HOW TO DISTINGUISH RIGHT FROM WRONG

Brent Anderson

If ever there was a quest for a Don Quixote it is the judging of ultimate right and wrong. Given the vast number of ethical systems created by mankind, it seems that there could never be consensus for any one ethical dilemma no matter how tightly defined. Even in the extreme case of cold-blooded murder there are cultures that would not condemn such an act (there has been one recent notable case in the USA). This is to be expected given the fact that any understanding of human behavior must always be based upon statistical analysis. Indeed to understand any of earth’s life forms requires statistical analysis because each individual behavior fits within a spectrum of behaviors for a given population. Because of this vast diversity we are not surprised to find that there is a great deal of friction when the various human cultures interact with each other.

Nature (natural selection, evolution, and other manifestations of the uncertainty principle) has made possible the spectrum of ethical mores of today that are derived from the societal rules of hundreds of thousands of isolated bands or tribes of men and women. As time passes the relative isolation of these small groups is decreasing at an exponential rate. It is sometimes very difficult from our perspective in the present to really internalize the fact that 800 years ago almost all cultures had little or no interaction with other cultures and what interaction occurred was based upon war. Even in our "civilized" modern world it is not uncommon for cultures to interact in this old barbaric way. We would have to be completely isolated not to recognize that the world is moving toward one universal set of laws that hopefully will represent a combination of all the good from every culture assimilated into the whole. Obviously more time will pass and many wars will be fought before the human population of Earth arrives at what is essentially one culture.

That "utopian" culture will not bring peace and harmony to all mankind but only a cessation of the cultural frictions of the past. The very basis of life crates populations of vast diversity in which will always be found those who cannot abide the laws of the majority for reasons political to criminal. The spectrum of lawbreakers will always be as diverse as any other statistically defined aspect of human behavior and so the lines between what is ethical and not will always be blurred for many. This is expected given the nature of life and the natural laws that were used to bring it about.

Into this mix of mankind’s various philosophies of right and wrong our Father who is God has always sounded one simple clear note. As is usually the case with men and women the one clear note has been modified to become many complex symphonies. Most of us cannot accept simplicity and so complexities have been added that allow for deviations from the simple law giving the illusion of God’s sanctioning of unethical lifestyles. But, despite all the maneuvering by those who achieve power the one simple note still rings for those who would hear it. It is simply love your brothers and sisters as yourself and love your Father with all your heart. Is this then the impossible dream for our Don Quixote? Based upon the history of mankind since this message was delivered it may seem so but for those who discover this simple test of right and wrong comes a peace and love of life that no one can take away.