What is Morality?
Morality is a broad term that is often confused with similar terms, such as ethics or justice. Although it may not immediately make the difference clear, morality is defined by Mirriam-Webster’s Dictionary as:
“A doctrine or system of moral conduct '''. However, without proper understanding of the word moral, this definition is largely left up to interpretation.
Moral: ”Of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior”. Thus,
Morality essentially refers to one’s system of principles that allow that person to decide right from wrong.
The United States Military uses a book called Spiritual Resilience that also discusses morality. It asserts the following:
Morality is a key dimension of spirituality. Along with ethics, purpose and your connectedness with others, it is the driving force to total well being.
It also designates that transcendance, or an experience beyond the self, can have a large impact on how a person understands right and wrong. This includes religious people.
In Depth
We were created in the image of God, and as such we are created good.
However, due to The Fall in the Garden of Eden, Original Sin corrupted human beings.
Christ established a Golden Rule for us that could summarize all other rules that exist.
Do unto others, as you would have others do unto you.
Christianity is perhaps best known for its moral doctrines. Some famous rules/doctrines include:
The Ten Commandments: Given to Moses on Mount Sinai, they were the ten rules inscribed on stone tablets, given to the Isrealites to lead them to God, the ultimate source of good.
You shall not have strange Gods before me
You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain
Remember to keep Holy the Lord’s Day
Honour thy father and mother.
You shall not kill
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
You shall not covet thy neighbour’s wife.
You shall not covet thy neighbour’s goods.
The Sermon on the Mount: Early in his preaching, Jesus addressed the people by revisiting the necessary morals to holy good lives. These included several messages.
The Beatitudes: In a similar fashion to the Ten Commandments, these were meant to demonstrate the type of people God ultimately sought.
He cautioned against advertising your faith to garner the respect of others.
Christianity has always maintained that human beings are free agents that are able to make their own choices for good or ill.
The Church has maintained that in order for a decision to be good. It must be pure in both action and intent. Thus, the end doesn't justify the means. (Catholic Church, 2012).
God instilled human beings with the natural law to make the correct choices.
This is known as conscience.
But like a plant, conscience must be nurtured properly if it is to be properly and fully developed. Sources of information and guidance, such as the Bible, are needed to properly inform people’s conscience.
“[Jesus] accepted [evil] as part of the burden of the human condition” (Knox, 1999). As such, he sacrificed himself to free us from sin while always being willing to forgive us when we are true. No matter how evil our sins are, God will always call us back to him when we are truly ready.
In Life
Be considerate of others when making your own choices.
Make choices that reflect what you know to be right based on what we know, what we have learned and the guidance of God.
We can use the rules God left for us as a guide, the values we have learned from other sources and our own conscience (which has been shaped by the latter) to make choices.
We are not God, or omniscient, we can only make the best choices with the information we have.
God left rules to guide our values.They are not absolutes. These rules are to be followed in all normal situations, but extenuating circumstances can make them less morally reprehensible(but never totally good).
Example: Fatally wounding someone in defence of your own life will not cause eternal damnation.
Making the moral choices in spite of your own personal desires.
The Words of Others
The Bible is not the only moral source of guidance. Here are other noteworthy quotes on morality:
“We find these truths to be self-evident…”(US 1776)
This was a historic moment when the rights to equality and freedom of all individuals were declared innate to all people. This is similar to how Christianity(which had an influence on this document) believes that all people should be treated with inalienable dignity.
“The one thing that doesn’t apply by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” (Lee, 108) - Atticus Finch(To Kill a Mockingbird)
Making moral choices should not stem simply from what society demands from us, but instead that which we know to be right.
“ A man does what he must-in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles, dangers and pressures- and that is the basis of human morality.” - Winston Churchill
This references that human morality hinges on people making the correct choices regardless of our personal issues.
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have.” - Abraham Lincoln
This pays homage to the fact that all people are created in the image of God. Our measure of ourselves should not be whether or not we have succeeded in the worldly sense, but if we have lived up to the light God intended for us.
“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm” - Abraham Lincoln
Similar to the previous one, the basis of this quote is that you must decide on your moral code, then stand behind it. People or society often try to influence our choices for various purposes, but it is important to stick to our good conscience despite this.
Summary
Morality refers to a belief system or doctrine that allows a person to decide right from wrong.
It is a key dimension of spirituality, which is the driving force of well being.
Human beings are created in God’s image, and despite breaking His trust during the Fall, he gave certain rules to guide our actions towards the good.
Human beings are free, capable of making their own decisions, but were instilled by God’s natural law to serve as additional counsel.
The Trinity accepted that evil is simply a part of being human. As such, they will always call us back into their light when we are true.
In order for a decision to be good, it must be pure in action and intention.
We cannot know everything, but we can only try to make the best possible decisions through empathy and wisdom. Ideally making the right choices despite any selfish reasons.
Moral decisions should be made by what we know to be right, as opposed to what society dictates.
The good we owe to others is inalienable, and our basic human right.
We do not truly succeed in life when we accomplish what society has dictated, but when we have made good on what God intended for us.
Further Resources
Knox. (1999). Theology for Teachers. Toronto, ON: Novalis Publishing Inc.
Catholic Church. (2012). Moral Conscience. In 1stEd. 1753., The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1262). Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
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