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I don't frame things in moral terms.
This is perhaps fitting, because as I understand it, our ancestors often framed things in terms of virtue or character instead anyway, which is what I do because it just makes more sense to me. An academic with a strong background in philosophy who is part of our Pagan community has spoken at length on the subject. I listened to a fair few interviews of them back in the day via podcasts, but still haven't gotten to reading their actual book on the subject... haha (The Other Side of Virtue: Where Our Virtues Come From, What They Really Mean, and Where They Might Be Taking Us by Brendan Myers).
In essence, focusing on character or virtue means the center is on knowing who you are and the relationship your nature has to the nature of everything else around you. It is not about obeying some set of rules (morals) someone fabricated, but being true to oneself or cultivating certain qualities. There's also a lot of mindfulness in being aware of how our selves are shaped by others and how we in turn shape others.
Thanks for the response. I should have been more careful using the word morals. What I am asking is as a pagan is about how you do decide what is right or wrong to do. I do not care whether you call it morals or virtues. For me it is the same think.
So what are the virtues you hold important and where do you derive them from?
No worries! For me it isn't quite the same - I often associate "morals" with the black-and-white dualistic thinking or classifying behaviors into "good" and "bad" or "right" or "wrong" categories that are fixed and rigid rather than relative and fluid. Perhaps that's because one of the lessons I've learned is that everything comes at cost. Something "good" for one is "bad" for another; it depends on perspective. So instead I focus on character or virtue - being true to oneself. There's an inherent allowance for what is "good" for you to not be "good" for someone else with this perspective. To use an example, one way I am true to myself is through simpler living. This is a net good for the biosphere, but a net bad for the economy.
I think everybody derives them from their life experiences - we are a product of our environment and I was raised with certain values through my parents that have shaped who and what I am. Those values in some respects underpin my religion - my way of life - as well. I am a Druid because I deeply value non-human persons the diversity of the world; because I deeply value learning and the pursuit of knowledge; because I deeply value creativity and the fine arts; because I deeply value the otherworlds and storytelling.
Pagans base on traditions. They base not on morals, but mores. Mores can best be understood as what is the decent, proper thing to do in a situation, and what is not. It is primarily based on example, upbringing, tradition, stories and culture in general. It is no laid down in rules. It creates invisible borders you are not allowed to trespass. Growing up in a tradition people develop a feel for it. For instance by reading the expressions of people towards things happening.how you do decide what is right or wrong to do.
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I do not believe that morals are a set of rules fabricated