Are you moral if you only follow a moral code out of fear of punishment and looking for some sort of eternal reward? Can this truly be called moral behaviour?
2006-09-12 07:53:38 · 8 answers · asked by Om 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, it is a kind of morality, but I would describe it as a less evolved form of morality.
2006-09-12 07:58:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but it's not a good moral code. A moral code is a set of things you think are right or wrong. We all have them.
Religion tends to spoon-feed people their morality, so they become morally lazy. They frequently can't explain why they think something is right or wrong, except to say, "God said so".
No morality is totally objective. Even if you could come up with one with very strict metrics for what is good and bad, choosing that to be your moral code is still subjective. However, some moral codes are better than others, IMIO.
I find that moral codes that evolve over time are much more effective than stagnant ones. If you look at theocracies around the world that have strict laws, you'll usually find them to be relatively stagnant and backwards. On the other hand, those societies whose moral codes are allowed to evolve are generally more advanced and successful. This is one reason that theocracies are so dangerous and counterproductive.
2006-09-12 07:56:04 · answer #2 · answered by nondescript 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Awesome question! I think that a great many people base their morality out of fear & punishment. In my opinion No, this is not true moral behavior.
Morality, in my opinion, should be about living by your own internal compass. Spirituality is living from the inside out; living from a wellspring of Divine connectivity and from that point morality is natural, not someting that you have to strive for.
2006-09-12 08:14:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anne A 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. You're moral if you do what you believe is right, not if you blindly follow someone else's morals in the hopes of being rewarded.
2006-09-12 08:00:05 · answer #4 · answered by Not Allie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Forced morality is still morality, just a different means to the same end.
2006-09-12 07:56:14 · answer #5 · answered by c.arsenault 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is true that some people come to God out of fear for their eternal soul. However, many come because they want to know the love of Christ. Those that come initially out of fear, stay because there is no greater feeling than being in His light. I am a firm believer in the fact that it doesn't matter how you get there, as long as you get there...
2006-09-12 08:00:51 · answer #6 · answered by ToYkaT04 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
2006-09-12 07:59:17 · answer #7 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Think about the alternatives. Nuff sed.
2006-09-12 07:56:33 · answer #8 · answered by vanamont7 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋