The How of Morality

[dyanaprajna2011]

There's been a lot of threads recently where morality has been the main topic of debate and discussion. Most of these threads deal with either what exactly is morality, or what constitutes morals. What I'm wanting to know in this thread, is HOW is one moral? Does morality come from a divine source? Does it come from religious institutions? Does it come from something philosophical? Is it a part of our natural makeup? Is it mental, emotional? Is it a part of the evolutionary process?

 

[Badran]

When i think of someone being moral, i think of anyone honestly trying to distinguish between right and wrong, build some form of moral system or code for him/herself (even if in the simplest of forms), doing his/her best to follow those morals.

This covers to me all possible 'truths' or possible realities. Since from my perspective, this is the best or all we can do. We can't (or at least haven't yet) know certain things in any definitive manner. So basically there is no definitive set of rules that you can call morality. Is it part of our natural make up? I think it is, in the sense of seeking any moral code, or any form of morality and/or ethics. Is it part of the evolutionary process? I don't know, but my guess is that it probably is. Again, in the sense of seeking one, not actually having one.

Whether or not all this comes from a divine source, is a matter of beliefs of course. I think it works in both scenarios, but i of course personally think that it does.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I see a collective "morality". It differs culture to culture by way of isolation, yet overall follows a universal template by way of preservation and stability within each respective group. Problems arise when different forms of collective moralities clash. In that light I see this as being a natural intuitive behavior brought about from each environment and each unique culture.

 

[Father Heathen]

There's been a lot of threads recently where morality has been the main topic of debate and discussion. Most of these threads deal with either what exactly is morality, or what constitutes morals. What I'm wanting to know in this thread, is HOW is one moral? Does morality come from a divine source? Does it come from religious institutions? Does it come from something philosophical? Is it a part of our natural makeup? Is it mental, emotional? Is it a part of the evolutionary process?

It comes from innate empathy, since humans are social animals.

 

[rusra02]

There's been a lot of threads recently where morality has been the main topic of debate and discussion. Most of these threads deal with either what exactly is morality, or what constitutes morals. What I'm wanting to know in this thread, is HOW is one moral? Does morality come from a divine source? Does it come from religious institutions? Does it come from something philosophical? Is it a part of our natural makeup? Is it mental, emotional? Is it a part of the evolutionary process?

The Bible clearly teaches that what constitutes morality comes from God. He alone has the right to determine what is good and what is bad. All mankind have an internal moral compass, a conscience, but without guidance from God our conscience is not a reliable guide. God's laws are perfect and beneficial for all people everywhere. Psalm 19:7-11) I believe Jehovah's Laws, orders, reminders, commandments, and judicial decisions are the basis for true morality. As the Creator, he has the right to enforce these laws. (Isaiah 33:22)

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[Madhuri]

I think that morality (right/wrong and good/bad) is a human construct and certainly very subjective. I don't see hard and fast rules in life. Almost everything seems to have numerous exceptions or based within context.

I will say though that just because something like morality is a mental construct does not mean it is not important. Our actions have consequences and based on our perception, we can categorise actions into 'good' or 'bad' or 'moral' or 'immoral'. For example, I define morality as constructive action/intention/consequence and immoral as destructive action/intention/consequence. But all these words and language and perception is ultimately illusion, imo. In the end, only God exists and God is all good and bad and neither good nor bad.

I hope that made sense. It's past my bedtime..

 

[Father Heathen]

The Bible clearly teaches that what constitutes morality comes from God. He alone has the right to determine what is good and what is bad. All mankind have an internal moral compass, a conscience, but without guidance from God our conscience is not a reliable guide. God's laws are perfect and beneficial for all people everywhere. Psalm 19:7-11) I believe Jehovah's Laws, orders, reminders, commandments, and judicial decisions are the basis for true morality. As the Creator, he has the right to enforce these laws. (Isaiah 33:22)

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Why would god gift us the ability of reason only for us to forgo its use? Most of the bible is irrational, arbitrary and an affront to reason.

 

[Alex_G]

There's been a lot of threads recently where morality has been the main topic of debate and discussion. Most of these threads deal with either what exactly is morality, or what constitutes morals. What I'm wanting to know in this thread, is HOW is one moral? Does morality come from a divine source? Does it come from religious institutions? Does it come from something philosophical? Is it a part of our natural makeup? Is it mental, emotional? Is it a part of the evolutionary process?

I think the source of an individuals morality lies in our sense of self well being and preservation, which is something that makes sense to posess in an evolutionary framework. Being in touch with our own body and mind provides the base framework off which a sense of moral responsibility will grow.

As we have developed as social creatures we have a strong connection to those around us, living in a way that is codependent and synergistic. Our strong sense of empathy via mirror neurons connects the experiences of others to ourselves in a very real way.

With the advance of intelligence we can appreciate that others inhabit this world as well as ourselves, and have their own equal experience of it. There have been some interesting studies done to look at when children develop this awareness of other minds, changing their world view from a self centred one to one that allows for the mental lives of others. Certain conditions can demonstrate problems with this, such as autism, and the subsequent problems that arise in social interaction.

This empathetic connection opens our eyes and gives us the capacity to act in a moral way, but with increased intelligence we can reason and reflect on our own nature and identify areas whereby it might be letting us down. Such that reason become a safety net for the primary emotional drives that dictate our moral behaviour.

It ultimately boils down in most part to a hypocritical stance when treating others, in comparison to your own life.

 

[Nakosis]

There's been a lot of threads recently where morality has been the main topic of debate and discussion. Most of these threads deal with either what exactly is morality, or what constitutes morals. What I'm wanting to know in this thread, is HOW is one moral? Does morality come from a divine source? Does it come from religious institutions? Does it come from something philosophical? Is it a part of our natural makeup? Is it mental, emotional? Is it a part of the evolutionary process?

My morals are developed in my early childhood. By culture, personal experiences etc... They may not be the same as someone else's morals. However where we have commonality of culture and experience we may develop a similar sense of right and wrong.

Religion is like trying to define/enforce a group morality. It may differ from our personal morality however it is what the group has chosen to expect it's members to live up to.

In secular government we define acceptable morality by civic laws. What the group agrees is acceptable behavior. This may or may not conflict with our actual personal morals. We sometimes have to choose to act according to our personal morals or according to the morality expected/enforced by the group.

Christian morality has been cultural for a long time. It's been programed in so some feel it is natural or should be universal. They are often not aware that culture has programmed this into who they are.

 

[fishy]

The Bible clearly teaches that what constitutes morality comes from God. He alone has the right to determine what is good and what is bad. All mankind have an internal moral compass, a conscience, but without guidance from God our conscience is not a reliable guide. God's laws are perfect and beneficial for all people everywhere. Psalm 19:7-11) I believe Jehovah's Laws, orders, reminders, commandments, and judicial decisions are the basis for true morality. As the Creator, he has the right to enforce these laws. (Isaiah 33:22)

Which obviously means that genocide is moral, that infanticide is moral. I would prefer a more moral view of morality.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

I believe that the basis of our moral behavior is rooted in our biology. In fact many animals exhibit similar behaviors which could be called morals.

I believe what we call "morals" could be defined as survival strategies.

 

[rusra02]

Why would god gift us the ability of reason only for us to forgo its use? Most of the bible is irrational, arbitrary and an affront to reason.

God wants us to use our power of reason. (Romans 12:1) Obviously, I disagree with your statement that "the Bible is irrational, arbitrary, and an affront to reason." I do not find it any of such things.

 

[rusra02]

Which obviously means that genocide is moral, that infanticide is moral. I would prefer a more moral view of morality.

The Bible supports neither genocide nor infanticide.

 

[Caladan]

There's been a lot of threads recently where morality has been the main topic of debate and discussion. Most of these threads deal with either what exactly is morality, or what constitutes morals. What I'm wanting to know in this thread, is HOW is one moral? Does morality come from a divine source? Does it come from religious institutions? Does it come from something philosophical? Is it a part of our natural makeup? Is it mental, emotional? Is it a part of the evolutionary process?

As far as I'm concerned it's a gut feeling thing, or instincts. some people show compassion naturally, are more receptive and show a sensitive intelligence.
its not attributed to any inherent spirituality, and when it comes to culture, there is plenty of relativism involved, what goes in some places doesn't go in others, plenty of the moral standards of society don't say much about how moral or not people are.
sure, people can be taught to be more refined, they can gain more experience in how to treat others and how to show common courtesy. but sometimes its either you got it or not.

 

[tumbleweed41]

The Bible supports neither genocide nor infanticide.

Do you even read the Bible? What of these passages?

1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ***.

Psalms 135:8
Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

Exodus 12:29
And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

Among others. In the stories of the OT, God does indeed support, and even practices, infanticide and genocide.


Ethics and morality are the result of societal evolution, not divine command and the revealed revelations some 4000 years out of date.

 

[connermt]

There's been a lot of threads recently where morality has been the main topic of debate and discussion. Most of these threads deal with either what exactly is morality, or what constitutes morals. What I'm wanting to know in this thread, is HOW is one moral? Does morality come from a divine source? Does it come from religious institutions? Does it come from something philosophical? Is it a part of our natural makeup? Is it mental, emotional? Is it a part of the evolutionary process?

For me, morality is about what one is comfortable with within themselves. Rather they get that for an external source or not or a combination of sources is irrelevant IMO.
For example: Some say it's immoral to over eat and totally moral to abuse animals. I disagree with both of these ideas. Does that mean my morality is better than theirs? To me, yes, but in the general scheme of things, not really.

Though abusing animals should be punishable by immediate death IMO.....

 

[Caladan]

Do you even read the Bible? What of these passages?

1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ***.

Psalms 135:8
Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

Exodus 12:29
And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

Among others. In the stories of the OT, God does indeed support, and even practices, infanticide and genocide.


Ethics and morality are the result of societal evolution, not divine command and the revealed revelations some 4000 years out of date.

Sorry tumbleweed, but when we post Biblical passages it doesn't prove much when we don't present the entire narrative. there was a reason for God's stance on the Amalekites, and for the last plague of Egypt.

 

[Songbird]

I don't like the word "morality", but I can't seem to find many people who agree. I prefer to break it down into some different categories - compassion, empathy, efficiency, critical thinking, and the biblical fruit of the spirit are some places to start. When those values are combined into the overall category of "morality", the word seems to have a rigidity and staleness.

 

[Caladan]

I don't like the word "morality", but I can't seem to find many people who agree. I prefer to break it down into some different categories - compassion, empathy, efficiency, critical thinking, and the biblical fruit of the spirit are some places to start. When those values are combined into the overall category of "morality", the word seems to have a rigidity and staleness.

Badabum. bingo. and exactamundo. (just in case the word morality does **** you off )

 

[tumbleweed41]

Sorry tumbleweed, but when we post Biblical passages it doesn't prove much when we don't present the entire narrative. there was a reason for God's stance on the Amalekites, and for the last plague of Egypt.

Yes, I understand that God reasoned the killings, however the are still advocated.
Is not one of the mitzvot (commandments) to remember what the Amalekites did to Jews, to not forget what the Amalekites did to Jews, and to destroy the Amalekites utterly?