a) We need god, or some source of moral authority, to tell us explicitly that Certain Things Are Wrong.
b) We can figure it out for ourselves (a process usually but not always involving a certain amount of trial-and-error).
2007-05-21 10:29:54 · 37 answers · asked by ? 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The people saying A don't seem to realize that they have always done B anyway. Religious people always have. Otherwise theists would still endorse slavery and avoid eating shellfish. A is impossible even if you really, really wanted to run your life that way.
2007-05-21 10:35:48 · answer #1 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
B, we can figure it out for ourselves. If we treat other people as we ourselves desire to be treated (the central rule of all the world's religions) then we already have a guide for right and wrong....ourselves. I find it interesting how not only do all the world's religions teach this as a central rule/tenet/belief, but that they have it repeated countlessly throughout their sacred texts......and yet, sadly, we still cannot even follow this one simply suggestion/rule/guide/teaching/concept/idea/philosophy. Is it because it is so simple? Perhaps it is because we forget how we would want to be treated in the same situation? I'll admit that for myself meditation helps. It makes more aware of my own thoughts and I have had situations where I have been fully aware of my bad behavior while it was happening....fully aware that I was indeed not treating this person the way I myself would want to be treated in the same situation. It caused me to stop, pause, and then apologize to the person. Before I began meditating I had never realized my behavior/actions while I was acting but rather it was only after I acted. I think we should all strive to be more conscious, more aware, more focused of our behavior, thoughts, and actions. Perhaps then we could follow such a simple teaching because instead of acting out quickly on just our emotions we would act out of understanding and empathy.
But that's just my own humble opinion.
2007-05-21 11:07:51 · answer #2 · answered by gabriel_zachary 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A bit of both, I think. While I believe we can figure out many of the principles on our own, it also seems like we need some help figuring out how to apply those principles, if for no other reason, there would be no disagreement on morals if we could fully figure them out on our own. Most of our moral precepts either seem too vague ("Do unto others what you would have done unto you", for example, doesn't answer the question of what should we want to be done unto us) or too general (if "thou shalt not murder", what exactly constitutes murder? Would it include such acts as self-defense or war? What in particular separates a murder from self-defense?)
2007-05-21 15:54:35 · answer #3 · answered by Deof Movestofca 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
B. God is the easy way out. You don't have to think about what is happening around you. You have a fictional book telling you why things happen. It's harder to think things through and come to your own conclusions than to just go along with a book.
2007-05-21 10:52:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of the two, (b) is the more correct answer. I wouldn't necessarily agree with its wording, though. It cannot be assumed that morality results from trial and error, there are too many other influences and factors involved.
2007-05-21 10:33:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well, given that humans make up the gods and put ideas and words in their imaginary mouths, it seems clear that it's "b" and always has been.
But it's good (for people who like to dominate others) to be able to back up your ideas about what's right with an imaginary sky bully who'll punish anyone who doesn't agree with you.
2007-05-22 06:58:37 · answer #6 · answered by Mom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, since God isn't exactly clear on everything that is right and wrong (except the simplest stuff) the reality is that we end up having to figure it out for ourselves anyway.
2007-05-21 10:37:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
We need God. Especially for the gray areas. He can lead us to all truth about right and wrong. That was Adam and Eve's mistake. The devil tricked them into believing it was better figuring it out for themselves. Now, look at us. He can show us how to live quiet and peaceful lives, loving Him, loving others, and giving of ourselves. While living right.
2007-05-21 10:34:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
B. Obviously. Even the Bible affirms that (many, many times). And trial-error is seldom necessary.
2007-05-21 10:33:07 · answer #9 · answered by NONAME 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
We can TRY to figure it out for ourselves - success is not guaranteed, or even likely.
2007-05-21 10:32:31 · answer #10 · answered by Dharma Nature 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋