Decadence - The Meaninglessness of Modern Life

Part one examines the growing greed of society and the 80's ideal that greed is good. It also looks at the growing disparity between rich and poor.

Pria interviews New South Wales Police Commissioner Ken Moroney about the extent to which many cases of rape have become particularly violent and gruesome, and asks why sex crimes are growing in number in society. The link between violent pornography and sex crimes is also examined in this episode. A Medical ethicist Dr. Amin Abboud notes that sex has been trivialized and needs to be placed back into the context of emotional connections and intimacy and that sex should be rediscovered as part of love. In an interview, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach says that modern relationships collapse when people lose interest in the sex and that sex has become the sole measure and importance in a relationship.

The nature of modern democracy is examined in this episode and the question "Do we really live in a democratic world any more?" is asked. The erosion of democracy, media control and the use of public money for advertising is looked at.

The continuing undervaluing of an education in the West is considered. The lack of funding for primary and secondary education is also looked at. There is discussion about the transformation of universities from great learning places into businesses competing for students' money, who only want a fast-tracked easy course into a high -paying job.

The modern western family is looked at , as is what really is a family in the west. The gradual decline in the importance placed on families and the disintegration of the idea of a family and people preferring isolation is looked at.

The nature of religion and religion in the West is looked at. The growing number of irreligious people in Western countries is considered and it is asked whether this has any effect on our happiness or morals.