I also ask you to look closly at yourself before answering. Is you opinion about it really your own, or just a society standard which you have adopted?
And please ask yourself; why is it, that what YOU determine as "right" or "wrong" is in fact "right" or "wrong".
And does your definition of "right" and "wrong" apply on a global scale of life?
2007-10-19 00:48:32 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Note: I'd like to credit Deke for the inspiration of this question.
2007-10-19 01:04:43 · update #1
If an action harms someone else, it is wrong. I can't make it any more simple than that.
I fully acknowledge that there are grey areas here, and I'm assuming that your question was inspired by my own (thanks for your answer, BTW), but absolutely no benefit is gained by the two scenarios I presented. None.
I couldn't disagree more, however, with your/the Buddhist premise of indifference. There is enough of that in the world already, and we're not in the best shape because of it. If people gave a damn, we might be better off.
I hope the right and wrong thing becomes a theme today on R&S. I'm interested in everyone's viewpoints on this.
2007-10-19 01:00:12 · answer #1 · answered by bamidélé 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The unbelievers will always answer this question in the vaguest of generalities - as in "if it harms anyone, it is wrong; if it harms no one, it is right" - a problematic argument for self-induced morality if ever there was one.
First of all there is the semantic problem. That is - now you have to define "harm" in some objective terms as well. Is it harmful to hurt someone's feelings by telling them the truth when you decide it may be for their own good?
Secondly - isn't it quite possible that in "harming no one" you can still do wrong by harming yourself?
Thirdly - where did our conscience come from? How are we able to distinguish not only between right and wrong - but also between what we should be doing vs what we should not be doing AFTER we determine what is right?!?
In short - without the Holy Spirit of God in our hearts to guide us in such matters, we would soon degenerate into the most selfish and vile of beings, each of us determining right and wrong based upon our own individual scales of justice. And if you think we aren't the masters of justifying and excusing our own behavior - no matter how vile or heinous - I am sorry my humanistic friends, you know nothing.
2007-10-19 08:06:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a product of my upbringing (and societies 'morals'). Although lately I have began to explore more fundamental 'rights' and 'wrongs', old habits die hard (and I'm too lazy/scared to find out what happens if you go against the crowd). What I determine is right and wrong, whilst it may be shared by many people, does not mean it is shared by all. Nor should it be. Variety leads to growth.
2007-10-19 07:56:33 · answer #3 · answered by M3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, come on.....it doesn't take a genius to figure out the very basic "rights and wrongs" and moral expectations of every day life.
Putting aside any type of religion, I KNOW within myself when my actions are right or wrong for me.
When I can look at myself honestly in the mirror, I am doing something right.
When at the end of my day, I have not wronged anyone including myelf, I am doing something right
2007-10-19 07:55:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The simplistic answer is that wrong things injure people while right things either help them or are neutral. The trick is determining what constitutes hurting them, especially given that it's frequently necessary to hurt someone in the short term to help them in the long term - see any dentist for details.
The long, more truthful answer would take too long to fit into this space, and no one would read it anyway.
2007-10-19 07:57:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
would this hurt me and/or hurt another in any way emotionally or physically ? yes .... then it is wrong
there are certain things in life that are universal
hurting a child... wrong
killing unless in defense.... wrong
as I am sitting thinking about it , I think what is wrong is a lot easier to answer than what is right though
what is right for one may not be right for another...
but that is where the grey areas come in
but even if something isnt right for us , does not make that thing wrong
2007-10-19 08:06:39 · answer #6 · answered by ☮ Pangel ☮ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As an Evil atheist, The answer wanted most is .... I flip a coin.
AS a global thing..... I put up heaps of Christmas lights. Not for religion.... For the love of all things that produce carbon emissions> May God do what he wants with me.
2007-10-19 08:21:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I like the answer of 'Muslim Man'. Further more to add I say that God has imbeded in the conscious of all human souls ability to distinguish what is right and what is right. Human always do what they have done was right or wrong.
2007-10-19 09:46:18 · answer #8 · answered by majeed3245 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think about what harms others and what helps others. Your motivation for your actions may well be the deciding factor as to whether somethings right or wrong.
2007-10-19 07:57:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7 (KJV)
The answer you're looking for, E.K., can be found in the beginning of Exodus 20 - The 10 Commandments:
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
"You shall not murder.
"You shall not commit adultery.
"You shall not steal.
"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
2007-10-19 08:49:27 · answer #10 · answered by ♫ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋