Saturday, July 29, 2017

SOCIETAL THRIVING AND MORAL OBJECTIVISM





Can a society thrive for long without an objective basis for moral law? Not according to historians Will and Ariel Durant:

  • There is no significant example in history, before our time, of a society successfully maintaining moral life without the aid of religion. (The Lessons of History, 1968)

Why is this so? Because without a higher absolute moral Standard, moral relativism is the only alternative. As such, morality is humanly created and always evolving. Who then will take it seriously, and who will eagerly submit to it?

However, religions differ greatly. If their moral teachings contrast with the teachings that God has written upon our conscience - the laws of love - they cannot contribute to the well-being of society.

For instance, while many Eastern religions emphasize compassion, they might also deny that the objects of compassion are real by rejecting dualism in favor of monism (one reality). Meanwhile, other religions limit compassion to those of their own tribe.

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