" Do not attempt to justify the inequities of life with moral and religious beliefs, those things are transient, it is the inequities that are the constant." ( A.B. Reichart )
Another thought I had along those same lines is, "adjust to reality, for reality will not adjust to you." Reality adjusts itself to time. The same is true for moral and religious beliefs. I dare say, one influences the other. Moral and religious beliefs do not alter reality, that which is present at the moment. Regardless of what we wish things to be, there remains , what is. It is that, that we must learn to accept and deal with. History is the study of what was, not what we wish it could have been. The inequities committed by our ancestors can not be rectified today. The best we can hope for is those inequities not be repeated.
An old adage says, bad things happen to good people. We often find ourselves questioning why that should be so. The answer is simple enough, it is reality. Not a very satisfying answer, no explanation is given, but the answer is valid. " Do not attempt to justify the inequities in life with moral and religious beliefs, those things are transient, it is the inequities that are the constant. " That is reality. It will not change to suit you. Our moral and religious beliefs serve only us. That is a stark reality, one that many fail to recognize. I can not impose those beliefs upon anyone else. All I can do is share them, it is up to the other person to accept them. Should they choose not to accept those beliefs it doesn't diminish their value to me.
I am aware that inequity will exist, regardless of any attempt I may make to eradicate it. The only thing I can change is my response to those inequities. Whether it be as simple as turning the other cheek or taking affirmative action, that is the best I can do. Morality and religious belief are transient in nature, dependent upon society. That is plainly evident with any review of history. What were considered moral virtues yesterday, have been discarded. It has always been so, reality again rears it head. The ability to adjust to reality is the struggle all moral and religious people face. Some choose to discard those moral and religious beliefs altogether. The majority will eventually modify those beliefs in response to reality. The path chosen is dependent upon the expectations of the believer. Should results be immediate? Or is the reward beyond this mortal plain? The bigger question is, when we practice our moral and religious belief are we doing so for the benefit of others, or for ourselves? Is it possible that we are being selfish in our beliefs? Is it wrong to modify those beliefs in response to reality? Depends doesn't it? If your personal attainment of entry to heaven, or whatever you fathom the afterlife to be, is more important than the welfare of others the answer has to be yes. If what you believe is that you must adhere to certain inflexible laws issued by a higher authority, that governs all of mankind, the answer would have to be, yes.
What we need to answer is a basic question. Has God changed since the creation of man? Is he or she the same God today, as he or she was millennia ago? For the believer that answer must be yes. Have those laws changed? That answer must be , no. Is that the reality? We won't know that until after our passing is my belief. I can not know that answer. What we do know, for a certainty, is that inequity has always existed among men. It is my thinking that it will always be so. For that reason I believe my moral and religious practices are for my benefit alone. A personal choice. It is those choices that will determine my ultimate destination. I do know it is far easier to tell others how to live their life than to direct your own. Another inequity? It does beg the question, are we all equal in death? In this reality it would certainly seem so.
Another thought I had along those same lines is, "adjust to reality, for reality will not adjust to you." Reality adjusts itself to time. The same is true for moral and religious beliefs. I dare say, one influences the other. Moral and religious beliefs do not alter reality, that which is present at the moment. Regardless of what we wish things to be, there remains , what is. It is that, that we must learn to accept and deal with. History is the study of what was, not what we wish it could have been. The inequities committed by our ancestors can not be rectified today. The best we can hope for is those inequities not be repeated.
An old adage says, bad things happen to good people. We often find ourselves questioning why that should be so. The answer is simple enough, it is reality. Not a very satisfying answer, no explanation is given, but the answer is valid. " Do not attempt to justify the inequities in life with moral and religious beliefs, those things are transient, it is the inequities that are the constant. " That is reality. It will not change to suit you. Our moral and religious beliefs serve only us. That is a stark reality, one that many fail to recognize. I can not impose those beliefs upon anyone else. All I can do is share them, it is up to the other person to accept them. Should they choose not to accept those beliefs it doesn't diminish their value to me.
I am aware that inequity will exist, regardless of any attempt I may make to eradicate it. The only thing I can change is my response to those inequities. Whether it be as simple as turning the other cheek or taking affirmative action, that is the best I can do. Morality and religious belief are transient in nature, dependent upon society. That is plainly evident with any review of history. What were considered moral virtues yesterday, have been discarded. It has always been so, reality again rears it head. The ability to adjust to reality is the struggle all moral and religious people face. Some choose to discard those moral and religious beliefs altogether. The majority will eventually modify those beliefs in response to reality. The path chosen is dependent upon the expectations of the believer. Should results be immediate? Or is the reward beyond this mortal plain? The bigger question is, when we practice our moral and religious belief are we doing so for the benefit of others, or for ourselves? Is it possible that we are being selfish in our beliefs? Is it wrong to modify those beliefs in response to reality? Depends doesn't it? If your personal attainment of entry to heaven, or whatever you fathom the afterlife to be, is more important than the welfare of others the answer has to be yes. If what you believe is that you must adhere to certain inflexible laws issued by a higher authority, that governs all of mankind, the answer would have to be, yes.
What we need to answer is a basic question. Has God changed since the creation of man? Is he or she the same God today, as he or she was millennia ago? For the believer that answer must be yes. Have those laws changed? That answer must be , no. Is that the reality? We won't know that until after our passing is my belief. I can not know that answer. What we do know, for a certainty, is that inequity has always existed among men. It is my thinking that it will always be so. For that reason I believe my moral and religious practices are for my benefit alone. A personal choice. It is those choices that will determine my ultimate destination. I do know it is far easier to tell others how to live their life than to direct your own. Another inequity? It does beg the question, are we all equal in death? In this reality it would certainly seem so.
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