If a person feels that their moral upbringing was causing them problems, do you feel that it would be okay for them to change lives, so to speak? That is, imagine a new past that would provide them a stronger (albeit superficial) emotional foundation, so long as they don't outright abandon their family and still seek to atone for any wrongs they had done in their past?
2007-01-10 22:44:34 · 18 answers · asked by Ami 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
morally, yes. mentally, probably not. it's not immoral to want to cast a better light on bad past events. events in my life caused me to change my legal name. their way is just a different way of expressing it. more elaborate. however, it might not be in their best interest as far as stability to do that. imagining things as real can lead to problems later(as one person above me said, it's tied into schizophrenia..not that this person is, but one delusion could lead to others). i would definitely suggest that they seek some sort of therapy to deal with whatever caused them to want to initiate this change. you can have a bad past, and accept it. personally i keep my past in the back of my mind because it makes me stronger to remember that i overcame it.
2007-01-10 22:50:56 · answer #1 · answered by Kismet 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There's grief in your question. Making up a new past is fine, but the trouble is it can't possibly erase all traces of your upbringings. You say yourself that this new past past wouldn't be an outright abandon of your family. You might be faced some day with a dire situation in that respect that you couldn't possibly predict, just because of contradictions you haven't been thinking of. Better cut things short, very short and move on. Half-truths never were simple truth and have a way to hurt back viciously.
2007-01-11 06:55:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Forget the past---there is nothing you can do change it. Living in the past keeps our focus off the present. We live in the eternal present and that is where you need to be. The bible says that we have enough trouble dealing with today without having to worry about tomorrow or yesterday. God lives in the forever present and that is where we need to be. Fantasizing about the past or about character changes will so nothing but confuse you and fill you full of delusions. Atoning for sin will not remove it. The only thing that will remove sin is the blood of Jesus.
2007-01-11 07:01:18 · answer #3 · answered by Preacher 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is perfectly fine to change your life, but by "adopting a new past" do you mean lying about it? Then that is wrong.
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it, never deny your past.
Our pasts are what make up our state of being today, meaning we are what our past experiences have made us. Even if we've made mistakes in the past, we can learn and grow and change and become better people because of it.
Trying to create a more pleasurable past would be to deny what made us what we are and you'd be building your future on a very shaky and false foundation.
2007-01-11 06:47:37 · answer #4 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps if your past is not what you would have liked it to be, you could use it as a positive thing. Remind yourself that, although your past was less than stellar, you have survived and used it to make your life better from this point on! I don't have a great past (some years better than others) but I'm proud of where I am today despite previous bad choices (on my part and the part of others).
No need to lie or be ashamed of where you came from.
2007-01-11 09:44:27 · answer #5 · answered by krobin 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Depends on the intent.
What is the reason for wanting to adopt a "new past". Running away from something you've done wrong is morally wrong. Running away from some evil to try to start a new is different.
2007-01-11 07:02:08 · answer #6 · answered by Rai A 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Imagine as that person will, God is still the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, the All-Loving, the Most Merciful. There's nothing immoral about 'righting' a wrong so long it doesn't hurt or offend another soul.
www.bahai.org
2007-01-11 07:46:00 · answer #7 · answered by Linell 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think morality here is not the issue. The thing is, if your past is not what you would like it to be, accept and embrace it, because your past is what led you to be the wonderful person you are today. After forgiving all the past you will be able to adobt a better reality in the PRESENT and consequently in your FUTURE.
2007-01-11 06:49:44 · answer #8 · answered by sensimilia2000 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Y would u want 2 do that? Because God is "I AM", this implies that the past does not eqaute the present. Each moment is a new one and the person you are moment to moment does'nt have to be the person you were b4. You don't need a past, you need a present.
2007-01-11 06:52:42 · answer #9 · answered by MJR 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The only problem with that is you would have to forfeit precious experiences, which made you who you are. I have had a lot of screwed up stuff happen to me in my life, but I would rather have those experiences than not have them because I wouldn't be the same person today without those experiences.
I would never live a fake life.
2007-01-11 06:52:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋