Theos-Talk Archives (May 1998 Message tt00397)

May 22 '98

Question:  What would be a "moral absolute ?"

Suggestion for consideration:

How about universal brotherhood, harmlessness to all creatures,
non-violence, "turning the other cheek," friendliness, tolerance,
assistance when necessity offers itself, compassion, extending a
helping hand, resistance to evident misuse of personal power,
gentle firmness, personal rectitude, voluntary obedience to
Nature's Laws, granting others the same rights and privileges
that we expect for ourselves,  practicing "The Golden Rule:  'Do
unto others as you would have them do unto you.'
  etc.,    etc.,
Dallas

> Date: Thursday, May 21, 1998 1:34 AM
> From: "Thoa Thi-Kim Tran" <thoalight@aol.com>
> Subject: Theosophical Doctrines (HPB)

>>In a message dated 98-05-20 08:54:50 EDT, you write:
>>
>><< Have our moral perceptions become so blunted ? >>
>>
>>"We approach a condition in which we shall be amoral without
the capacity to
>>perceive it and degraded without the means to measure our
descent."
>>(Richard Weaver - 1948)
>>
>>Apparently this forecast, made a half a century ago, has come
to pass.
>>Subjectivism, by which almost anything can be justified, has
replaced moral
>>absolutes and eternal verities.
>>
>>Lmhem111
>
>What is the moral absolute?  Every groups have had their moral
absolutes
>and have caused harm through their judgment.  An example would
be the moral
>absolutes of the Roman Catholic church.  There is a book out
about a Jewish
>child being kidnapped (in 1858) by the church to raise as a good
Catholic
>because a servant girl had claimed she baptized him.  This was
not an
>uncommon practice.  Other issues involve homosexuality, medical
procedures,
>women's duties, and marital obligations.  The only moral
absolute I could
>see is to not do harm to others.  Unfortunately, history has
shown that
>humans used "moral absolutes" as an excuse to harm and control
others.
>
>Thoa :o)