What Is A Moral Absolute? Please Give Examples.?

Answer 1

I would say that a moral absolute is a standard of conduct that is universal, or that everyone can agree to. For example, it doesn't take God to tell us not to hurt each other. That is something we can all agree should be a part of proper behavior. Likewise, you don't need to debate over whether or not you can steal another persons spouse or sexually abuse children. Those are moral imperatives that every normal person knows to be wrong.
To me, it would include that God is our Father, that He created us and that we owe Him our obedience and gratitude. However, I know that there are many that do not accept that absolute so even though it is an absolute to me, it probably cannot be called a moral absolute due to the lack of universality in today's population.

Answer 2

A moral absolute is something that someone believes is right or wrong, no matter what. As opposed to moral relativity, which says that what we believe is right or wrong is dependent on our culture and society.

People who believe in moral absolutes believe that things are right or wrong in a universal sense. What is right is right for everybody, and what is wrong is wrong for everybody.

For example, "murder is wrong" could be a moral absolute -- if you believe that no matter what, murder is absolutely always wrong. That's one that most people would agree with.

On the other hand, some people believe that sex before marriage is wrong. Someone who is religious, for example, might say that "you should not have sex before marriage" and that would be a moral absolute. If you break it, you have done something absolutely wrong. Other people might disagree and say "sex before marriage is fine." If they believe that sex before marriage is always fine and never wrong, then that is also a moral absolute. Only one of them can be right, if moral absolutes really exist. But they both believe they are right and the other is wrong!

A moral relativist would say there are no absolutes. Nothing is right or wrong. We get our idea of right and wrong from our culture and circumstances.