On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 04:18:24 -0600, Mark A. Foster <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Gilberto: > >>I think one should be sensitive to the customs of the people around you. > >>That's just adab. If belching in public and slurping your soup loudly is > >>acceptable in a certain environment, go for it. If it isn't, you should > >>refrain. But this isn't a moral issue.<< Mark: > But it *is* a moral issue (a folkway), as morality is generally defined in > sociology. That is why I am making a distinction between morality (values and > norms) and virtues (spiritual qualities taught by particular Prophets). Gilberto: Ok, then part of the difficulty is that we are using words differently. Whether or not one belches in public is not a moral question. I would definitely want to distinguish between morality (which could presumably be derrived from some basic moral/ethical principles) and mere politeness or ettiquette. Gilberto: > >>I don't think I have a aone-size-fits-all approach to behavior. I think > >>there are different levels. I definitely agree that there is an aspect of > >>human behavior and codes of acceptibility which fluctuates from time to > >>time. But I would think that there is some core which has to do with basic > >>moral principles and which has a divine origin.<< Mark: > If there is such a core, I would leave it up to God. I assume that God can > change any possible "core" as He wills. From my perspective, I just look to > what Baha'u'llah reveals. Gilberto: I would think that this core has some kind of logic to it. It's not just inscrutable and mysterious without rhyme or reason. Gilberto: > >>So for example, the ultimate principle could be something like concern for > >>the sanctity of human life and safety.<< Mark: > Concern for the sanctity of life is just a name or signifier. Gilberto: But don't you think everything is just a name? Peace Gilberto "My people are hydroponic" __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[email protected] Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
