NJ and I were discussing on another thread about the rise in alcoholism, domestic violence and drug abuse among the Aboriginal people of Australia and the native peoples of Fiji. The only thing these 2 societies have in common is their relatively recent adaptation of modern lifestyles. So that begs the question, is modern society to blame for a rise in alcoholism, domestic violence and drug abuse? If so why and if not why not?
I would say these issues are gaining steam, not necessarily because culture is catching up, but rather the protection against these issues is being lost. I will preface the rest of this by saying this is my opinion based on my Islamic principles. In the Quran it warns us about tiptoeing in the steps of Shaytan (Satan, Iblis, Lucifer, whatever name you attribute to him) In Jewish Tradition drinking lightly alcoholic beverages was legal (light being a wine that was about 1% alcohol). Over several millennia, The Jews were pushing the boundaries by drinking to get drunk (or more filled of the spirit). When the Quran came, Allah forbade it completely (this could have several reasons, main being that they had learned how to store fruit juice without fermenting it.) Along with alcohol, Allah also forbade use of all intoxicants (which means he doubled up his forbiddance (if this is a word) of alcohol, which I attribute to its tendency to do the other forbidden things more easily). Domestic Violence has been a problem for a long time. The Torah puts limits, but like alcohol those limits were pushed over time. When the NT came after Jesus's (PBUH) ascension, he hadn't made many claims (that were recorded) against it, but overall from his message, most violence went down. But like all the prophets' (PBUTA) times, the limits were pushed because they were not steadfast laws. They had loopholes and self-judgement based limits. When the Quran came, these loopholes and self-judged limits were eliminated. Drugs, alcohol, and a great deal of domestic violence (by modern definitions "Most") had to cease. The only time a man had the right to hit his wife, is if she refused to do what was expected of her (long discussion there, but suffice to say "Women's duties" include taking care of kids, cooking, cleaning, maintaining their religious practices, etc). Then it had many steps before that became an option. The man must first cease attention giving, then cease sexual relations, then finally he would be "allowed" to strike her "LIGHTLY". To safeguard this, men and women were given the right to Divorce. This ensured that if the man was being unreasonable, the woman had the right to leave. If the man couldn't get his wife to do any of her duties, he can divorce her BEFORE reaching the point of hitting her.
So the jist is basically my view is that the problems are from pushing the limits of Allah's allowances of previous religions (as I and most Muslims would say all religions stem from the "original" religion). Making several small steps in the way of Shaytan, until people are fully on the wrong path, lost. Between the pushing of limits in the name of "fun" and the mass digression being seen from most religions, I would say things are going to look bleaker and bleaker until it is "fixed" by the return of Jesus (PBUH).
Should have read "Greater Opportunities" sorry about that. In any event, you raise a valid point. I think the American Indian is a great example also.
