Morality and Religion

2008-07-31T11:50:00.000-07:00

I was conversing with like minded folk this week regarding the essential differences between the majority views of politics in America. My intentions were first and foremost to learn. I surmised that the fundamental difference between R & D, i.e. McCain & Obama, even conservative (yeah, yeah, I know to not identify John M. with such a moniker) and liberal was the simple issue of responsibility. Who bears responsibility for our lives? Self or Government? All the varying addresses along a wide spectrum house you and I.

By this point you can tell I've never had a formal class in political science. Wait...did I have one in college? Possibly. Regardless, those thought forms and definitions don't seem to have weathered the winds of time so well. So, I'm off to surmise and suggest amidst a converstation that scratches at the surface of these things.

Then I make the suggestion that another dimension of these essential differences was morality. "What about morality?" asked one round table's member. "The absolute quality of morality." I replied. The ensuing discussion moved us through the definitions of absolute and relative morality and the effects that all has on policy making and tolerance of differences of opinions.

The possibility that issues surrounding morality being an essential difference in American politics was gaining weight. This immediately led to the assertion that morality differences were important, valid, and permitted..."as long as they were kept distinct from religion."

Hmmmm. When in human history has that ever happened? Does anyone know of a time?

RRW

Rob's Perspective

Morality and Religion