What Is Right?

How do you determine in any circumstance what is right? Are your decisions based on scripture or on conscience or other?

I base my decisions on a simple rule. If it needlessly harms someone, I don't do it. If it doesn't, and I want to do it, then I do.

Lightkeeper always comes up with such interesting topics! *cheers*

I'd always used Biblical scripture, in the past, to let me know what was 'right.' Then, the scripture (as interpreted by the fundamentalists I was attending the church of, so this is not to say that Biblical scripture, as it can be interpreted, is anything less than heavenly) began clashing with my conscience. For awhile, I let my conscience rule. That always means that, if it harms someone, I don't do it. Unfortunately, my self-esteem would trip me up, so that, in a choice between asserting myself and the possibility of maybe hurting someones' feelings, I would never assert myself.

Nowadays, I ask my head and my heart what's 'just.' If they disagree, or don't agree with my own thoughts, I do a 'medicine wheel' and ask what is right.

No right or wrong, just necessity. If it isn't necessary, don't do it.

I'm with the 'no right or wrong' folks. There may be things I see as right or wrong, but other people don't see it that way. I try to do what doesn't hurt people unnecessarily.

I think it has to do with motive. The same act could be right in one context and wrong in another. The important question is not what was done but why it was done.

As a christian I derive my sense of right and wrong from what the Bible says and apply that to my daily life. Before I make a decision I always try to ask myself, "what does the Bible say about this?"

Druidus said:

I base my decisions on a simple rule. If it needlessly harms someone, I don't do it. If it doesn't, and I want to do it, then I do.

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Couldn't agree more. My philosophy of life is that I am here to enjoy life, and have as good a life as possible, without unecessarily hurting anybody or anything.

I used to think that my beliefs and guidelines were to be found in the Symbolic Books of the Church of Sweden (cf. FeathersinHair!). When I took up Religious studies and had to read the Scriptures thinking on my own, I found that I had to reject them.

In the same vein as Mephideus and Eastern philosophies, I don't recognize the concept of "sin". If we act against the Dao/Nature, we will suffer the consequences. You may call it foolishness or whatever, but "sin" is a religious term which means nothing to me now.

Buddhism judges such questions by whether they cause suffering. The Eightfold Path is a guideline for how to live a life which causes the least additional suffering possible. It is not a set of laws, however. One must always evaluate the situation and make a decision regarding the value of each of the different choices one contemplates making.

Druidus said:

I base my decisions on a simple rule. If it needlessly harms someone, I don't do it. If it doesn't, and I want to do it, then I do.

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Fo' shizzle, mah nizzle.

(Translation: I agree with you, whole heartily, my african american brother.)