Where do YOU get your morals?

Question

What is the moral standard for you?

Answer 1

Foremost from the life and teaching of Jesus. Secondly from a consideration as to what behaviour enables our society to function.

Answer 2

Reading excellent books and decisions I made while young as I pretty much raised myself because both my parents worked ! I dare say though the example they set by their actions did have something to do with it even though religion was never a issue in the house . nobody went to Church except once in a great while and they gave up when I kept ditching Sunday school ! Spankings wouldn't have worked anyway as I was nearly immune and extremely stubborn .

Answer 3

Just as important as the standard is the source of the standard.

From the answers here we can see most of them are vague. "common sense", "from my parents", "from experience", "from education", etc. The truth is that all these things result in feelings. People do what they feel like doing and then set their own standard such that they fit their own standard. That is why even criminals plotting their next crime think of themselves as basically good.

Answer 4

Common sense, consequences, and upbringing. The Golden Rule of treating others as you want to be treated, this means taking our differences into account as well. If we are splitting a pizza I may not like black olives on my pizza and you may. The golden rule doesn't mean since you like them you get all black olives it means since you would like me to take your differences into account when I ordered pizza you get half what you want and half what I like on the other. The golden rule appears in almost all religious systems and I think is based on common sense and experience rather than divine revelation. I don't need religion to tell me I wouldn't enjoy life as a drug addict, I can just look at the lives of those who are and how much they aren't enjoying it. I know that if my mate cheats on me it would hurt me and I would not betray a trust if I myself would be hurt by such an act. We can't reasonable expect others to treat us well if we aren't willing to return the favor.

Answer 5

Parental influence as a child.
Common-sense thereafter.
Inbuilt sense of morality.
Treat everyone else as you would wish to be treated.
Leave the bathroom as you found it.
Even groups of chimpanzees have moral standards.

Answer 6

Rick, you raise an excellent point.

My morals come from common sense, encouraged by my parents, who have always allowed me to generate my own opinions based on what I observe, independent of their influence.

Answer 7

Usually I try to go by logic and reason but as a generally rule I try to follow the 'Harm None' agenda.
But I'm not as devoted to it as I probably should be. I won't strike out unprovoked, but if someone hurts me or someone in my care. Then they're going down!

Answer 8

Uhh, my upbringing. Also, you know, conscience and so forth.

If you claim to get your morals from a religious text, do you only avoid murdering because a book tells you it's bad?

I just...have to question your sanity.

Answer 9

From my parents mostly, and from the religion which I was raised with which is Jainism. But I'm atheist now, but religion has still played a part in shaping my morals. And also from my education.

Answer 10

From Yahoo's R&S section, of course.

I believe everything I read here. I know everyone on here loves me and has the best intent for me.

Truly, I do.....

Answer 11

My not so humble mind. Anything good for me is good. Anything bad for me is bad. The exception is when people try to hurt my friends or loved ones. Or when it comes to rapists, murders, people who beat their wives, girlfriends or children, people who cause mental problems in others, etc.