Shantanu Deshpande laments the lack of courtesy, politeness, and decency in public places. A social media post: “Look at me,” he mimics the mindset. “I fooled the traffic cop. I saved 10 minutes. What a hero.” That’s the message being sent — and learned. Every single day, people who break traffic rules and boast about it, blast reels in waiting rooms, treat queues like suggestions, and trash public space. Earlier, people would hide this behaviour. Now, they flaunt it. He describes that as an epidemic of shamelessness. (Business Today, 27 October 2025) Prophet Jeremiah wrote: “Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush.” (Jeremiah 6:15)
Fear of God: When there is no fear of God, there is neither knowledge nor wisdom, and hatred of evil. (Proverbs 9:10; 8:13) Instead of fearing, knowing, and loving God, people think and treat themselves as gods. Hence, evil is not seen as wickedness, but as goodness, even greatness of status.
Respect for others: Love your neighbour as yourselves is the teaching of the Bible. (Matthew 22:39) Without fear of God, loving one’s neighbour becomes unnecessary. Instead, some cultures teach to treat others as people without dignity, decorum, and even demonise others. Because of their god-size arrogance, they demean and deny other people’s rights.
Wrong understanding: With a distorted view of God, an inflated egoistic personality, they misunderstand basic ethics and natural justice. For them, sin is no more shame, but pride. Because they live with an illusion that they can decide for themselves what to do, and also describe and define anything according to their desire. Hence, there is no shameful behaviour, but proud moments. Indiscipline becomes their normal behaviour, and they consider it as their birthright and privilege.
Corrupted culture: When such abnormal behaviours become a ‘new normal,’ a society descends into chaos and anarchy. Lawbreakers would become heroes and rulers, and righteous people would be persecuted. The culture that awards lawlessness will become toxic, inhuman, violent, and brutal.
Am I a salt of the earth and light of the world, bringing changes?