How can I distinguish “right” from “wrong”? (Will I go to hell if I eat pork? Probably a sin in my place wouldn’t be that bad in your town!)
As what most people understand what sin is, it is said that it is an ‘act against the will of God’. However, how would you know then that what you are doing is actually the ‘will of God’? Is it because it is against the laws that your religion has set thousands of years ago wherein oftentimes most of its doctrines are no longer applicable to the present times?
The definition of sin is quite relative because, as the question suggests, a sin in my country would not be that bad in your land. Eating pork is definitely okay if you are a Christian but a big NO for Moslems. With this in mind we can then say that right and wrong varies. It is relative. It is according to how the values and the norms of an individual are being formed. It is also then subject to which religion you are in, whether you are a Christian, Jew, Moslem, Hindu, or what have you. If a society acknowledges that eating pork is punishable by torment in hell, then, they consider that act as wrong. If a society values life and family, then that could be considered by that society as something right.
Considering the above mentioned scenario, what if in the farthest region of the earth, where a civilization exists and thrives without any contact or communication of the outside world, a land wherein technology has never set foot on. They are so isolated that for an “evolved being” (if you regard yourself as such) we consider their culture as savage for their beliefs and pratices promotes human sacrificial offerings.
In order for them to please their so called “god”, so that they will be generously provided with great abundance, health and wealth in their family, they have to offer their first born child at the age of three. This tradition has been passed down to generations and this conviction has been valued over centuries. Hence, they believe that sacrificing their first born child is right. For if they disregard the “divine law”, they will be sentenced to eternal suffering. Nevertheless, from our perspective, since we are brought up in a society wherein the value of life is upheld, we view that society’s culture as murderous, something that is evil and totally not acceptable. And if you are to weigh which one is right and wrong, your decision would then be greatly influenced by from which society you live in.
How would you then distinguish right from wrong without any bias to the society that you are existing with? A definition that I think would be applicable to all even to that farthest region of the world would be this:
If an act inflicts an individual, whether it is you or others, then it is considered a sin.
As what have been mentioned in this book, since you are part of God, and you are part of the bigger whole, which is the universe that is God, hurting yourself or others would also hurt God, hence, that is a sin. This is, I believe, the fundamental definition of sin. No matter what your religion is, it would not be difficult for you then to distinguish right from wrong. For you have already known that in whatever you do, you should always take into consideration whether your act inflicts yourself and/or others.
Let us take marriage for an example in distinguishing what is right and wrong. In Christianity, you are only allowed to marry one person. Having another one would be considered infidelity which is subject to punishment by both human laws and “divine laws” of that society. However, if you are a Moslem, by virtue of your faith, you are allowed to marry at several wives. And are you not wondering why is it allowed in Islam and not in Christianity? Is it because they have a different “God”? By putting into context our definition of a sin, having four wives in Islam would never be a sin because it did not hurt anyone (hopefully). The marriage of the other 3 is with consent by all, and in effect did not inflict pain to any of the involved parties, as long as they have wholeheartedly accepted the fact that they are one of the four wives, and no jealousy between them. So, what we are trying to state here is that even Christians can marry as many partners as they want as long as they have not caused any anguish or agony to any being, including to the wives or to the husband. Remember that Abraham, the father of Judaism, Islam and Christianity, has several wives. Yet, the question now is, would your society allow it then if you will marry four?
I am not encouraging you to be polygamous though. All I am saying is that, in whatever you do and whatever decision that you will take, take good care not to hurt yourself or others. If you decide to stick with one partner then go for it. If you want to have a harem of wives, then no one is stopping you. Yet, just be careful of the effects of your actions.
0 comments:
Post a Comment