What Defines Moral Behavior? (Part I) Personal Choices

To be moral is to conform to a standard of right behavior. Ideally, to be moral is to stand for principles and actions that are positive and contributory to the world in which we live. This sounds great. It sounds like something we would all (with the exception of those who just don’t care) want to live by. However, there is a problem. Who defines what is moral and what is not? Upon whose proclamation do we decide whether someone is acting in a positive and contributory way or in a way that is destructive? Outside of the laws of the land we live in, each of us for the most part has the capacity to develop a personal moral code. The big question is, do we each define that moral code based on personal experience and preference, or do we define it by what we would consider to be higher guidelines? There are several ways one can go about defining morality. In a very simplistic approach, we will touch on two very different methods to define what moral behavior should be driven by. Let’s begin with Humanism Humanism very basically says that instead of relying on God and religion for moral guidance and direction, one should focus on individual and collective wellbeing. This is attained by a reliance upon natural means such as science and reason. Knowing our place in the world comes from observing and understanding the world and not relying on supernatural sources for answers. On the other hand… Christians assert that all of the principles for our moral guidance come from God and are based on the Bible. We look heavenward to the plans and purposes of the Creator of our world to understand and determine what our moral responsibilities should be. We see this approach as providing a constant and unchanging basis for the justice, mercy and love with which we are required to treat one another. As we compare these two approaches, we can see certain questions immediately appear regarding both sides. There is obviously a subjective aspect to Humanism that needs addressing. What do we do with the clear cultural and experiential biases we all have as we absorb science and interpret what is reasonable? When does a new approach to right and wrong come into play? And who decides? Questions regarding the biblical approach revolve around the proclamation that one ancient and never-changing approach to morality will always be right. Check out our September 9, 2024 podcast, “What Defines Moral Behavior? (Part I)” for more. We break down these philosophical approaches step-by-step and use several lines of scriptural reasoning for support. What we find may be surprising, as the need for aspects of the subjective humanistic approach become very clear. Are we saying to not count on God’s objective approach to morality? Absolutely not. Join us and see how the Bible walks us through grasping the loftiness of God’s morality for humanity by showing us how to fine tune our own subjective approach.