8/30/2011
Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
For some people, this is an incredibly easy answer, yes. This is because they are backed up by religions that directly tell them exactly what is right and wrong. They tell us stealing is wrong, that adultery is wrong, and especially that taking the life of another is wrong. Some of these religions get incredibly specific in to what one can and cannot do, and some are very loosely based and follow a general rule.
The two common examples would be Christianity and Wicca. Christianity gives us a strict set of rules that they say must be followed, and that all of them are bad. It's not a bad list, as all the things they name are indeed bad. However, with Wicca they simply say to cause no harm to others. This can be interpreted in many ways, but is supposed to be focused on what the person truly believes.
However, now lets look at Atheism. They don't come with a rulebook, they just come with the solid believe that there is no higher power, and they we were all created by natural means. If they don't have something to tell them right and wrong, then how do they truly know what IS right and wrong? I know any Athiests reading this will simply think that not hurting or stealing is common knowledge, but if it were so common, then why do we still have crime? There are plenty of people in life who blatantly ignore right and wrong for personal gain. If right and wrong were a common thing that everyone knew, then you wouldn't be reading this right now.
Lets look at it from another angle now, society. Society is another thing we can take morals from, and simply say that the law says what is right and wrong. But that's not always right either, because almost always you can trace laws made back to the religions that started them. Other laws made to signify right and wrong are also put in place for other people's safety, and yet some are blatantly ignored. An example of this would be simply Jaywalking. It is against the law to cross a street in the middle when there is an available spot to walk across. This law was put in place so that people don't get run over by oncoming cars. However, this law is hardly ever enforced, and people do it all the time. Hell, you have very likely done it yourself.
Lets move to another traffic law, speed limit. If you go over it, you will be pulled over and ticketed. However, some policeman wave tickets for people going only 1 o-5 miles over. Simple mistake right? No. This kind of leniency tells people that it's okay to go a few miles above the speed limit because most cops will simply wave the charges. If people break the law, the point is to punish them, not simply shrug your shoulders and claim it as an accident. Hell, even on highways people go a lot faster then they should, and yet are never stopped because of the sheer number of people there are except on rare occasions. Why put a law in place that is not only difficult to enforce, but they are unwilling to.
Last example before I move on. Seat belts. It's a newer well known law that if you drive without a seatbelt, you will be ticketed. Otherwise advertised as Click it, or Ticket. I can understand why such a law would be put in place, but most people still disregard it, as all they get is a slap on the wrist and a fine. If anything it should be common sense to put on a seat belt, and the only warning should be "Put on a seat belt or your chances of dying are significantly increased." If they decide not to still? Then it's their fault if they die. However, this should not include children, as they are not truly old enough to make their own choices. So that would be a law with a heavy fine, maybe even a warning to take the kid away because the parent obviously can't keep them safe.
At the end of the day, one person can't truly say what is right and wrong for all people, because all people believe things differently. One person might believe that alcohol should be illegal, where as another can feel that anyone should be allowed to drink it. Are either of those right? It depends on what you believe. The only reason we have the laws we do is from Governments looking at mass beliefs, and choosing what they feel is right. Does that make them right either? Absolutely not. But in this day in age you need to believe in what they tell you is right or wrong in their books, because they hold more power over you. However in the end when it is you alone that has to make the choice of right and wrong, you only have yourself and what you believe...
This is the first of many "On the Fence" discussions to come. If you have any questions/comments/complaints/ or ideas, feel free to Pm them or put it in the public discussions. I intend to keep this thread open for my discussions.
Subject: On the Fence 
