Packaging Morals

Morality is the distinction between right and wrong, the line drawn in the sand to determine what should be done and what should not be done.

Problem is, there is no end to the debate on what is the source of morals and whether or not they are objective. According to anthropologists, even in small homogeneous societies that have no written language, distinctions are sometimes made among morality, etiquette, law, and religion.

Etiquette is sometimes included as a part of morality, but it applies to norms that are considered less serious. Thomas Hobbes ("Leviathan" or "The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil") expresses the standard view when he discusses manners. “By manners I mean not here decency of behavior, as how one man should salute another, or how a man should wash his mouth or pick his teeth before company, and such other points of small morals, but those qualities of mankind that concern their living together in peace and unity.”

Law is distinguished from morality or a moral system by having explicit written rules, and officials who interpret them to apply the penalties. Moral criticism is often cited to argue for a change in the law. Especially bad laws. Like whether someone should have unfettered discretion to deny citizens from having a rightfully elected official to make their representations in government.

Religion differs from morality in that morality is only a guide to conduct, whereas religion is always more than this. When the law fails to enforce conduct required by morality, religion provides recourse to a higher authority far beyond the reach of mortal parliamentarians susceptible to temptations of the flesh. By definition, God is incorruptible.

When “morality” is perceived in such descriptive senses, there are no absolutes in content and it is left to the foundation that members of the society claim to set their standards of morals. Bowing is morally acceptable in one culture and kissing the cheek is in another. Last week we heard that adultery is condoned as long as "you have worked long hours, tirelessly attending to the concerns of your residents, reaching out particularly to the needy and to youths, and building stronger bonds among them." Deciding whether the speaker is amoral to state so depends on what kind of society you want your children to grow up in.