Category Archives: Morality Values
Texas Woman’s Right to Choose Upheld by Supreme Court
In a 5 to 3 decision on Monday the US Supreme Court ruled against the constitutionally of a Texas law that required abortion clinics to be located in the immediate vicinity of emergency medical facilities in an attempt to stop the majority of abortion clinics from continuing to operate… Texas legislators consider abortions the murder of fetuses but cannot ban it for that reason due to the separation of church and state and the fact that a fetus has previously been ruled not a person so was not protected by the Constitution. So they cleverly figured a way to work around the constitution… Continue reading
America’s Most Shameful Boasts
Freedom, Justice, and Equality for all. These are values we boast to ourselves and foreigners about what is so great about our democracy. They have the presumption of equal opportunities for all. However these value are far truer for some than other. Obviously opportunities are not equal for all economically, socially, religiously, and politically. Regardless of what we claim we are clearly a nation full of paradoxes. The pursuit of happiness are only words for many who have little hope for a better life. Continue reading
Rearing Children in a Changing World
Raising children has never been easy but it was much simpler 300 years ago. Moral values and cultural norms did not noticeably change from one generation to the next. Children often grew up to inherit their parent’s social standing and professions. Families were far more nuclear and things more established when not threatened by war. Everyday life was generally far simpler and routine. That doesn’t mean it was better, just less encumbered with decisions and uncertainties. Parenting was very much along the same lines as how parents were raised as children. Continue reading
Another Shooting at a University within One Week
Another shooting, this time at Northern Arizona University’s Flagstaff campus, took place yesterday when a gunman intent on killing many more than the one student he killed and the three he injured was maced and tackled by other students while trying to reload his gun. This could have very well turned into another mass killing in less than one week after the mass killing at Umpqua Community College. Continue reading
Compassion in such Short Supply
I learned about compassion as a young kid going to Sunday school a lifetime ago. I still remember such lessons as the The Good Samaritan and The Golden Rule. Though I am now an agnostic my Christian values have changed little. In fact I feel that liberating myself from all the religious dogma of organized religion has allowed me to develop a greater sense of consistent personal responsibility by focusing upon basic moral concepts without consideration to God’s judgement or confusing Christian doctrine. It is the sense of Compassion through empathy, understanding, and forgiveness that is the overriding theme of this blog. Even this blog’s name ‘Our Social Conscience’ reflects this sentiment. I have been highly critical of government, organized religion, and society for not practicing more Compassion in our lives and in our government’s actions. Continue reading
What PEACE Means to Me
PEACE is an attitude, not a conviction. It is the will to avoid conflicts and war, not to totally eliminate it which is passivism. It is the equalizer of social and political behavior. Its fig leaf sends a signal that I am open to dialog and am interested in hearing and understanding what you have to say about yourself and about me. It is about the absence of ego, that threats real or perceived will not hinder my pursuit of a peaceful resolution and harmonious relationship. It is the fundamental basis of most mainstream religions. Continue reading
Posted in Foriegn Policy and War, Government, Morality Values, Social Issues
Tagged and Respect, compassion, ego, high moral standards, humility and forgiveness, love, nurturing lasting relationships, peace is an attitude, social and political behavior, taught by Christ, The Golden Rule, The Good Samaritan, vengeance
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A Complicated Nation in Search for Simple Solutions
Recent poles show Donald Trump by far the most popular Republican frontrunner for President. Trump presents very straight forward and simple solutions to many of America’s domestic and foreign policy issues. He is well-known for his reality shows as being quick and decisive, the sign of a good leader, at least that is the perception of many of his supporters. He reminds me a little of Ross Perot who ran as an independent some years ago. We like civil war heroes like Grant and Lee who quickly assessed a situation and decisively rallied their troops to victory even though those decisions cost tens of thousands of lives in America’s bloodiest conflict. Continue reading
Old Testament Attitudes
Our moral values of “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”, retribution, and vengeance are prevalent throughout America’s history, films, justice systems, wars, foreign policies, and behavior. It is so ingrained in our culture that we are often blind to its presence within us. We call it by other names such as justice, punishment, retaliation, payback, getting even, settling a score, what they deserve, they started it, etc. Many refuse to hear the other side of the story or what effects we have on other human beings and in a sense dehumanize others as being something other than like ourselves. We are in denial of our inherent animosity towards others treating them somehow separate from ourselves. Continue reading
Posted in Morality Values, Religion, Social Issues
Tagged an eye for an eye, Arab, Christian values, foriegn policy, God, moral values, Muslim, prisons, teachings of Christ, terrorist, vengence
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Global Warming No Longer a Science Issue
In the last decade the consensus of scientific peer-reviewed papers on anthropogenic (man caused) Global Warming has rapidly gained favor. A recent report indicates 97.2% of recent scientific peer-reviewed papers favor anthropogenic Global Warming. Major behavioral and economic changes to correct for Global Warming must happen. Greenhouse gases directly or indirectly produced engage every aspect of life. This change will have huge economic, political, and moral ripple effects that will change our lives more than any other issue facing us today. The reason it is so controversial is its urgency and potential threat to our existence. It requires immediate and disruptive changes to our ways of life. Continue reading
Posted in Climate Change, Economy, Environment, Global Warming, Government, Morality Values, Religion, Science & Technology, Social Issues, Society
Tagged anthropogenic, behavioral change, conservative, disruptive, economic change, Global Warming, lobby congress, moralised, peer reviewed papers, politicized, Pope Frances, science is imperfect
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The Root of All Things Evil
“For the love of money is the root of all evil.” – 1 Timothy 6:10. This is a familiar quote from the King James version of the Christian Bible. But it seems to embody a universal truth. When one looks at all the crime in the world, most of it is motivated by greed and money. So if one were to remove money from society would that cause a dramatic reduction in crime? Continue reading
Moral Values
My all time favorite Post is Imposing Human Rights and Moral Values on Others. It is also my most read post since its publication in December 2013. It gets to the essence of my values as outlined on the Home page. … Continue reading
Do We have a Moral Right?
Since the 1950s we have had political/economic interests and a military presence in the Middle East. It is no secret now that we are there because of Oil. In our self-interest we have attempted to maintain stability in that region so that the price of oil would remain under control. In spit of our claim of being civilized we seem to have a proclivity towards war and violence. I am sure that those who have been victimized by our civilized manner do not see us in the same light. So what Moral Right do we have for spending more money on killing people than education or any other worthy cause at home? The question of Moral Right begs an answer. I am Not asking if Arabs have a Moral Right to terrorize us. I’m asking does a civilized nation such as the U.S. have a Moral Right to impose its military might on other nations abroad who originally posed little danger to our nation? Continue reading
Posted in Do No Harm, Foriegn Policy and War, Morality Values
Tagged civilized, harms way, moral right, morally reprehensible, oil, rightious, value of human life, war
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The Value of Life
There is a belief that every life is priceless. Our culture at home is built around this belief. Murder is considered one of the worst crimes with the harshest punishment. Suicides are illegal and considered murder and unsuccessful attempts treated as mental illness. On the other hand we have no qualms about sending our young troops who have great prospects for a future in harms way to, if necessary, die in the service of their country and deliberately attack and kill human beings made of the same flesh and bones as ourselves other than living abroad and believing in a different religion. So in truth life is not priceless. Continue reading
Values Encompassing Expressions of Love
The following are my personal values encompassing expressions of Love, not what Love is. There are several different definitions of Love but the one I am focusing upon is an acknowledgment of all the Love and good I have experienced in life and my desire to enable Love to my fellow man throughout the world. My Home page states four primary values of Love by which I try to live. Love has little value unless expressed in actions. Love for me is all about caring and being engaged and invested in making this a better world for all. Continue reading
Posted in Morality Values, Social Issues
Tagged aggressiveness and competitiveness, all inclusive, compassion, do no harm, empathy, equality, happiness, love
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Human Rights as I See It
As I see it our values and form of freedom, democracy and government will not work where religion plays a dominating role in every aspect of life. Over the centuries the Western world has developed human rights values that are less based upon religious doctrine than upon a rational right of All human beings to dignity and “…life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. But much of the world is not yet ready. We cannot cram our values down the throats of those unwilling to accept them without long-term consequences. It took us hundreds of years to develop the principles of freedom, democracy, and equality and it did not come without a revolution and much bloodshed. During the Dark Ages we were very much like the very people we are trying to change. Continue reading
Patriotism
I feel that I am a true patriot though others may not agree due to my numerous critical comments about our government, our laws, and our social morality. I feel that it is a fool who sees no wrong or an apathetic fool who seeing a wrong but does nothing about it. I see my relationship with this country a little like my relationship with my children or others I deeply love. My love for my loved ones is without question as is my love of my country. But if I see my loved ones doing something I strongly disapprove of I will let them know in no uncertain terms and tell them my reasons. The same goes for my country. Continue reading
Happiness in Happy Societies
We are all familiar with this famous phase from the American Declaration of independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among … Continue reading
Is Pro-Choice Biblical?
Anti-abortionists say that Pro-Choice means you are pro-abortion and are for killing fetuses. For many Pro-Choice advocates nothing could be further from the truth. Pro-Choice simply meant having the right to choose to have an abortion or not to have … Continue reading
Violence Multiplies Violence in an Endless Spiral
“Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” Quote from Dr. … Continue reading
Guns & Bullets vs. Human Rights
I think we often build a tolerance for the things we hear and see frequently. Guns and bullets are almost a way of life. We see daily news about people killed and we tend to take an impersonal view of … Continue reading
Can a Case be made for Physician-Assisted Suicide?
I have often wondered whether there would be circumstances where I would prefer not to live and even circumstances whereby I would choose to end my own life. I am not sure if I would have the courage to take … Continue reading
Capital Punishment
Capital Punishment is a topic that I have personally struggled with most of my life. If a person were to deliberately take the life of one of my loved ones would I want vengeance? One of my core values is … Continue reading
Posted in Crime & Justice, Morality Values, Social Issues
Tagged an eye for an eye, capital crime, closure, compassion, execution, forgive, killer, love, murder, New Testement, Old Testement, victim's loved ones
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Imposing Human Rights and Moral Values on Others
I am a very strong proponent of human rights and social justice, but I am at odds in my own mind as to what extent we in the U.S. or the community of nations (UN) have a right to insist … Continue reading
An Eye for an Eye
It seems to me that despite many of our American traditions stemming from a strong Christian Protestant backgrounds our culture has gradually reverted back towards the attitudes of Old Testament ‘an eye for an eye’ morality. When we feel a … Continue reading
Posted in Morality Values, Social Issues
Tagged Christ, Christian, crime, Eye for an eye, Good and evil, Jews, Old Testament, punishment, revenge
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Morality without Religion?
In discussions I have had with Christians I have heard it argued that “How can there be morality without Christian values?” When I reply that I am an agnostic and feel that I have quite high moral and ethical standards … Continue reading
Posted in Life's Lessons, Morality Values, Personal Perspective, Social Issues
Tagged agnostic, Atheism, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, do no harm, ethics, Gold standard, Golden Rule, morality
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ouR Social Conscience 