I very much agree with your premise. To maintain freedom it is imperative to set some moral standard. When there is a collapse in maintaining these moral standards is when atrocities like civil war & genocides happen. Many people do not realize how blessed we Americans are to have governing laws that protect our personal rights while simultaneously protecting the rights of others and setting a moral standard of what will be tolerated or punished. There are so many countries where rights are only for the privilaged and moral code is only enforced upon the poor.

I also agree with your second point. Through being LDS, I have first hand experienced religious judgment. Many other denominations constantly attempt to become judge of what is and isn’t Christian. Whereas, if you truly believe in the Bible, you know that God is the only judge. So, it always astounds me. It is because of my personal experience with this that I so respect free will and (legal) personal lifestyle choices.

Thank you for this article.

Hello again Chris. I am completely in agreement with you on the idea that we should not judge others but rather instead love them. The worst to be done, is to hate those that need love most. By the way, I thank you for your service, veterans do not accrue the proper amount of handshakes and cheers. Here’s to you!

Good thought provoking essay. Thanks.

This article is very thoughtful, and brief!

Thank you everyone for your kind words and reading my articles.

I agree with you that a nation’s laws should be based on moral standards, but wonder where you draw the line between what is “over the top” behavior that requires intervention, and having a “to each his own” philosophy, which would indicate non-intervention. To me, that seems to require an absolute moral standard to which actions can be compared, and deemed either moral or immoral. What would we use as this absolute standard?

good article for getting conbversation going, that is for sure. Keep it up big guy.

Mike

I agree with you, Chris. You have left us with something to think about.

A great article.

This sums it up for me: “What shapes my belief is right for me, but I respect that other people have different beliefs. I have no right to judge others.”

My wish would be that an authority could read this to implement it. I agree with you. While I was a sorority house director for a year, I also found out that ,even though I am a Christian, I can live it for me without judging others that were not.

Wow, Chris, you really loaded up this brief essay with lots of issues. Way to stir up the pot!! I agree with Randy that there must be an objective standard to live by, otherwise, your words sound as if anything goes, because who is to say whether what I do is right or wrong or helpful or hurtful to another?

As to the judging issue, Americans have a lot of mis-conceptions, particularly those who have been exposed to the Christian church. It sounds like you are saying ‘do not judge’, meaning, don’t put yourself in authority over another. I would agree with that, but many take this to mean that we cannot even make a comment or share an opinion…or that there is no right or wrong. If you hit me, I will judge you, because it was wrong. The Bible teaches that we are actually supposed to judge others, or to make judgments about right and wrong. We do it with an attitude of love, however. Most importantly, we make judgments based upon God’s principles, not our own. So right judging is just interpreting and applying biblical rightness to our lives. But God is the only Judge, not us. One day each of us will see exactly what a fantastic Judge God is.

A thoughtful article. Yes, I often wish that people really followed the golden rules. In my heart, I believe everyone truly wants to.

Blessings.

Sincerely,

-Liane Schmidt.

Thank you everyone!

I believe in the bible 100%. We are not to judge, God will do the judging according to his law and word.

we could live in what seems to be a dream world if we all just went by some basic morals. the golden rule people! work. thanks for sharing!

You brought out a lot of issues in so short and direct-to-the-point article. And I agree with all you wrote here. Great work.

This really is a complex, multifaceted issue. Some would say that you cannot legislate morality, but IMHO every law on the books is an attempt to legislate morality. The problem comes when some people think that we have too many laws, and others think we don\’t have enough. It is our elected officials who make these laws, so it is everyone\’s responsibility to keep track of what proposals are on the books, and to make sure that our voice is heard.
I think that North American society is still reaping the benefit of the moral code of our parents and grandparents, when the Bible was still accepted as a standard for right or wrong. Even people who didn\’t accept the Christian faith still respected the Bible. Also, schools (even public schools) taught Judeo/Christian ethics.
Now, however, kids are not being taught the content of the Bible at school, most of them are not going to Sunday School anymore, so they don\’t even know the Biblical standards. They are being taught to make their own code of ethics with programs such as values clarification. Public school teachers and guidance counselors who are Christian are strictly forbidden to mention anything religious. Any predictions about what society will be like in 40 or 50 years?

very good article, and i totally agree with you:)

I am in agreement with you thoughts, Chris, and appreciate hearing it being said from a Christian identifying himself as such.

I believe that a common standard will be arrived at over the course of time, allowing as the generations begin to maturely consult across cultural and national boundaries to find the elements of life that need to be universal and those that should be governed by each respective nation or region. In the meantime, dialogue such as this one, followed by positive and reflective feedback such as those given here thus far, will bring us quite far in our collective understanding.

Much love,
OAK

Very good article.

Well put!

Well put!

I am in agreement with you Chris, let us respect others beliefs. I for one being in the evangelism ministry try to refrain in having den=bates with those who have a different views abouth god, The best way that others can see your personality is through your testimony.

So few words, very big message in them!

The trouble with our world to date is there is no Morals or Values. Great article, I stumbled so others may get the chance to read you work.

That’s great.

Great Work! That’s fantastic piece. I loved it! Thanx for sharing

Chris,

Some excellent thoughts and great morals for each to abide by. Unfortunately it doesnt always happen that way.

RJ

Wow… I am so enlightened. I am totally glad I read this triumphic evaluation of moral dilemma.

Yes, truly… “to each is own”.

I too am a Christian, and I respect others’ rights and free will as well. After all. Great post.

just revisiting