Thursday, December 20, 2007

Which way does your Moral Compass point?

How often do you question what you believe?
Do you think that your belief system can be categorized?
The article "Which Way does your Moral Compass Point," by Douglas Todd, discusses the categories of Canadians' morals. But how accurately can somebody categorize another's belief?
The article categorizes people into 5 different groups, of which I fit into none. This, more than anything, has made me disbelieve that one cannot categorize a person's values. However, I also believe that religion does just that. When people are brought into a certain religion, they are automatically forced to believe in the beliefs of it, and therefore categorized. One can say that a person has "Christian values," if they are a Christian. This conformist aspect of society is what causes people to never question what they believe, and strips them of their own right to choose their beliefs.
I question what I believe every day, and I try to critically analyze all moral situations I am presented with.

I believe that the three most important factors in my life that affect what my value system are my parents, religion, and culture.
My parents are amazing critical thinkers, and they have taught me the difference between right and wrong. Not only that, but they have helped me learn to critically analyze moral situations. They have not told me what to believe, but given me the tools to make my own decision.
I am an Atheist, and it is more my lack of religion, than my religion, that has allowed me to make moral choices. Not having a religion has allowed me to make my own choices about my morals, rather than having them told to me.
My culture has also influenced my morals. Rather than make me conform to the norm in western society, people's unerring belief in certain ideologies has made me question why I should believe in them. I have also been able to experience many different cultures, and this has made me more open to question my beliefs.
The ideologies presented by all people are acceptable, on certain conditions. If they have had a chance to question their beliefs, and still accept them, then they are acceptable. If people have had a chance to explore a different number of beliefs, and not simply be forced into believing something simply because it is a part of their heritage, then they have had a chance to choose what they will believe, and have therefore critically examined what they choose to believe.
I have a very strong sense of what I believe is right and wrong, but I am able to see the grey areas, and do not accept anything at face value. It is important to be able to see all sides of an issue before you choose one.
My morals have never been completely set. My morals are constantly changing, depending on situations that present themselves. The influence of other people makes me constantly call into question my beliefs, and I try never to be too set in what I think.
It is important to make your opinion heard, but if people truly believe it is wrong, you cannot force them to see the right. As long as people have really examined my viewpoint, and not simply rejected it because it is not the same as theirs, then I will not attempt to impress it upon them.

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