What do you do if your Scripture conflicts with your basic (God-given) sense of morality?

Question

Do you assume that your sense of morality is therefore wrong in this instance? Or do you start to question your Scripture?

Which response do you think is most appropriate?

Answer 1

I don't question the Word of God
People tend to have a bad morale on life anyways

Answer 2

One should question everything, re-evaluate everything, especially morality, one's own morality, societal morality etc.and one should question and re-evaluate religious dogmas, scriptures, holy books, one's belief system, or set of contextual distinctions, whatever you want to call it. Assumptions can be avoided and probably should be. Right and wrong pejudices and judgements about morality or anything else have no place in a purely authentic inquiry into one's personal relationship with self and morality. I think the whole history of world wars and violence can be distinguished by this one aspect of human error: that humans have a belief in some sort of ultimate or absolute truth, one way or another, and the human beings who are the strongest militarily will always try to destroy weaker ones who disagree. We only need to look at Iraq, Islam, Jews, and Christians to get the point.

Answer 3

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding In all your ways take notice of him and he himself will make your paths straight Do not become wise in your won eyes Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad.

Now I would also have to add that some times people will tell you that a scripture means some thing other then what it does. If you find this happening I would "first Pray" then search the Bible and find out all it had to say about the subject. Then you could make a informed decision...
I wish you the best..

Answer 4

That's when I start to ask questions.

I don't automatically assume that I'm wrong, or that the scripture is wrong, I assume I need more details.

Often times I find when I do learn enough about culture, context, or other perspectives than mine, they start to not conflict so much.

Answer 5

Would need more information to answer this question because that would depend on the Scripture and the nature of the conflict.... it's easy to make snap judgments or take Scripture out of context.

Answer 6

We question by our very nature. Morals in holy writings are specific to a period of time in which they were written. Take Original Sin, for example. It was common to have the children inheriting the sins of their parents. Children would follow in their parents footsteps. That concept changed during the Horatio Alger Period in the late 19th century. Yet Christians push baptism to clean away the sin of a distant ancestor.

Do ask questions and avoid the fear mongers waving bibles, Torahs, Korans, or any other "holy book".

Answer 7

Well, my scriptures tell me to follow my basic sense of morality:

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it”
- Siddhartha Gautama -

“Believe nothing.
No matter where you read it,
Or who said it,
Even if I have said it,
Unless it agrees with your own reason
And your own common sense”
- Siddhartha Gautama -

Answer 8

I guess it really depends on what your specific situation is. If what you do or how you live is no harm to yourself or others, Scripture will back you up.

KJV Proverbs 20:27
The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

or more plainly.....A man's conscience is the Lord's searchlight exposing his hidden motives.

Answer 9

Instead of questioning scripture, try to understand what it's really saying. Or more precisely, don't take what someone else is telling you it means, even if it's some holier than thou priest.

Regards,

Chris

Answer 10

Peace!
There should be no conflict if the commandment of love is used. I just ask myself if what I am going to do complies with the commandment to love my neighbour. Another way is to apply the Golden Rule. 'Do to others as you would want others to do to you'
which can be used by theists and non-theists.

Answer 11

Nothing God-given can conflict with the Word of God. If you see a conflict then either your interpretation of Scripture or your sense of morality (or both) is faulty.
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