1. Why study Morality?

We need to study morality because morality surrounds nearly every aspect of our lives. In history, such as Lynching Photography in America, we need to look at the circumstances surrounding lynching and other racist acts and find the morality in those issues. By finding the morality in those issues, we can make correct judgements in our lives if similar situations arise. Also, moral issues come up in politics: war, treatment of the poor, abortion, capital punishment, etc. Many similar themes are played out in movies, such as Million Dollar Baby, and music, such as the song "Brick" by Ben Folds Five. Morality also arises at times such as driving, how are you going to act towards other drivers? & do you assume that the person driving slow is old?, and in a situation like shopping. Some stores support certain groups or perform practices that may be objectonable and it is important to have a moral knowledge so that the ability to handle such things is yours. Basically, we cannot live in the world without encountering dozens of moral issues each day, and if we have not studied morality, then how are we going to have the ability to properly address these issues?

2. Movie with a strong moral mesage for me.

I remember watching The Lion King several times during my early years and still sometimes now. The main theme throughout the movie is that Simba has turned away from his problems towards a life that is fun and carefree, but not what he should be doing. He should go back, face his problems, and reign as king. Eventually, with great urging from those around him, Simba goes back, defeats his evil uncle, and becomes king. After Simba becomes king, the life for the lions improves greatly. This movie taught me at a young age that turning away from your problems is not thge way to in life. It causes problems for other people and is not a good way to live. Facing your problems is not easy or fun, but it must be done. I try to face my problems in life, but am not always able to. When I fail, I will often remember Simba and how he had trouble facing his problems before he chose the right path and set everything straight.

Why do people do wrong?

I think doing wrong falls into two categories: doing wrong after making a conscious decision to do wrong and doing wrong on "accident." Some people make a conscious decision to do wrong. Examples of this include robbing a store or committing 1st degree murder. These are most often planned acts that stem from a desire either to gain something or to make someone else suffer and lose something. Other people do wrong, but do not know that they are doing wrong. Wrong is a very subjective term. Some people do not believe that premarital sex is wrong, but I do. Suicide bombers believe what they are doing is right, while we tend to think just the opposite. With both kinds of wrong, though, there is a drive that forces the person to commit such acts. This drive comes from our human nature, not from God or our conscience because those never lead to wrong. This force is different for every person in every situation, but it is always there when "wrong" is being committed.

One unconsciously acquired value from those I spend time with.

The necessity to go to Church. I spend time around both my family and my parish youth group and going to mass is just something that is expected and never questioned. It was always something I did during my childhood, and the youth group pushes mass attendance. On the rare occasion I do not go to mass on a Sunday, I feel terrible and incomplete. This same subconscious value pushes me to leave my home early to attend morning mass at SLUH when I can and also to work as hard as I can to make the necessary arrangements to get to mass every week. As a younger child, I was told that you should go to mass every week, but I believe it was through the actions of my family attendance at mass that is now reinforced by the youth group that drives me to still go today.

One image that remind me of morality/this section.

Thanks to adminassist.ca for the image.

4. One good question to keep with me and ponder.

What are my moral values and where do they come from? Are they my own ideas or are they the ideas of others and society? Am I happy with these morals?

5. What should I try to do to make myself a more moral person from this study? Moral according to what, is the question. Are we talking morals of the Church or my morals? My morals are not exactly in tune with the Church right now, so then I need to examine those areas where we don’t exactly jive closely. This examination should cover why I act the way I do, where these values come from, and what is the better moral choice for me at this point in my life. Basically, examination of my morals through my examining my actions.