Winston Churchill referred to this powerful ideal in several speeches, both before and after WWII. Religious leaders often cite this as well (though I would argue there need be no religious association with it). I'm not looking for your definition of the term (most would agree that it represents a positive motivational influence of some kind) but rather how you employ your own "moral force" to make a difference in your life and the lives of those around you. It can be through community involvement, volunteer work, political or religious activities, even writing a blog. Or perhaps you sit back and exert no such efforts at all. Why or why do you not choose to apply your own "moral force" in this world? And assuming you do so, what precisely do you do?
215699
I used to have the outlook, that I am just one person, so therefore, can't really make a difference.  The older I get, the more I realize this isn't really true.  If everyone had that same view, then nothing would get done in this world to make a difference in someone else's life.  As a nurse, I try to give the best care that I can to my patients, and by educating them on taking better care of themselves, I feel that I may be helping others in the long run.  I take care of many elderly patients as well, and though they may not need any medical attention at that particular moment, I will just sit at their bedside (if they are open to this), to talk with them, or to just hold their hand, to simply let them know that someone cares.  I volunteer my time as a nurse, to help with community health fairs, and traveled to San Antonio last September, to help with the Hurricane Katrina victims.  I think that I gain as much, or more from helping in these types of things, as the people that need the help.  I also donate blood, and am on the bone marrow donor list, in the hopes of helping someone.\n\nAnother way that I like to volunteer, is by simply picking up trash where ever I go.  I have a dog, and we take him walking everyday.  I began to notice one day many years ago, that trash is a prevalent problem, everywhere.  I started carrying a bag with me, a pair of gloves, and a long stick with a point on the end to help reach items of trash that I couldn't otherwise reach, and quickly developed the habit of picking up trash.  I've had many wonderful comments from others that have observed this habit of mine.  I only wish that more people would be concerned enough, not to leave trash lying around. \n\nI'm not sure that anything I described above, is what you were exactly referring to in your question, but I feel very strongly that we should all give of our time if we are able to do so.  Simply being able to help one person, can be so very rewarding.  I also realize that I chose nursing as my careeer, and that I am paid to give the care that I do, but I  tend to gain much more from just "being there" for the patients that have no one else, than I do from the more technical aspects of nursing.\n\nAfterthought... I'm not looking for any recognition or praise for anything that I've done, or do; I'm merely trying to make a point.
575516
Let me share a sermon illustration with you that can be applied to any volunteer work and not just evangelism.\n\nThere was a man who went down to the beach after there had been a tidal wave and he saw another man already on the beach walking and picking something up and throwing it in the water. When he got closer he saw that there were tens of thousands of small silver fish that had been washed up on the beach and who were slowly dying.\n\nHe came up to the man just as he threw another fish back in the ocean and asked him why he was doing what he was doing since there were so many fish on the sand it was obvious he couldn't get to even one one hundredth of them before they died. He said to him "You're wasting your time. What difference is it going to make if you throw a few of these fish back in the water?"\n\nThe man answered him as he threw another one back in and said "to that fish there, it makes all of the difference in the world".\n\nSo it is with volunteer work. You can only help a few people but the help you give can make all of the difference in the world to those few people.
149713
T.S. Eliot said mankind cannot bear very much reality.  Faith is a psychological crutch, the thing that keeps you from going mad every time you remember that you, too, are going to die and there's nothing to be done about it and it's just so massively unfair.  Naturally nobody would ever admit this.  When getting an education and applying logic and reason are so very difficult and frightening, it's "only human" to take the easy way out.\n\nWhich means, come to think of it, that faith isn't really a virtue! Virtue is supposed to be a matter of making hard choices -- otherwise it's valueless.\n\nI suppose the reason why people value faith (despite all of this) is that they have nothing better to put in its place -- after all, they've already given up on reality.  When you've chosen to discard the very best thing going, what the hell else is there except a fantasy.
114632
Being a person that was recently saved, I think it is more an ego thing than anything.  People want to be their own God, or in control of their own lives, etc.  WHen you finally realise that He exists, and let Him into yoru heart, that ego goes away.  It's just hard to give it up in the first place.
182152
I have found in this forum, you'd better write what you mean or get tortured for it.  I agree with you that some Christians think that it is their duty to save everyone's soul because they consider themselves safe.  I think the world would be a much happier place for us all if people would stop trying to change others and focus on themselves.  God is the only true judge and if people would just let him do his work and stop interfering.  No harm, no foul you are human and obviously someone out there pushed your buttons. There will always be people that offer help/advice when you didn't ask for it.  Learn to ignore them and just walk away.
196292
Good Question, although you got a little lost in your typing there. \n\nI have to agree with your premise though. All in all, I think, and remember this is just my opinion, that you're on the right track. I think it's how a person lives and treats him/her self and others, that really matters. \nIf God really wants everyone to be one religion or another, there has to be some wiggle room in the end for those who just didn't know the difference or who were simply confused over the enormity of it all. \nPersonally I'm a God fearing Agnostic. Meaning I believe in God, but I don't believe in any one specific religious view of God. I know my actions towards others is a reflection of Gods' plan and if I'm cruel then I'm doing evil. \nIf I help someone out of my own kindness then I'm doing God's work.\nI don't believe God watches each of us individually, that's why He gave us free will. \nWe as individuals must look inward to find peace, love and goodness. Each of us must reach that place to pull out the goodness and extend it to our neighbors.
84055
Do you mean to sacrifice to achieve the happiness you deserve? That would be 'my' opinion, anyway. To work hard and save money, not spending money on every little thing I don't need, that is an example of what I mean. That you added 'you deserve' is an interesting thing. A lot of people seem to think they deserve something 'without' sacrificing.
335901
I agree with you, and Rain, Psychology, A. Mann, tls.bhaskar, milo, azmurath, Sue Namie, babyarnie, and d_waddell2001. Religion is a system of understanding, so the religion itself, being a belief or pattern of thoughts, is not the act of violence or war (effect), but does prompt it and promote it indirectly (cause), while preaching exactly the opposite (defence). Many (others who have answered) have come to trust religion because of the good things it promotes, like purpose, goodwill, communication with spirit, respect for other belivers (sometimes), and feelings of belonging, among others.\nWhen a person trusts another person over their own feelings and intuition, they become a slave to be controlled. There are millions of people around the world who exist as robots to be ordered by the people in their lives. The boss, priest, trainer, teacher, commanding officer, whoever. These slaves are the ones who fight wars, even the ones at salvation army.\nWhat is advised is a detachment from organised religion, and to establish a relationship with self, life, love and nature. By feeling your personal interpretation of what matters, and, the most important thing, to keep the most important things the most important things, one can carve their groove in history exactly the way they choose. Total responsibility, total spiritual freedom. By standing up and saying "I made that mistake, and I'm damn proud of it because I've learnt from the experience," a person's character gains courage, humility and wisdom, just to name a few. By choosing to allow blame, guilt, fear, and hate to fill one's thoughtful life, one commits to living with stress, health problems, depression, detachment from self, immature and irresposible behaviour like terrorism, and extreme anxiety. Ever noticed how dedicated religious followers are, even though they may have only joined weeks ago? Thats an observable symptom. All external success begins with internal success, so peace must be made within first, followed by those around you (your world). When critical mass is reached, your world will become our world. If you do not go within you go without!!!
273902
I would have to say it is a desire to help.  \n\nIf you were standing on the top of a cliff offering to help someone hanging out over the edge, is that pride?\n\nOf course, I think there are some who think they are better than others b/c they are saved, which is pride.  (and I don't think they are really saved, but my opinion doesn't matter).  \n\nI think that is the main point.  While I will try to save you the only way I know how (the big JC) I should know that my opinion of you does not matter.  I don't know the Lord's plan, and I shouldn't act like I do.  That is to act outside our authority.
669501
I say, keep fighting the good fight. You may not be able to change the world, but don't let it change you. The more of us who live by this creedo, the more likely it is that we will change the way people think. Wouldn't it be wonderful to know that somewhere down the line you actually saved a life?
463300
Interesting. \n\nCommon good? \n\nFear of retribution? \n\nSometimes policy is not in our realm to alter 'on the street', so to speak. Motivating one individual through the 'proper channels' perhaps is one method some authority figures may choose to aide someone whom policy has hindered. \n\nSometimes stopping someone from acting on a strong believe can in the end move that believe to higher channels, and in the end form stronger opinion for it. (i.e. violent acts do move public to abhore a group based solely on thier actions and not motivations).  A police officer (I use this example as per your question) may see this in a perspective the protestor does not, and while understanding the motivations behind the act, knows to stop the act itself will in fact further the resolution in favour of common good will and understanding and therefore possible policy changes become more likely. \n\nAnother example is a peaceful 'march' gains more public notoriety simply by having a police task force on hand. Whether they believe in the marchers motivations or not they are required to offer protection regardless of thier own beliefs. \n\nOne of the main stands in joining the police force, I believe is that they have to stand forward unbiased, and work to the society's set laws regardless of thier own belief system. Protect and serve regardless of whether they like or dislike the citizen. \n\nIt is in fact a double edged sword. \n\n..with early retirement common I'm sure, simply because of this moral requirement in a lot of cases.
670505
You ask: <So is the sanctity of life just a human invention based on self interest to protect itself?>\n\nYes. Probably. It's odd, isn't it that life is sacred for the unborn, but once you're born, you're fit to kill, particularly if you're not American. So, the idea is not a human invention, but probably an American invention (of a particular political group) to advance it's own interests. Like all political principles, this principle is filled with contradictions. Instead of principle, I should have said "slogan".
388030
well first off we are taught certain morals by our parents, such as "do not steal" "obey your parents"  as you get older you develope a feeling called empathy which is your ability to feel anothers pain. though everyone has empathy to a different extent, (some murder and ignore it, others cry at the slightest thing and others can handle more). the thought that "i do not like pain why should i put another person in pain"  is quite a basis for morals. i do not wish to be stolen from, raped, abused, lied about, what is my motiviation to do that to someone else?\n\nwill people commit those without motivation?
142994
For me, and this is just my perception, morals have a basis in religion. The Jewish 10 commandments, for example, constitute a moral code. Ethics on the other hand are derived from sources out side religion. You might derive a moral code from philosophy, science, or any number of other things. I, personally, do not consider myself to be "moral" because I'm not religious. I do however have an ethical standard that I try to live by. I derive my "code of ethics" from what I think of as a simple Universal Principle (This principle also defines the subject for me.) ... Cause and effect. I do a thing. That's the cause. That causes a sort of chain reaction that culminates in the result or effect. So I consider that I can pretty much do what ever I want so long as I'm willing to accept and live with the consequences. Which thing makes me stop and think before doing a thing. So I tend to act rather than re-act. That works pretty good for me. I usually end up treating the other person the way I'd want to be treated, accepting things as they are, just letting some things pass (I mean, how important is it ... Really?), etc. So ... For what its worth, that's my take on the thing. And it works well enough for me. ~ Peace & Blessings ~
236431
What you seem to have missed is the greater point - you're not your own to begin with - He created you, all he asks now is that you recognize that by accepting him and worshipping him - it is not his desire that any should perish - but being good is not what he designed us to do - he designed us to worship - good deeds are results of our worship - not our means of worship.  You are in the midst of spiritual battle and I'm praying that God will give you spiritual rest and a mentor to lead you personally as opposed to this forum. As a parent I raised my son with certain values.  I have entrusted them to him.  It is now up to him to choose to use them.  If he doesn't then there are consequences he will suffer.  Does that take away his ability to choose for himself?  No.  It just means he didn't heed a more learned and wiser, experienced person.  It is a poor analogy, but it was the best I could come up with.
538572
I came to this conclusion about politics and religious types a few years ago and I will share this with you now ok...\n  Religious people feel the need to believe there is a greater force out there so that they think their lives have meaning. They have a Bible, they follow the Bible, they think that if they do not do exactly as the Bible says they will not go to heaven. Part of the Bible is to spread the word of God to as many people as possible. Part of the Bible is also that mankind has freewill to make their own choices and do as it pleases. \n\n      So the problem I have with religious zealots is that they remember the first and forget the second. \nWhy would someone want to join a religion where you come across sounding like a half baked loon to anyone you talk to about God?\n Wouldnt it be better to be loving and accepting of everyone and happy with yourself to the point where people ask you wow why are you so happy what are you doing right with your life? Rather than trying to cram it down our throats and legislate morality.\n Teach through example, be a good kind tolerant person who respects peoples wishes.  Uh there is more to is, but yeah Jesus would most definately be a liberal.
57420
Many people don't see religion as casting all humans as inherently bad.  For some of us, for example, our belief in a higher power incentivizes us to do good even when society would permit us not to.  In my own personal conduct, integrity is the hallmark of everything that I do and say.  I trace that integrity to a belief that at some point in the future I will have to answer for (i.e. justify) my every choice, word, and action.  In other words, even when it appears that no one is observing my conduct, I behave because I believe that Someone is.  It has become fashionable in political circles to mention one's religion, and particularly one's fundamentalism, much in the same vein as one lists other credentials (i.e. education, business experience, and political involvement to date).  I am tremendously skeptical that many if any of our political leaders truly believe the faith they profess.  I am convinced that if more of them anticipated justifying their conduct to a higher power, the world would automatically be better and, for example, the war in Iraq might never have begun under such false pretenses.