Which society would be better? one with high moral standards--or one that "if it feels good--do it?"

Question

as long as you are hurting no one else

which would have healthier family values?

Answer 1

The better society is the one that is ruled by righteousness, peace and joy and has Jesus Christ as its King.

Answer 2

Depends on what you consider to be high moral standards. Some think that burning a book because you don't agree with it's content to be evidence of a high moral standard. In the Victorian era, putting poor people in prison for being unable to support themselves was considered evidence of a high moral standard. During the inquisition, torturing anyone that didn't cooperate with Holy Mother Church was a high moral standard. In this day and age, in some countries which are now run entirely by "high moral standards", women who used to be doctors and lawyers are now shrouded from head to toe, locked in a house with the windows painted over so no one can see in, and they cannot see out, they can't get the medical care they need, they are stoned to death if they walk outside without a husband, brother, or father present, and the suicide rate among them is rampant. Do any of the above examples sound like healthier family values?
All societies need a guideline of some sort in order to keep functioning, but Freedom of Conscience is also a moral standard.
For that matter, do what you want, *as long as you don't hurt anyone*, is also a moral standard, if you wish to see it that way or not. The admonition not to harm anyone, still maintains a moral standard not to lie, steal, kill, abuse, etc. And if people actually took that concept seriously, and spent the time to reflect on who could possibly be harmed by an action, and in what way, there would be alot of people afraid to make so much as a move off the sofa, for fear of who it could hurt, and the Karmic repurcussions of doing so. The answer lies somewhere in between, and "standards" must be tested in order to be better defined, for the good of all, not just the good of some, or a group of a few people that considers thier standard to be the only "moral" one, in a world full of equally "moral" groups they don't wish to acknowledge.

Answer 3

I find that either side has it's problems. The high moralists tend to begin persecuting others, hypocritically all too often. They become stiff necked-- full of pride. Those that are able to look better morally than their fellows tend to get 'puffed up.'

One the other side of the coin, they can avoid the problems created by the hedonists.

The Hedonists are going to walk right into their problems as if a wall was set before them. They are the one's that create their own opportunities through what they think is going to feel good at the moment, but the after affects are only discovered afterwards.

Both sides need to learn to tell themselves 'No' at times. We have pride on one hand, and the ability to get themselves into certain messes on the other.

I think that the better society, better than both of the two extremes is a society that trusts God. Morals might be around, but the focus isn't morality, it's trusting God, to live according to faith in God. That's what a true Christian is and that is Christianity better revealed.

Morality is often too many times mixed up with faith. We are immoral creatures to begin with. We can get it wrong. But trusting God and making sure that your contact is with him, that's the real path to salvation. Not morals.

Answer 4

Depends on your definitions. It seems to me that morality is all about not causing harm to others, so I'm not sure how the society with high moral standards would be different from the other society.

Answer 5

Certainly a society with high moral values. Here there is very noble family values too that binds them together and very peaceful ,loving relationship between family members.

Answer 6

High moral standards

Answer 7

I'll go for the latter.

For me, it would feel really good to exile all liberals to the Bikini Islands and then test another nuke.

When they were gone, the world would have a much higher (average) moral standard.

Answer 8

High moral standards.. If you notice that crime rates are less in societies with high morals than the latter...

Answer 9

If it feels good, do it.

As social animals humans have evolved to naturally have capacity for honesty, charity, and especially deep love for those who share genetic relationship (family).

But when society tries to externally impose moral standards it encourages rebellious behavior as people naturally want to exercise free will.

Answer 10

Moral standard are a must, otherwise chaos would regin.