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January 12, 2004
Rights and morals
A succinct exposition of what is wrong with a society based on "rights" rather than a moral code is to be found at Adrian Warnock's site under the title of Consenting cannibals. Rights without some sort of moral framework are likely to lead eventually to a complete breakdown of society as my "rights" collide head on with someone else's "right" to do something to me that I object too.
Whether we like it or not, the ten commandments provide a basic framework within which human activity can be regulated for the benefit of all, and not just for the strongest, loudest or most cunning. The "right" of any one of us to elect to be, for example, eaten by some other member of society cuts right across decent and moral behaviour. This route leads straight down the road to the descent of man to the same level as our prehistoric forebears.
It is not a popular view today to point out that we are all responsible for our own actions. It is much more acceptable to blame some other person or entity for our failures, but the fact is that it all comes back to our having undermined the moral authority that underpins our society. The individual is one component of society and should be respected for that individuality, but the individual is never going to be superior to the society in which he or she lives. They are as much a product of that society as the society is of the sum of its individual parts. This is why a "rule of life" is so essential.
I have long believed that we should not speak of an individuals "rights" but of his or her "privileges" - and these are entirely dependent upon our respect for each others privileges. In other words, if I consistently infringe your privileges within our society, you would be in a position to have mine restricted by the consent of the rest of our society. This is the underlying principle of the Commandments given in the Book of Exodus to Moses on Mount Sinai. Calling it a purely moral code is to restrict it, it is much more, it is a fundamental code of living, a set of principles which reach into every area of our lives as a "civilised" society.
The church has recently taken a great deal of abuse about its opposition to "modern" visions of inclusive society, in particular same sex relations. If we leave aside the Biblical injunction against these, we find ourselves in the dangerous arena of taking a pick and mix approach to all morality in society. As Adrian Warnock so succinctly points out, this opens doors to all sorts of abuses.
In order to work any society must hold common values, common ground rules and function on the ability of the individuals within that group to work with each other within those values and rules. The problem we face today is that there are values and rules which are now being eroded by small but vociferous minorities who wish to break free of what they see as restrictive rules and replace these with an "anything goes" approach. Hence the proposal to allow someone to eat another individual. The fact that in order to do this, he would have to first commit murder, is only one aspect of this debate that should make the whole of our society wake up to the fact that this is a step way to far!
We live in a society that is at a cross roads. It can rediscover values in spiritually inspired and well established principles, or it can turn on itself and plunge headlong into oblivion by rejecting all that binds a society into a workable and peaceful, just and fair group. "Rights" however noble, can never be sustained, if that society does not also adopt the moral imperative that accompanies them. In this post-Christian era, we have a serious dilemma to face, if all scriptural authority is to be denigrated, pulled apart and rejected as infringing our "human rights", then we must also accept that which will replace it. And that will lead to a society which will be so self destructive that it will eventually be replaced by something imposed upon it.
The notion that anything is permissible between consenting adults is perceived as a laudable goal, but is it? Or will this route open a Pandora's box on abuses that will ultimately destroy us all?
Sadly I think that the Box has already been opened. I sincerely hope that we are able to at least mitigate the forces we have released.
Posted by The Gray Monk at January 12, 2004 02:58 PM
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Barbara Amiel has turned her attention away from ROPMA and towards the German cannibal, Armin Meiwes. She also addresses some of the other more "unusual" sexual predilictions in her most amusing piece. But, if the situation in the Armin Meiwes... [Read More]
Tracked on January 12, 2004 10:39 PM