Sunday, August 17, 2003
MORALITY
A topic which needs to be addressed in a society that is losing or has lost all sense of morality. I have been having discussions on the subject of morality with various ones as my own sense of morality has been obscured. The Jehovah's Witness Church and my parents defined what was morally right and wrong growing up, but now I must search out for myself what is pleasing in the eyes of God. I cut and paste some definitions from the dictionary on words related to this subject. Don't read them all through. Just try to get the sense of the word, or reflect on your own connotations of the word.
The word moral: When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit they were deciding to choose for themselves what was moral: Good and Bad.
Moral [1,adjective] moral [2,noun] moral hazard moral philosophy
Main Entry: 1mor·al
Pronunciation: 'mor-&l,
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin moralis,
Date: 14th century
1 a: of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior: ETHICAL b: expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior c: conforming to a standard of right behavior d: sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment e: capable of right and wrong action
Synonyms MORAL, ETHICAL, VIRTUOUS, RIGHTEOUS, NOBLE mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good. MORAL implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong. ETHICAL may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity . VIRTUOUS implies the possession or manifestation of moral excellence in character . RIGHTEOUS stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious . NOBLE implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character .
SECOND WORD: CONSCIENCE. Many no longer have a conscience cause they have allowed society or something else to warp and numb it. Romans 1:21. People don’t feel guilt or a sense of wrong.
Main Entry: con·science
Pronunciation: 'kän(t)-sh&n(t)s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin conscientia, from conscient-, consciens, present participle of conscire to be conscious, be conscious of guilt, from com- + scire to know -- more at SCIENCE
Date: 13th century
1 a: the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one's own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good b: a faculty, power, or principle enjoining good acts c: the part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego
THIRD WORD: CONSTITUTION- "that behavior is unconstitutional" - but is it morally wrong? - And who decides right or wrong? Society? God?
Main Entry: con·sti·tu·tion
Pronunciation: "kän(t)-st&-'tü-sh&n, -'tyü-
Function: noun
5 a: the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people in it b: a written instrument embodying the rules of a political or social organization
FOUTH WORD: NAUGHTY- "you're so naughty" "oh behave"-Austin Powers. Usually used with a sexual connotation today. A woman can make you feel shame whether or not you have done something morally wrong, or reward you when you really have been "naughty".
Pronunciation: 'no-tE, 'nä- Function: adjective Inflected Form(s): naugh·ti·er; -est Etymology: Middle English noughti, from nought Date: 14th century 1 a archaic: vicious in moral character: b: guilty of disobedience or misbehavior 2: lacking in taste or propriety
FIFTH WORD: EVIL- Many described the scenes of New York Sep 11 as "evil". The whole scene just made you shudder and feel an evil presence. All that dark smoke and the destruction.
Evil [1,adjective]evil[2,noun]evil eye evil-minded king's evil
Main Entry: 1evil
Pronunciation: 'E-v&l, British often and US also 'E-(")vil
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): evil·er or evil·ler; evil·est or evil·lest
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English yfel; akin to Old High German ubil evil
Date: before 12th century
1 a : morally reprehensible : SINFUL, WICKED b : arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct
3 a : causing harm
SIXTH WORD:BAD- "Bad dog! Bad! Look what you did. Loook."(Last word said using a deep tone to really rub it in and make poor doggie feel so ashamed)
Main Entry: 1bad
Pronunciation: 'bad
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): worse /'w&rs/; worst /'w&rst/
Etymology: Middle English
Date: 14th century
2 a: morally objectionable b: MISCHIEVOUS, DISOBEDIENT
5 a: INJURIOUS, HARMFUL
SEVENTH WORD: WRONG- "that was wrong" "who are you to tell me what is right and wrong? Are you my judge? Are you God?
Main Entry: 1wrong
Pronunciation: 'ro[ng]
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English wrang, from (assumed) wrang, adjective, wrong
Date: before 12th century
1 a: an injurious, unfair, or unjust act: action or conduct inflicting harm without due provocation or just cause b: a violation or invasion of the legal rights of another; especially: TORT
2: something wrong, immoral, or unethical; especially: principles, practices, or conduct contrary to justice, goodness, equity, or law
3: the state, position, or fact of being or doing wrong: as a: the state of being mistaken or incorrect b: the state of being guilty
Synonym see INJUSTICE
LAST WORD: AUTHORITY-
Bottom of Form 1 Main Entry: au·thor·i·ty Pronunciation: &-'thär-&-tE, o-, -'thor- Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ties Etymology: Middle English auctorite, from Old French auctorité, from Latin auctoritat-, auctoritas opinion, decision, power, from auctor Date: 13th century 1 a (1) : a citation (as from a book or file) used in defense or support (2) : the source from which the citation is drawn b (1) : a conclusive statement or set of statements (as an official decision of a court) (2) : a decision taken as a precedent (3) c : an individual cited or appealed to as an expert 2 a : power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior b : freedom granted by one in authority :3 a : persons in command
: a governmental agency or corporation to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise 4 a : b : convincing force
At the age of 22 I walked into another church (other than Jehovah's Witnesses) for the first time in my life. I spent time near the back of one particular church close to where most of the teens congregated with their friends. You were allowed to dress casually and many of the youths went to "Christian concerts" and played rock music with words about God, which at first I thought was not right. It's impossible to please everyone's conscience in the church but where do you draw the line? Or should you draw a line? Is there such a thing as "too far"? And who draws that line? Does Bible Scripture? When people cant agree on how to apply it to modern living, where do we turn for correct interpretation? When someone does commit a sin (has gone too far) who has the right to punish another man? When a clear vision of authority has faded and people no longer act accountable for their actions, where is the sense of direction?
I've been having intense conversations with various individuals on this subject. I would greatly appreciate input on how you feel to bring your comments into these discussions. For example: If you are a Christian or not what do you see taking place in your church or ones you know of that you disagree with? Why do you disagree? What are your views on morality? Is their such a thing as good and bad and if so who should act as authority or judge-God -the scripture- world leaders-society?? AND What are your views on SEXUALITY AND MORALITY-what type of behavior is permissible in the church? -When should an individual be removed from acting as leader? What sexual behavior is unscriptural? When does the shed blood of Christ not apply to this individual who is insistent in his continued course of conduct? Depending on the feedback I will express my own convictions.
A topic which needs to be addressed in a society that is losing or has lost all sense of morality. I have been having discussions on the subject of morality with various ones as my own sense of morality has been obscured. The Jehovah's Witness Church and my parents defined what was morally right and wrong growing up, but now I must search out for myself what is pleasing in the eyes of God. I cut and paste some definitions from the dictionary on words related to this subject. Don't read them all through. Just try to get the sense of the word, or reflect on your own connotations of the word.
The word moral: When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit they were deciding to choose for themselves what was moral: Good and Bad.
Moral [1,adjective] moral [2,noun] moral hazard moral philosophy
Main Entry: 1mor·al
Pronunciation: 'mor-&l,
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin moralis,
Date: 14th century
1 a: of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior: ETHICAL
Synonyms MORAL, ETHICAL, VIRTUOUS, RIGHTEOUS, NOBLE mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good. MORAL implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong
SECOND WORD: CONSCIENCE. Many no longer have a conscience cause they have allowed society or something else to warp and numb it. Romans 1:21. People don’t feel guilt or a sense of wrong.
Main Entry: con·science
Pronunciation: 'kän(t)-sh&n(t)s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin conscientia, from conscient-, consciens, present participle of conscire to be conscious, be conscious of guilt, from com- + scire to know -- more at SCIENCE
Date: 13th century
1 a: the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one's own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good b: a faculty, power, or principle enjoining good acts c: the part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego
THIRD WORD: CONSTITUTION- "that behavior is unconstitutional" - but is it morally wrong? - And who decides right or wrong? Society? God?
Main Entry: con·sti·tu·tion
Pronunciation: "kän(t)-st&-'tü-sh&n, -'tyü-
Function: noun
5 a: the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people in it b: a written instrument embodying the rules of a political or social organization
FOUTH WORD: NAUGHTY- "you're so naughty" "oh behave"-Austin Powers. Usually used with a sexual connotation today. A woman can make you feel shame whether or not you have done something morally wrong, or reward you when you really have been "naughty".
Pronunciation: 'no-tE, 'nä- Function: adjective Inflected Form(s): naugh·ti·er; -est Etymology: Middle English noughti, from nought Date: 14th century 1 a archaic: vicious in moral character: b: guilty of disobedience or misbehavior 2: lacking in taste or propriety
FIFTH WORD: EVIL- Many described the scenes of New York Sep 11 as "evil". The whole scene just made you shudder and feel an evil presence. All that dark smoke and the destruction.
Evil [1,adjective]evil[2,noun]evil eye evil-minded king's evil
Main Entry: 1evil
Pronunciation: 'E-v&l, British often and US also 'E-(")vil
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): evil·er or evil·ler; evil·est or evil·lest
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English yfel; akin to Old High German ubil evil
Date: before 12th century
1 a : morally reprehensible : SINFUL, WICKED
3 a : causing harm
SIXTH WORD:BAD- "Bad dog! Bad! Look what you did. Loook."(Last word said using a deep tone to really rub it in and make poor doggie feel so ashamed)
Main Entry: 1bad
Pronunciation: 'bad
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): worse /'w&rs/; worst /'w&rst/
Etymology: Middle English
Date: 14th century
2 a: morally objectionable b: MISCHIEVOUS, DISOBEDIENT
5 a: INJURIOUS, HARMFUL
SEVENTH WORD: WRONG- "that was wrong" "who are you to tell me what is right and wrong? Are you my judge? Are you God?
Main Entry: 1wrong
Pronunciation: 'ro[ng]
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English wrang, from (assumed) wrang, adjective, wrong
Date: before 12th century
1 a: an injurious, unfair, or unjust act: action or conduct inflicting harm without due provocation or just cause b: a violation or invasion of the legal rights of another; especially: TORT
2: something wrong, immoral, or unethical; especially: principles, practices, or conduct contrary to justice, goodness, equity, or law
3: the state, position, or fact of being or doing wrong: as a: the state of being mistaken or incorrect b: the state of being guilty
Synonym see INJUSTICE
LAST WORD: AUTHORITY-
Bottom of Form 1 Main Entry: au·thor·i·ty Pronunciation: &-'thär-&-tE, o-, -'thor- Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ties Etymology: Middle English auctorite, from Old French auctorité, from Latin auctoritat-, auctoritas opinion, decision, power, from auctor Date: 13th century 1 a (1) : a citation (as from a book or file) used in defense or support (2) : the source from which the citation is drawn b (1) : a conclusive statement or set of statements (as an official decision of a court) (2) : a decision taken as a precedent (3) c : an individual cited or appealed to as an expert 2 a : power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior b : freedom granted by one in authority :3 a : persons in command
: a governmental agency or corporation to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise
At the age of 22 I walked into another church (other than Jehovah's Witnesses) for the first time in my life. I spent time near the back of one particular church close to where most of the teens congregated with their friends. You were allowed to dress casually and many of the youths went to "Christian concerts" and played rock music with words about God, which at first I thought was not right. It's impossible to please everyone's conscience in the church but where do you draw the line? Or should you draw a line? Is there such a thing as "too far"? And who draws that line? Does Bible Scripture? When people cant agree on how to apply it to modern living, where do we turn for correct interpretation? When someone does commit a sin (has gone too far) who has the right to punish another man? When a clear vision of authority has faded and people no longer act accountable for their actions, where is the sense of direction?
I've been having intense conversations with various individuals on this subject. I would greatly appreciate input on how you feel to bring your comments into these discussions. For example: If you are a Christian or not what do you see taking place in your church or ones you know of that you disagree with? Why do you disagree? What are your views on morality? Is their such a thing as good and bad and if so who should act as authority or judge-God -the scripture- world leaders-society?? AND What are your views on SEXUALITY AND MORALITY-what type of behavior is permissible in the church? -When should an individual be removed from acting as leader? What sexual behavior is unscriptural? When does the shed blood of Christ not apply to this individual who is insistent in his continued course of conduct? Depending on the feedback I will express my own convictions.
