Question

Does our society have a sense of dharma? if so, how is it maintained?

Answer 1

Depends on if you understand Dharma as “religion” or “ethics” and which society you’re talking about.

I personally do not think that ethics is inseparable from religion.

In the Western countries religion is declining but ethical awareness is rising. So the “Social Justice” movement is growing exponentially (and over compensating I would say in its fanatical extremism) - but the nature of life is to swing to extremes before settling in the middle. (We just need to be vigilant with over-correction which can also degenerate into dystopia!)

So modern societies are more just, more free, more humane, more equitable, more kind, more compassionate, more altruistic than ever before. The environmental movement is growing by the day more and more people are becoming vegans - when Macdonalds starts offering vegi-burgers you know change is in the winds!!

Hundreds of thousands of ordinary people are striving every day for the common good (which is what Dharma is all about).

I see about me mostly goodness, kindness, generosity and compassion. So Dharma is alive and well and doing just fine.