Is morality relative?

[itschris]

I'll also quickly add, that thinking about it, there may be some selfishness in being trying to be selfless or charitable. I mean, I don't always do what I should. I dip my toes in the "grey" sometimes because I want to do what I want to do even when I know it's wrong. That bugs me... shames me even knowing that I can be weak and selfish at times. I guess everyone can and is , but you still strive to be better than you are. I succeed at that and I also fail, but I'd like to think I shift the balance over to the better side.

So maybe, there's a selfish, self-serving compenent buried in their somewhere. It's not the driving force by any means, but I'd have to say that yeah, I'm not opposed to trying to earn a bit of nobility in my life. But it's not from others that I want it from or recognized by, it's from myself. I need to look in the mirror each day and see that along with the lines getting bit deeper and my hair getting a little greyer around the edges, that I'm also growing as person and recognizing that life is mostly about those around you and not yourself.

 

[Adam]

Chris, I think that you're being a great person in doing that. Not good. Great.

One can argue that every single thing that we do is selfish. Everything. It's all a matter of perspective. I have chosen not to approach life thinking like that. Yeah, it's selfish because it makes me feel better.

 

[gmichael]

Chris, I think that you're being a great person in doing that. Not good. Great.

One can argue that every single thing that we do is selfish. Everything. It's all a matter of perspective. I have chosen not to approach life thinking like that. Yeah, it's selfish because it makes me feel better.

Wasn't that a Father Knows Best episode?

 

[Adam]

Wasn't that a Father Knows Best episode?

Couldn't tell ya. Maybe. Probably. I haven't had an original thought since...ever.

 

[JerryLove]

Not everyone finds themselves in a state of need because of a pattern of bad decisions. Sometimes, stuff just happens.

Of course. I was not attempting to make a statement about why the needy are needy; but rather illustrate the idea that two people with the best of intentions can have completely opposite conclusions as a result.

 

[jamie2112]

Hello Captian obvious. We have a winner morality is..........whatever you think it is

 

[itschris]

Hello Captian obvious. We have a winner morality is..........whatever you think it is

I don't believe that. There are some fundamental right and wrongs in this world... a decorum we should all strive to live by... something like a bell curve where there just some absolutes that just about everyone of good conscience can believe in and then it thins out to the ends.

 

[itschris]

Chris, I think that you're being a great person in doing that. Not good. Great.

One can argue that every single thing that we do is selfish. Everything. It's all a matter of perspective. I have chosen not to approach life thinking like that. Yeah, it's selfish because it makes me feel better.

Thanks a ton Adam. That means a lot coming from you. I've been on both ends of the spectrum economically, have won and lost, succeeded and failed, love and lost, etc. I've seen both sides on a too many things in my life so I have an appreciation for what I have and what others don't. Honestly, I could do a lot more. I could give more of my time and energy. I could actually bring to bear the efforts I think about, but often times let fall by the wayside. I think it's the time of the year where we often times give some time to the introspective aspect of our lives.

 

[Adam]

That means a lot coming from you.

That's incredibly kind of you to say, Chris. In all honesty, though, what I said would mean a lot coming from you. You do such nice things for others, and you do them anonymously, so you aren't doing it for glory or gratitude. You do it to make a difference. I can only hope to someday reach that level.

I believe that you have inspired me to stop being selfish and put up a thread that I've been mulling over for about a week. I suppose time will tell if I actually do...

 

[Alex2507]

Thanks a ton Adam. That means a lot coming from you.

He's mine!

 

[gmichael]

I feel a hug coming on.

 

[Chu Gai]

Is there some sort of inherent evil in selfishness. Perhaps the term needs clarification.

 

[Adam]

Is there some sort of inherent evil in selfishness. Perhaps the term needs clarification.

I don't believe in inherent evil, but I can say that my own personal belief system makes me want to not be selfish. It's probably just lingering feelings of guilt from my Catholic upbringing, though...

 

[lsiberian]

Hello Captian obvious. We have a winner morality is..........whatever you think it is

That's certainly true. The question then is to society what moralities are acceptable and which ones aren't in society.

Jonathan Edwards said that a man will do his greatest motivation and nothing else. His illustration was a drunkard will not resist another drink because the desire for the drink is his greatest motivation.

It's a very interesting thought.

 

[lsiberian]

I feel a hug coming on.

yeah especially with that cute baby picture you have for a profile picture.

 

[Chu Gai]

Yeah, Catholics will do that to you. I grew up on a farm and we sold our produce at a road side stand. One day the Monsignor from the parish, a Father Cahill, drove up in his brand new Old's '98 - a big car with all the options - while my father's old Plymouth was parked in the driveway. He went into the stand, which is where I worked when I wasn't doing other stuff, and selected a ton of fruits and vegetables. Said it was for all the priests and nuns back at the parish. So, I packaged it and told him how much it would be. He looked at me and began to lecture me how selfish I was to ask for money from a man of god and why didn't I think about how god would be pleased for such generosity. Well, I told him to wait and I called for my father to come to the stand from the fields where he was picking tomatoes. I told him the story and he went into the stand and wanted to know the problem. The priest repeated it and my father told him to get the phuck off his property and if he ever came back he'd call the cops. I never saw the bastard again.

 

[lsiberian]

Yeah, Catholics will do that to you. I grew up on a farm and we sold our produce at a road side stand. One day the Monsignor from the parish, a Father Cahill, drove up in his brand new Old's '98 - a big car with all the options - while my father's old Plymouth was parked in the driveway. He went into the stand, which is where I worked when I wasn't doing other stuff, and selected a ton of fruits and vegetables. Said it was for all the priests and nuns back at the parish. So, I packaged it and told him how much it would be. He looked at me and began to lecture me how selfish I was to ask for money from a man of god and why didn't I think about how god would be pleased for such generosity. Well, I told him to wait and I called for my father to come to the stand from the fields where he was picking tomatoes. I told him the story and he went into the stand and wanted to know the problem. The priest repeated it and my father told him to get the phuck off his property and if he ever came back he'd call the cops. I never saw the bastard again.

So you judge all Catholics by one priest. You ever hear of Francis of Asissi quite the opposite of Father Cahill.

 

[lsiberian]

I don't believe in inherent evil, but I can say that my own personal belief system makes me want to not be selfish. It's probably just lingering feelings of guilt from my Catholic upbringing, though...

I'd say you are among the least selfish people on this forum and I'm sure other would echo that.

 

[Adam]

I can't say that I have any stories like that, and I grew up Catholic. I don't recall ever meeting any Catholics that used God as a way of getting something for free.

I was just referring to the whole, "if it feels good, it's a sin" mentality. That's partially a joke, but it's rooted in reality. I'm not trying to bash Catholics (as I have a great deal of respect for people who are Catholic), but it's not really my thing.

 

[jamie2112]

So you judge all Catholics by one priest. l.

nah,just who he is employed by...... just kidding, I ment the Catholic church.....
just joking around here its the vent baby