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Sunday, May 02, 2010

Absolute Morality

Absolute Morality is based in something outside of us, making it independent of us. It is also assumed to be ontologically prior to us, pre-existing us. It is assumed by many to be unchanging. Here it is important to note that "unchanging" does not mean "not contradictory" or "not ambiguous".

Few people dare to assert anything is "not ambiguous", due to the fact that most people cannot seem to agree on most things, large to the small.

To be Absolute, Morality need only to be "dependable" , nothing else. (We may wish to put it "robustly dependable".)
Such a moral system provides all guidelines and answers all questions; it would be "efficient".
Otherwise, it will not be dependable, will be seen to be imperfect, and - over time - will be perceived as being not absolute after all.

Thus, the nature of the absolute moral code depends on how dependable it is; may we lean on it at all times, in all places? Or, like Egypt, will it be a broken reed, which - upon our placing weight on it - injures the hand holding onto it?

This does not make the validity of the Absolute dependent upon the judgement of mankind, for even the Holy would admit that His Morality indeed is dependable, and should be so, and will continue so. All the other things one says about the Absolute and His Moral Code have no effect on the workings of morality; neither "everlasting" nor "pre-existing" nor "held by an angelic band" has any effect on the day to day workings of morality, whereas dependability does.

Dependability and its effects: peace of mind, for one, are so important that they are one source of "iconic participation" by which the Holy is able to enter the world.
If we did not need forgiveness, if we did not need peace of mind, there would be no need for God to enter time and space to give us rest. The dependability of God is reflected in the Images of the Good Shepherd and the story of the Prodigal Son: ever forgiving, ever open to in-gathering. Totally wide, totally open, and always dependable.
Thus, the icons of the Good Shepherd, Prodigal Son Returns, and the Assembly of the Saints Exultant in Heaven. These icons are the keys in our consciousness by which, via "iconic participation", the Holy enters the world of mankind.

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notes:
Sorry. I know this is a bit much. However, I cannot deny a word of it. I am only somewhat sorry that most readers will find it a truly bizarre rambling. I shall make every effort to clarify it. However, having said that I use this blog somewhat as a journal, I do this now and again. Sometimes I have to, because - like today - it just goes too fast, and I run the risk of losing everything if I don't chain it to the page.

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