By Stephen Russell-Lacy Just as there is an ego so there is a higher self. But what is it? People often think that human beings are inherently good. And that personal development simply involves getting in touch with one’s true self. They believe a life, filled with compassion, joy, and peace, defines the true nature of … Continue reading Higher self – How to get in touch with it?
Category: Ethics
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Below we explore spiritual questions applied to ethics.
Ethics address the ‘should’ & ‘ought’, questions about what is right. From private matters of conscience to issues of public concern such as business ethics and political judgment. We try to apply spiritual principles to these moral questions.
Children and ethics
Posts for example address the dilemma of working parents between work and being at home for the children. What guidelines should be employed when disciplining children within the home? What should be the limits of tolerance, protectiveness, anger or impatience?
Environmental ethics
Human beings need to economically make use of the physical environment. Where should the balance be between valuing and preserving nature and exploiting it to meet the economic needs of a growing world population?
Ethics to do with life
Can it be right to tell someone something they don’t want to know like their medical condition? What about euthanasia? How far should we go to prolong life? Ought we not take our own life?
Politics and ethics
Articles, linked to below, tackle how to approach political ethics using spiritual principles. Is it right to have a monarchy? How should we regulate free market capitalism? What are the right and wrong ways to deal with a country’s financial crisis? What about immigration policy and multiculturalism? What stance should we take to the numbers of refugees we take in. Should we be ashamed of the western world values. In relation to violence, how should we respond to the human misery caused by civil wars and lawless rogue states?
Interpersonal ethics
Insincerity and hypocrisy are criticised. But arguably white lies and pretence are needed to oil the social cogs of society. When is it fair to criticise those who don’t always practice what they preach? When is it wrong to gossip?
If discrimination and judging others are wrong, just how tolerant should one try to be? Posts below look at attitudes to criminals, layabouts, foul language, litter.
Should we put our needs before those of others? Should one give favours on the understanding we will get them back in return or should we follow the ideal of unconditional love? Do we get our own way too often?
Private ethics
Should we try to tell the difference between right and wrong? How much should one give to charities? How to evaluate one’s own private desires? Why does it matter if we go against our conscience? Are there really any impure thoughts? Is sexual imagery too explicit? Where is the harm in watching pornography. How does one become a better person?
The Queen: Why celebrate her platinum jubilee?
With the Platinum Jubilee and associated holiday coming closer it is perhaps a good time to reflect on the idea of ‘lifelong service’ which the Queen placed at the heart of her vows when she began her reign. The tendency to respect others who embody some positive and admired characteristic is one we can recognise. … Continue reading The Queen: Why celebrate her platinum jubilee?
Self-improvement – Towards moral virtue?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy. Most of us are only too aware of some of our weaknesses. Things like low self-esteem, worry, or being judgmental. We realise that we fall short of what we regard as our ideal self and that this calls for some self-improvement. Yet what we each mean by self-improvement probably differs. What kind of … Continue reading Self-improvement – Towards moral virtue?
Right and wrong – Polarised thinking?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy. Some say nothing we do is absolutely right or wrong. It is more a matter of personal subjective feeling. What is right for you may not be right for me. We don’t want rigid inflexible rules. The idea of right and wrong sounds like being judgmentally moralistic. Yet others maintain that there … Continue reading Right and wrong – Polarised thinking?
Anxiety over Brexit – Deeper issues?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy. British people have been expressing unease about the state of their country. One possible reason may be that nothing much else is happening in politics because of anxiety over Brexit. The prospect of economic recession is reducing confidence among many about their future prospects. At the time of writing, the governing party is … Continue reading Anxiety over Brexit – Deeper issues?
Israeli-Palestinian conflict – Ethics?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy. We all know there is mutual resentment and antagonism in the Middle East. Rhetoric on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is incredibly heated. All involved in the region have been subject to the horror of dreadful actions. Feelings of protest, anger and fear have often got out of hand. When shouting … Continue reading Israeli-Palestinian conflict – Ethics?
Betray someone – What happens?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy. Someone may feel you have betrayed them. Did you do or fail to do something? It is not so difficult to renege on a personal undertaking. We also betray a fellow worker if we take credit for their work. Or if we fail to stick up for them when someone unfairly criticises them … Continue reading Betray someone – What happens?
Promises – Is it okay to break them?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy. In politics people don’t always keep their promises. In the 2010 election to the House of Commons, all the Liberal Democrat Party candidates took a pledge to oppose any increase in university tuition fees and to campaign for their abolition. However, after forming a coalition government with the Conservatives, 21 of 57 … Continue reading Promises – Is it okay to break them?
The Queen – Why so popular?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy The British public, generally speaking, show deference to royalty and are scandalised, yet fascinated, by any of its human failures. However, after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the royals were perceived, in the tabloid press, as cold and unfeeling when they did not participate in the outpouring of general grief. … Continue reading The Queen – Why so popular?
Immigration – What principles apply?
In recent years, many people in Britain and elsewhere in Europe have been outraged by the mass poverty of the bottom billion inhabitants of the world. A policy of reducing immigration is often seen as mean spirited or even racist, discriminating against poor people who happen to be of a different culture and ethnicity. Alongside … Continue reading Immigration – What principles apply?