Morality and Religion (Late night musings)

Mar 22, 2004 03:57

Morality

My morality is not defined by any conventional system, but is very context-dependent.

*Absolute wrongs (hate, rape, murder, child molestation, abuse, and causing someone pain in general)
*Absolute rights (good parenting, dreams, praise, love, having fun, independence, etc).
*Vast grey area in between...

Absolute good things can be twisted into evil acts, depending on motivation, abuse, and expectation of quid pro quo. Murder can be considered acceptable in cases of euthanasia, and perhaps in the case of evil people *cautious*

The most "evil" people can do good acts. What should/can be done with evil, seemingly irredeemable people?
Even good people make a mistake and commit a act on the low end of grey.

How can we, as imperfect humanity, cope with a decision between lesser of two evils? I seek a third, better, option, as well as I can, but sometimes it simply doesn't exist.

Consensuality and theoretical discussions (let alone movies, games and other forms of fantasy) can make a lot of so-called grey/evil things "right" or at least viewable/discussable that would not be considered so normally.

Some things (jokes, nicknames, etc) can be accepted from friends that would not be accepted from acquaintances/strangers/enemies.

Some things (rudeness, ignoring, etc) can be tolerated/ignored from acquaintances/strangers/enemies that would not be accepted from friends.

Religion

I am agnostic. I don't know whether there's really a God/Goddess/Spiritual Force out there, but I'd like to think so. But then, when I look at all the bad things that happen in the world... how could such things be tolerated by a powerful benevolent being? (If the Spirit is not benevolent, then I'd rather it not exist at all.) Even when I consider free will, this question about intervention and prevention remains. My only resolution is my recognition of the need for balance between good and evil in the world, but I don't have to like that necessity. Of course, based on some of the things I say and think, certain people (especially in *cough*organized religion) would consider me evil or, at the very least, sinful.

When I identify with any "organized" religion, I consider myself a Unitarian Universalist. In as much as I was raised in any religion, I was raised Unitarian Universalist. But my church attendance has always been spotty and often non-existent.

Portions of Paganism, Buddhism, Tao interest me, but I lack the knowledge to really understand those and currently lack the motivation to learn further. Perhaps I will learn someday.

ethics, mood--personal, 2004march

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