Friday, August 20, 2010

Modular Morality

My generation and younger have developed a warped sense of morality

On the one hand, we've all been raised in a Judeo-Christian country where we've learned that morality is objective. In other words every wrong is of equal wrongness. Killing someone will separate you from God just quickly as coveting your neighbor's new grill. Only faith in Jesus Christ repairs that rift.

On the other hand, we have the judicial system where there are varying degrees of wrongness. Stealing a shirt from Walmart will earn you a fine, while murdering a bunch of people could get you the death penalty.

So far nothing different from any other generation.

Then enters modern secularism which teaches that morality is subjective. Now we have the engine to rationalize whatever we want. For instance, I heard a conversation like:
Person A, "You shouldn't do xyz (smoke pot, sleep around, etc)"
Person B, "Ya, well how many songs on your iPod did you buy" or "So you always obey the speed limit?"

Person B uses the Judeo-Christian value of all sin is of equal wrongness to silence Person A. But Person B isn't passing judgment based on moral laws they've passed, they're referring to God's objective law. Person B actually holds strongly to the secular notion that morality is subjective, and actually is telling Person B to "mind their own business".

But, if this Person B were ever on the receiving end of subjective morality. Person C comes on the scene and over-charges Person B for a product or service and pockets the difference. Buyer beware is Person C's motto. Suddenly Person B wants to appeal to an objective moral law that stealing is wrong.

Btw, I don't believe stealing music is ok.