[quote]Headhunter wrote:
It amazes me how no one expects other beings (such as animals) to have rubber definitions, to have a pattern of existence, but MAN can be anything we want to twist, that morality is relative to ones culture. Would we agree that widows, for ex, can be thrown upon their husbands funeral pyre in one culture and its moral and correct, while in another its abhorrent? Ludicrous.[/quote]
Headhunter,
You may need to think a little deeper. Not too long ago the world had a lot of slavery going on. It had existed for ages and ages.
Based on our current understanding, we see that it was wrong.
There was a time that women could not vote. There was a time that women were considered secondary to men. Based on our current understanding, we see that it was wrong.
Understanding that something is wrong is based on having some understanding of why something might be wrong.
For example, not too long ago gay people were an entirely ostracized segment of the population. Some would argue that they still are today. This is an area of understanding that is spreading through society right now. Both views, that it is right and wrong, are currently being argued over.
Now, there are some cultures that have not come to our level of understanding. They still do things that are atrocious to our sensibilities. In fact, there is always something horrible going on somewhere in the world.
Are you suggesting that “you” know “the truth” and should thus go and enforce that truth on the world? Will the ensuing wars and conflict that occur when you do that be better than the customs in place?
Maybe. However, maybe there is a path to increased understanding that doesn’t require the use of military might? Maybe it’s not possible to control everyone on the planet when they do things we don’t agree with? Maybe there are less obvious questions such that the correct answer is very subjective.
Sure, you can pick wild extreme examples and get general consensus, but what if you decided gay marriage was as big an outrage. What then would you do about countries that had allowed it?
Alternately, perhaps you decided that all drugs were the bane of mankind. What would you do about countries that had decided to legalize various types of drugs? What would you do about alcohol? What do you do about prostitution? What do you do about countries with younger ages of consent and legal marriage?
There are many issues that are not simply defined as right and wrong on a clear cut basis, though a lot of people will feel very strongly about it.
Instead of wasting your time getting indignant about it, like you have the script for humanity in all cases, just because you see some blatant examples we all agree on, perhaps it would be more productive to consider how it might be possible to elevate the level of understanding in cultures that don’t measure up to our own standards?
If you look at things in that light, it is a lot easier to come up with productive solutions… instead of wrapping yourself in the authority of “truth” and enforcing that viewpoint on the planet.
Why? Because even though you may have a better understanding, that doesn’t mean other people will recognize your understanding or your authority.
As with my prior post, I’d guess that truth is a continuum, and as we progress along we realize mistakes we have made in the past based on the deeper understanding we have gained. Instead of castigating people for having different understandings, perhaps we can encourage them to catch up?
