenc’d on either side from heed of aught; So tangled in its custom’d toils that smile Of saintly brightness drew me to itself, When forcibly toward the left my sight The sacred virgins turn’d; for from their lips I heard the warning sounds: “Too fix’d a gaze!” Awhile my vision labor’d; as when late Upon the’ o’erstrained eyes the sun hath smote: But soon to lesser object, as the view Was now recover’d (lesser…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Track an Institution's Mission Drift
Choose an organisation you interact with regularly—your workplace, a school, a hospital, or even a social media platform. Write down what you think its original mission was, then list 3-4 ways it has changed over time. For each change, identify who benefits most from that change and whether it serves the original mission or something else entirely.
Consider:
- •Look for changes that seemed positive at first but had unintended consequences
- •Notice who gained power or profit from each transformation
- •Consider whether the people making decisions still share the original mission
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you watched something you cared about—a job, relationship, or community group—slowly become something different than what drew you to it in the first place. What were the warning signs you might recognise earlier next time?
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