Integrity
A friend of mine who shares his daily spiritual intention with me via text wrote this morning, “I will stay focused on me and my actions today while staying conscious of others and their feelings. I find that I’d put my faith in my high(er) power and treat everyone with kindness and love, it’s easier to get it back. And if they don’t, that’s okay too.”
Oxford dictionary defines integrity as “…the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles” The same dictionary defines moral as “…concerned with principles of right and wrong behavior”
The problem occurs of course with the fact that what each of us considers moral behavior is dependent on a great many factors. What one is taught about what pleases the God of the understanding of one’s family or community might be the sole determinant of what is right and wrong. Depending on the God which is posited by a particular religion capital punishment, war, punishment, the superiority of males and other behavior are considered moral. Moral in this case is equated with religious duty which is dictated by that particular God. Other religions posit a God who which does not condone capital punishment or any killing. Some religions posit a God who disapproves of same sex behavior, any sex not performed in hopes of procreation, dancing, partaking of alcohol and many other behaviors.
Some use their understanding of living in harmony with all the forces which are responsible for the behavior of the universe to determine what is right and wrong. They may or may not concern themselves with what is considered first causes or a god concept. Some of these same people may decide that killing and eating any animals is immoral. Some even consider root vegetables as off limits. Some Jains consider a bulb or a tuber’s ability to sprout as characteristic of a living being, the killing of which is prohibited.
Some believe that some people and actions are evil and thus deserve punishment - even killing - while others believe that certain factors affect the ability of the brain to consider the needs or rights of others.
I could write many pages about the concepts and beliefs which determine what various humans consider right and wrong or moral and immoral behavior. Philosophers and theologians have posited various theories for determining what human behavior is most appropriate and, thus, most moral. Some have posited “the greatest good for the greatest number” while others think the survival of the fittest should determine how one views right and wrong behavior.
Given all these various beliefs how should parents, teachers and thoughtful mentors explore how to approach arriving at principles of right and wrong – moral and immoral? Who determines the right approach? Integrity of the children as they grow into adulthood will depend on the moral principles they adopt.
Some will define moral behavior differently for work, home, community, national and international situations. Some think the same moral principles should be applied in all areas of our life.
Obviously we adults who have any leadership responsibility whether it be an artist, school teacher or parent have a daunting responsibility. I suspect that the best we can do is to teach all children to:
As wise men and women have continued to say from the beginning of recorded history the questions we teach our children to ask are more important than the answers. The answers will continue to evolve as our acceptance and appreciation for all of life and the limits of our humanness continues to simultaneously evolve.
Written October 1, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
A friend of mine who shares his daily spiritual intention with me via text wrote this morning, “I will stay focused on me and my actions today while staying conscious of others and their feelings. I find that I’d put my faith in my high(er) power and treat everyone with kindness and love, it’s easier to get it back. And if they don’t, that’s okay too.”
Oxford dictionary defines integrity as “…the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles” The same dictionary defines moral as “…concerned with principles of right and wrong behavior”
The problem occurs of course with the fact that what each of us considers moral behavior is dependent on a great many factors. What one is taught about what pleases the God of the understanding of one’s family or community might be the sole determinant of what is right and wrong. Depending on the God which is posited by a particular religion capital punishment, war, punishment, the superiority of males and other behavior are considered moral. Moral in this case is equated with religious duty which is dictated by that particular God. Other religions posit a God who which does not condone capital punishment or any killing. Some religions posit a God who disapproves of same sex behavior, any sex not performed in hopes of procreation, dancing, partaking of alcohol and many other behaviors.
Some use their understanding of living in harmony with all the forces which are responsible for the behavior of the universe to determine what is right and wrong. They may or may not concern themselves with what is considered first causes or a god concept. Some of these same people may decide that killing and eating any animals is immoral. Some even consider root vegetables as off limits. Some Jains consider a bulb or a tuber’s ability to sprout as characteristic of a living being, the killing of which is prohibited.
Some believe that some people and actions are evil and thus deserve punishment - even killing - while others believe that certain factors affect the ability of the brain to consider the needs or rights of others.
I could write many pages about the concepts and beliefs which determine what various humans consider right and wrong or moral and immoral behavior. Philosophers and theologians have posited various theories for determining what human behavior is most appropriate and, thus, most moral. Some have posited “the greatest good for the greatest number” while others think the survival of the fittest should determine how one views right and wrong behavior.
Given all these various beliefs how should parents, teachers and thoughtful mentors explore how to approach arriving at principles of right and wrong – moral and immoral? Who determines the right approach? Integrity of the children as they grow into adulthood will depend on the moral principles they adopt.
Some will define moral behavior differently for work, home, community, national and international situations. Some think the same moral principles should be applied in all areas of our life.
Obviously we adults who have any leadership responsibility whether it be an artist, school teacher or parent have a daunting responsibility. I suspect that the best we can do is to teach all children to:
- Question everything but with enormous respect for the views of others.
- Consider the possibility that all living beings and things are an important part of the whole. Many so called primitive people considered all life sacred and if a plant or animal was a food source they needed to be very grateful to that plant or animal.
- Consider what scientific observations or study reveals. For example, does incarcerating people with the intent of punishment create a safer or more just society/community? Do same sex relationships result in the human race becoming extinct? Are females less capable than males in any area of life?
- What extent do humans have free will if one considers the effect of all the factors which affect how the brain functions; how thoughts are formed and executed?
- Consider if winning the lottery of being born to certain parents in a certain community in a certain culture should determine who is deserving of food, housing, health care and the other tools of survival.
As wise men and women have continued to say from the beginning of recorded history the questions we teach our children to ask are more important than the answers. The answers will continue to evolve as our acceptance and appreciation for all of life and the limits of our humanness continues to simultaneously evolve.
Written October 1, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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