Is there a moral absolute for everyone, or do some just exist as they wish?
346647
Of course not.\n\nBecause who's ethical codes to you follow? All have their flaws and their good points!\n\nBest to just do what you feel is wrong and right and hope for the best.
1180057
That is an excellent question and a very good point. I totally agree with you. What makes anyone think they are good enough to judge others, and what right have they to set the standards for other people. As long as people are doing their very best within their means, people should live and let live within reason, providing they are not causing a danger to themselves or others.
1165601
Good and evil are relative terms. What is good to one person may not be so to another, just as what is evil to one person may not be to another. For example, I think that eating meat and subjecting animals to cruel experiments are evil acts, though I am sure that most other people would disagree with me about that. Also, most of us would agree that the Holocaust is a prime example of evil, but you can be sure that the Nazis thought that their actions were perfectly acceptable. There is no universal concept of good and evil.
324908
Morality is a personal choice issue.  You have to decide what it is you believe in and how strongly you believe in it.  It is your life and it is time for you to start laying the foundation for your future and how you want others to see you.
1073056
No. \n\nCleaning my apartment  would be good.\nHaving someone else clean my apartment would be better.\n\nNeither is right -- neither is wrong. \n\nThe same principle can be applied to moral situations.
349875
Depends on the individuals Morals and guidlines.  Diffrent for everyone.
274217
Morally not necessarily\n\nRealistically yes
931566
Not necessarily.  I've seen alot with belief who step outside of what is considered moral, even by their own religions standards and then hypocritically justify it with that same religion.  I wouldn't consider that person better for their belief.  Though, on rare occaisions, I do find people with belief who have become better people for it... those are usually the one's who don't pressure others about belief.  Sad thing is, they're greatly outnumbered by those that step outside of the moral boundaries believing they are Better than others.
980749
Even if God doesn't exist, a code of ethics still would. You can't just do anything you want, because if we all did that, we'd make each other miserable.\n\nFor instance, if I felt like driving somebody down in my car [ALA Grand Theft Auto], the same fate could be awaiting me. God or no, a code of ethics is needed for maintaining civilized society.
810905
I don't even think all people are equal. The beauty is we are all different, yet each has the opportunity to exist as a part of the whole sum. That is like asking if all dogmas, religions, politics or forms of economy are equal. There is no perfect system or even human form.\nLet this be understood. A portion is offered each.\nExist within mutually considerate orientation, or not, only then is your portion received.\nThis is not a matter of saying who it is, where it is or what or why it is. It is spread among, upon, within and throughout, equally and evenhandedly.\n\nEarth molecule and organism throughout requires humble reciprocation. Each component inter and co dependent.
788642
Most of us are at a very basic level of morality..that is we do things out of fear of punishment or in expectation of reward.
542482
No. I think for myself. Science has a large number of self-correcting proceedures, so I think it will eventually get the correct answers once enough data is in. But science itself does not deal with morality, just existence. \nFor morality, I look at what hurts people and society and what helps people and society. I look for promotion of learning, art, literature, and love between people. I look to promote the type of world that I would like my daughter to live in: one that is open to new ideas, that doesn't ostrasize people for who they love, and that protects those that are in need of protection. This often means I don't 'go with the flow'.
495006
Of course. It does not take a god to make one moral. Our human minds are capable of knowing what it takes to be a good person in society. Saying it takes a god is weak and it takes away from what a human can do.
831020
Wow, if anyone really had the answer to this, they would win the Nobel Peace Prize, because we could settle the issue of truth once and for all.  The people who are wrong would have to admit, "oh...so THAT'S the truth", and the world's problems would be solved.\n\nNot everything can be truth.  Truth, by definition, must be an absolute, because anying that is different from truth, is by default not true anymore.  For example, if it really is the truth is that Jesus died for our sins, then any ideas that say otherwise cannot also be truth.  Therefore, anyone who says that it is o.k. for everyone to have their own truth also thinks that it is o.k. for a lot of people to be walking around deluded by lies.  \n\nWhy do people care so much about the truth???  There definitely seems to be something inside of us that longs to know the truth, or else there would not be people fighting over this.  Is it just an evolutionary advantage to want to know the truth?  The way people kill for what they perceive as truth would seem to contradict this.  To understand what "The Truth" actually  is, I think we may first need to find out why we are so driven to find the truth.\n\nI am tempted to say that truth is written on our consciences, and we need to tap into that, but this sounds a little wishy-washy, because obviously the practice of finding out what is inside of us has resulted in a lot of people claiming that contradictory things are all truths.  Islam and Hinduism can't both be true, for example, and I am sure that there are Muslims and Hindus that both believe they have the truth.\n\nWhen it all comes down to it, I think that we have to admit that we have to earnestly seek truth.  This is hard, because our past experiences with our families and cultures may alter this search.  I think that if we examine what people say in different religions, including atheism, with a mind that is both critical and earnestly seeking, then we can elminate things that don't make sense, and eventually find "The Truth'.   If we just accept our religion based on thoughts like "That's what everyone here believes", or "That's the way my parents raised me", or "I'm afraid I'll go to Hell", or "I'm most comfortable here," ; then we really haven't found truth, and our search must continue.  \n\nIf there is a higher being that loves you and cares for you, and you ask this being for guidance to know the truth, and you seriously mean that you want the truth (and not just an affirmation that whatever you were doing before was right), if this being really exists, he WILL help you find the truth.  If he doesn't exist, the search continues....
995906
Intereresting theory and worth pondering.  Moral questions can certainly only be answered individually as each individual has their own moral standard. Unless, of course, the moral standard is that of a culture, and then the standard would be set by majority opinion and actions.\n\nWhen it comes to internet answers to morality questions, I would suggest that we need to look at the demographic of those answering.  The question is most likely being answered by a younger (ie: more internet savvy) audience than what might be found in society.  Also, since you don't know the personal moral standards of those answering, it is hard to judge if their own morality is a right fit for your own (the asker).\n\nI try not to give 'pat' answers to any question I am answering, but then again, I also don't try to push my morals onto others....\n\nGreat question! Very thought provoking.
1081118
Self righteousness implies moral superiority and as such it is my belief that this is a human trait that crosses political boundaries but is particular to people and groups that exhibit pathological hatreds. \nPersonally, my morals are neither superior nor inferior to anyone else's. They are mine and mine alone. Finally, I would ask that if a person is going to make rational decisions that they should know how to think for themselves.
404918
yes i think there are people out there that have morals and still live by their culture...look at the Amish and Menonites