Ok - this should stir people up - How relative is morality?

Question

How do you define morality (personally and in society)?
What morals are "relative" and which ones are not?
What's wrong with questioning morality (any more
than improving any other skill - say basketball, tennis)
Why do people take it so personally - especially if it is "relative"?
It must be very important - so
What is the morality of morality?

Good answers so far - I see people are
thinking.

I see morality has to do with motives -
having convictions based on the
selfish/unselfish; also in the
direction of helping mankind
and striving to please God.
The 10 commandments contain
laws to serve mankind and laws to serve
God. If mankind and/or food, enjoyment, sex, advancement, quality of life, etc. are "god" or most important (and life's purpose is not to worship
and find out more about the creator),
then your convictions/values will be
different from the ones that believe
in God. Many say, well, those who believe in God "lord it over others." Well, this DOES go against the very teachings of many religions - the goal is actually to be better and better! (does that mean the teachings themselves are wrong? - no). My goal is to hold the same morals towards myself as towards
others - in understanding - convicting
myself MORE than others.
Focus on the real problem -
not excuses or finger pointing.

Answer 1

If morality is based on something man has come up with on his/her own then it is all totally relative to who has the bigger stick and can enforce it.
If on the otherhand morality comes from God then it is absolute and ultimately He is the only one we are accountable to.

Answer 2

Morality is relative to pain it causes humans. Commandments and laws of love and common sense dictate what many agree on. Questionning Morality is very important as society/human Creation continues to unfold. It is all about us.

Consider, some day it may be impossible to kill another human being?!

Answer 3

Ah, morality. If it is not relative, then it is an extremely tangled mess, and I'd hate to be one of the gods responsible for tracing out the causes and reasonings for all the "evil" deeds us monkey brained humans do every day of our lives.

Consider this. The light can't exist without the dark, because it is the darkness that gives the light its shape. Every decision we make is the lesser of two evils, each having consequences that we can't always make.

Anyone who can live with an open mind and care enough to try their best is worthy of my respect, regardless of how different they may be.

Answer 4

Morals are ideas about how to conduct ourselves that we value. These ideas that we value guide our thoughts, feelings and behaviour. They can function on a subconscious level, especially if one doesnt strive for self awareness. The only thing I think that could be wrong with questioning morality is that we could rationalize away the need to live according to values (of course that just becomes another idea that we value).

Answer 5

I'd say theft, murder and rape are the only three absolute morals. Everything else from cannibalism to free speech to what is right to eat (horses? dogs?) is relative to the individual society. Some societies consider democracy to be completely immoral - wheras others think dictatorships are.

Answer 6

Morality is 100% relative.

Muslims, Christians, Hebrews, have all been involved in holy wars which were considered moral.

When the North took over the South to break slavery, their actions were considered moral and just.

America's war on terror is considered moral by some.

Slavery used to be moral.

As society changes, morals change.

Answer 7

just because most people are being immoral, doesn't mean that morality is not relative. i'm a christian so i judge my morals by what God says, but if he says he doesn't want me to do something, then it's my choice wether i do it or not.

Answer 8

Forget morality. It died at least one generation ago. No longer relative nor relevant. Gone.

Answer 9

I think it's all relative. I personally couldn't live with myself if I harm another person either physically or by taking something of theirs. However, I know there are people who it doesn't bother them at all.

Answer 10

To know what is right and not do it is cowardice. We all know what compassion is unless we are trying to be "cute" about it. Being kind and loving to ourselves and others is all we can and need to do.