Morality. Does it exist? Do unicorns exist?
If I asked you what a unicorn looked like, you’d be able to provide me with an accurate description. You could probably point to many pictures of them, galloping across a beautiful countryside.
If a blind person were to ask what a unicorn was, I have a feeling you’d be pretty confident in your ability to describe them.
However, are unicorns real? No.
In the same token, how does one describe morality?
Chew on that for a moment. Does morality really exist?
The reason this topic is important to think about, is because it pertains to our modern-day understanding of what it means to have morals, as well as the vehicle we use to acquire them.
Often, I’ve heard the idea that religion is the foundation of morality. Coming from the christian perspective (my former background) I’ve heard many people believe that man is inherently bad without religion, as they have no moral framework.
Really?
I personally find this idea to be a tough pill to swallow. After all, I have a pretty strong moral backbone (even if morality doesn’t exist) and I am pretty opposed to a few of the ideas found in the bible, such as Deuteronomy 22:29:
If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, 29 he shall pay her father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.
Yep. You read that right – the man is commanded to marry the woman he raped.
Biblically, it’s commanded that a woman must marry the man that raped her – after being ‘bought’ for 50 shekels of silver.
I have yet to meet a single christian who can give me a solid answer as to whether or not this practice is barbaric – let alone friendly, because they’re afraid to give an opinion that might dilute the rigidity of their faith.
Many times, their response lies in an answer such as:
“Well, that’s old covenant. Since Jesus died, we now live under a new covenant.”
My response: So, this was acceptable practice before Jesus died? Yes? No?
Let’s talk about this ‘new covenant’ and whether or not it, too, is friendly/unfriendly. From the mouth of Jesus, in Luke 19:27:
“But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them–bring them here and kill them in front of me.” – Jesus
Rape is never ok. Murder is never ok. The idea that one could somehow justify this practice due to the timing of its occurrence, or whether or not a man was executed, astounds me.
Going back to morality, if you need a book in order to have a moral backbone, I hope you don’t find your moral backbone in the christian bible. Rather, you can find a better understanding of how to live a morally upright life by reading a few chapters of Winnie the Pooh & Friends, or Calvin and Hobbes.
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