Morality Theory Essay, Research Paper
Through out the evolutionary process of rules and regulations that we abide by, we come to a discrete conclusion that religion and its “morality” have complete power over our beings. Morality is the quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct. But for most of the world it is the meaning of so called Christian morality, or religious morality that defines this system of right and wrong. Religion itself is being defined as the belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
So in other words religion makes up our definition of morality which we are supposed to live by. But I would like to say otherwise.
In an essay by Anthony Brandt “Do Kids Need Religion”, he presses on a point that while children do not need religion to guide them in life, the path which they eventually will find themselves, however the religious beliefs help the child “trust” their parents. The key phrase in that essay for me states that “children can be taught the importance of right versus wrong without the benefits of religious training”. Also it says that “moral understanding is acquired in stages, that it is a developmental process that unfolds, to some extent, as naturally as intelligence itself”. As children mature and develop they tend to create their own perspectives of what is right or what is wrong, they decide what is moral or not.
“Morality is the theory that every human act must be either right or wrong, and that 99% of them are wrong” (H. L. Mencken (1880–1956), U.S. journalist. A Mencken Chrestomathy, “Sententi?: The Mind of Men” (1949)). In modern day and age we do not look upon this statement as if it was describing the human population. We are irrepressible when it comes to morals and behavior. Lets take sex for example; having sex outside of marriage, is sinful and immoral. But it has been so superficially “exposed” by our culture that it makes no impact on moral or religious grounds.
In an article by Wendy Shalt “The Future of Modesty” she attacks the points that there should be some kind of mystery between the two sexes, that modesty could in fact help to bring out more natural and erotic ideology between them. Modesty is said to be the propriety of human behavior, where we dress and act according to the appropriate place and time. From my point of view it is unfortunate to see women feel that they should refrain themselves to being modest and act “lady like”. That is going backwards in history. In my opinion what was the whole purpose for fighting for moral and equal rights, if now at the peak of their so called freedom they fell that they need to hold themselves back. It is in fact too late to turn back, since now everyone tasted this irrepressible sense of freedom, where no one will pay attention of how embarrassing you make act in public. Many of moralities walls have been broken down to a point where even religion has any control of peoples behavior.
Religion on the other hand as said defines this morality as by what is stated in the ten commandments. ” He that has not religion to govern his morality, is not a dram better than my mastiff-dog; so long as you stroke him, and please him, and do not pinch him, he will play with you as finely as may be, he is a very good moral mastiff; but if you hurt him, he will fly in your face, and tear out your throat”. John Selden (1584–1654), English jurist, statesman. Table Talk, “Moral Honesty” (1686). Religion in a sense gives you control of your body and soul. If you play by its rules of the moral conduct, a reward awaits you. You never see animals going through the absurd and often horrible fooleries of magic and religion. Dogs do not ritually urinate in the hope of persuading heaven to do the same and send down the rain. Only man behaves with such foolishness. It is the price he has to pay for being intelligent but not, as yet, quite intelligent enough. In my definition, religion is doing; a man does not merely think his religion or feel it, he “lives” his religion as much as he is able, otherwise it is not religion but fantasy or philosophy. It is you who set those ten “commandments” which now have to followed. There is only one moral code that has to be followed, and its is all yours. Religion is just another way to discover these rights and wrongs, but you have to sort through all of the nonsense and only find purity in your day to day life.