Moral Absolutes: Fact or Fiction - Research Paper Example

Moral Absolutes: Fact or Fiction INTRODUCTION Who are you? When people are asked this question, the first reply that comes to mind is to give your name. However, as one looks deeper and try to reflect on this particular query, one sees that the question moves beyond concerns regarding identification towards a more integrated effort in trying to understand what does it take to be a human person in the midst of rapid changes and developments experience in the contemporary period. However, as we try to keep abreast with the developments brought by science, and technology and the economic progress of countries brought by changes in the socio-economic and political paradigms, on the other side of the spectrum is the reality that the world is still plagued by problems whose resolution is not grounded on material wealth that maybe attained but on their response to the question who they are. In light of this, the paper will be looking into one of the most important questions that have plagued human existence –morality. Christian ethics is a study that deals with the guidelines that persons ought to follow as they try to attain the final goal of their life in the light of Christian faith and of reason.1 And using the lens of Christian Ethics one of the ultimate matters that confounds human existence – moral absolutes. MORAL ABSOLUTES: FACT The concept of moral absolute can be understood in two connected sense. First it is the idea that there is a transcendental being who has given humanity the moral laws that they have to follow in order to attain the fullness of life and the fulfillment of their humanity.2 The second understanding of moral absolute pertains to the notion that there are certain acts, which are either right or wrong in itself at all times and across cultures. This means that regardless of the context and condition with which the person doing the act may find himself/herself in, the value of the act – right or wrong, good or bad- remains the same. Christians accept these two conceptions of moral absolutes as real and authentic guide as they address moral dilemmas in the real world. In what way? Christians view of rightness or wrongness of an act flows from the immutable nature of God. In this regard, it is not arbitrary as it is in accord with God’s will which is all good and anchored on the unchanging essence of God, “I the Lord change not”3 ; “there is no shadow of change with God”4 and the psalmist proclaims “ You are the same”.5 Being such, the laws given by God are in accord with His own attributes. As such, the Scripture tells us “Be holy as I am Holy”6. Jesus himself tells us “ Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”7 And in 1John 4:16 we are told that “God is Love”, therefore, “Love your neighbor as yourself”.8 Since, “The way in which we can be sure we are in union with him (Christ) is for the man who claims to abide in him to conduct himself as he did”9 In this regard, the moral laws that are followed by Christians in the light of their faith in God are transformed in such a way that it becomes humanity’s response to God’s call to life. Jesus has concretely presented to all human beings the reality of the immutable goodness and love of God. His whole life on earth is a testimony of this transformation. In the Gospels, it has been shown that Jesus has acted on what he preached. He has given us the law of love not just by commanding us to love one another but by showing us concrete human deeds of love like pardoning, showing compassion, refraining from condemning and judging others even to the point of giving up His life for us. In the same manner, moral absolutes pertains to the notion that God is the source of all moral laws and moral laws in themselves are testimonies of God’s will and character. And these laws have been concretely manifested in the life of Jesus since “Jesus is the message”.10 Jesus has shown that the moral laws are not just laws imposed because God is. Rather, what Jesus has done is that he has transformed humanity’s relation with God in such a way that we are now all called to be the children of God.11 Moreover, as children of God, the law of love, the love of brothers and sisters for one another, binds us. This transformation in effect, has started the heaven on earth. No longer are we disconnected beings plagued by moral dilemmas but we have become brothers and sisters in Christ where uncertainties in relation are resolved via the law of love - Treat one another, as you would like another to treat you. Furthermore, it becomes easy for Christians to know the right thing to do since 1. Jesus has shown the way for He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 122. God has put into our heart and minds the laws 13And 3. Finally, the good deeds of Christians move beyond righteousness towards the affirmation and testimony of the live faith. In this sense, moral absolutes are facts because it becomes a concrete lived experience not only in the minds and in hearts of Christians but is perceptible in the words and deeds of Christians as they upheld the laws of God. MORAL ABSOLUTES: FICTION As noted earlier, the contemporary period is marked by pluralism. And that one way of sustaining one’s ideals and beliefs in the midst of the plurality of ideas and belief is to learn to respect each other’s differences. However, if there is one thing that most contemporary persons are not comfortable with is the idea of moral absolutes. They relegate the reality of moral absolutes in the realm of imagination. In what sense? In Philosophy, they have questioned the validity of the reality of God. One of the most powerful critiques raised by those who support logical positivism14 claim that there is no way, wherein the belief in god can be ascertained and validated. They claim that the position ‘God exists’ is simply unknowable since there is no way within the framework of science or other ways attaining human knowledge that can verify this claim. In this regard, they have claimed that saying that God is a transcendental being is simply an evocative sentence and have no value at all15. In the same manner, since, there is no way, wherein claims about God cannot be validated, then humanity is left to himself, alone and in despair as humanity finds the truth that at the bottom of human existence is nothingness.16 In the same manner, psychology has raised the idea that moral development begins at certain age and that it is gradually developed by the human persons, as they grow older. This in effect shows that being ethical is not something inherent in human beings but that it is something that one learns as one interacts with one’s peers. This directly counters the position that one has an inherent or intrinsic knowledge of that which is right or that which is wrong. Finally, the contemporary ‘abhorrence’ to the idea of moral absolute can be attributed to the reality of pluralism. 17 As god is called in various names, manifested in different ways, systems of beliefs are variegated, then the question regarding the authenticity of one religious belief over another casts doubts on the validity of moral claims under a particular religion. Furthermore, the existing numerous forms of religion questions the epistemological certainty that religious claims make. In this regard, the denial of moral absolutes becomes the response. MORAL ABSOLUTE: FACT OR FICTION Moral absolutes in both senses, as an affirmation of a transcendental God who is the source of all moral laws and the idea that moral laws are unchanging regardless of time and culture since it is in the hearts and minds of people, are facts. This I maintain base on the following propositions. First, god is not an abstraction. Jesus has shown God to humanity and He has opened to us the gates of heaven. The invitation to life that Jesus offers is an invitation to live in the precepts of the law of love.18 Moral laws are transformed in such a way that it becomes humanity’s response to God’s call.19 Morality is no longer a dilemma between right or wrong, but it is the Christians’ rejoinder to the Way, the Truth and the Life. Second, moral absolutes are fact because people experience it. People are not lost on quandary. Valid and legitimate guides to action are provided by moral absolutes. The Ten Commandments, which is written in Exod 20: 1 – 17 and Deut 5: 6 -21 in the Old Testament. While, in the New Testament it is given in the Sermon at the Mount20 serve as the moral precepts that manifest not only the Will of God but also it becomes the initial framework with which one can understand God’s moral absoluteness21. Being such, it does not limit human agency to act and the persons’ freedom in choosing and in making a decision. In fact, it affirms what has long been advocated, that the decision to act in the face of moral dilemmas is to make a choice between two rights or two or more good options. Human beings are not free to decide on that which is bad or wrong. In the first place it is human nature, ‘God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.’22. The freedom to choose and to act is the freedom to decide and act between two right things and not between bad or good, right or wrong. This is important since it tells us that only by being true to our nature that one‘s rationality becomes truly manifest, - a reason for life, a decision for good, a child of God. Third, moral absolutes are fact because it is the assent of a person’s will to God’s will. In this regard, the call to righteousness becomes the first step with which a Christian, through the help of the Spirit that empowers, is slowly transformed into a person of faith – a person who lives the faith. Furthermore, in James 2:26, we find that the connection between genuine and saving faith and good deeds is as interconnected and intertwined as that of the body and spirit. Eccl 12:7 tells us that the moment the spirit leaves the body, the body dies. This truism is also true in faith. Faith without good deeds is dead. On the other hand, a living faith is known by the good deeds, which are advocated by God’s moral law. CONCLUSION Contemporary period’s distrust and disdain for moral absolutes is influenced by several factors which include current findings in science (especially in psychology), pluralism, discourses in philosophy and other fields of knowledge and other elements or facets that may counter the tenets of moral absolutes. However, as I become more involved in this discussion, I have come to realize that the moral tenets of the faith are not just a question of right or wrong but it is in fact a challenge to live in the law of love. Again, Jesus has shown us the way. Jesus remained under the law. He did not seek to abolish it but he sought to fulfill it. Being such, as morality lies at the heart of human experience, I remain steadfast because God’s words and laws are in my heart and in my mind. Read More