For years the question has lingered in philosophy classes: is there a universal moral standard which all societies throughout history have abided by? Or, is morality relative to the culture’s traditions? Is morality merely dictated by habits humans have been indoctrinated with since infanthood? Or, are moral choices decided by a conscious decision through rationalizing?
The problem with accepting that morality is ruled by habit through traditions is that people have no power over their morality and are ultimately “pre- determined” to act in a certain way. Morality being instilled by habit implies that humans are conditioned to make ethical decisions, therefore, they can not be held responsible for their actions because they have no “free will.”
Now, a response may be that this is irrelevant because the habit will always be deemed “good” by that society since they have instilled the choices, therefore, the people will never be put in a position where they will be judged for their choices. But this conclusion is unrealistic. Throughout history cultures have punished people in their societies for immoral choices, and if these choices were only habits instilled by their societies, then they would never be judged for their decisions.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
condoms in africa
Pope rejects condoms for Africa
The Pope has already met South African President Thabo Mbeki
The spread of HIV and Aids in Africa should be tackled through fidelity and abstinence and not by condoms, Pope Benedict XVI has said.
Speaking to African bishops at the Vatican, the Pope described HIV/Aids in Africa as a "cruel epidemic".
But he told them: "The traditional teaching of the church has proven to be the only failsafe way to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids."
More than 60% of the world's 40m people with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa.
In South Africa alone, 600-1,000 people are thought to die every day because of Aids.
Pope Benedict, who was elected to succeed John Paul II in April, has already signalled that he will maintain a strictly traditional line on issues including abortion and homosexuality.
Before being elected pope, Benedict served as head of the Vatican's doctrinal office.
These were his first public comments on the issue of Aids/HIV and contraception since taking office.
It is of great concern that the fabric of African life, its very source of hope and stability, is threatened by divorce, abortion, prostitution, human trafficking and a contraception mentality
Pope Benedict
He was addressing bishops from South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia and Lesotho, who had travelled to the Vatican for a routine papal audience.
Some Catholic clergymen have argued that the use of condoms to stem the spread of the disease would be a "lesser of two evils".
The Pope warned that contraception was one of a host of trends contributing to a "breakdown in sexual morality", and church teachings should not be ignored.
"It is of great concern that the fabric of African life, its very source of hope and stability, is threatened by divorce, abortion, prostitution, human trafficking and a contraception mentality," he added.
The virus "seriously threatens the economic and social stability of the continent," the Pope said.
The UN estimates that without new initiatives and greater access to drugs, more than 80 million Africans may die from Aids by 2025 and HIV infections could reach 90 million, or 10% of the continent's population.
-bbc news
The Pope has already met South African President Thabo Mbeki
The spread of HIV and Aids in Africa should be tackled through fidelity and abstinence and not by condoms, Pope Benedict XVI has said.
Speaking to African bishops at the Vatican, the Pope described HIV/Aids in Africa as a "cruel epidemic".
But he told them: "The traditional teaching of the church has proven to be the only failsafe way to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids."
More than 60% of the world's 40m people with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa.
In South Africa alone, 600-1,000 people are thought to die every day because of Aids.
Pope Benedict, who was elected to succeed John Paul II in April, has already signalled that he will maintain a strictly traditional line on issues including abortion and homosexuality.
Before being elected pope, Benedict served as head of the Vatican's doctrinal office.
These were his first public comments on the issue of Aids/HIV and contraception since taking office.
It is of great concern that the fabric of African life, its very source of hope and stability, is threatened by divorce, abortion, prostitution, human trafficking and a contraception mentality
Pope Benedict
He was addressing bishops from South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia and Lesotho, who had travelled to the Vatican for a routine papal audience.
Some Catholic clergymen have argued that the use of condoms to stem the spread of the disease would be a "lesser of two evils".
The Pope warned that contraception was one of a host of trends contributing to a "breakdown in sexual morality", and church teachings should not be ignored.
"It is of great concern that the fabric of African life, its very source of hope and stability, is threatened by divorce, abortion, prostitution, human trafficking and a contraception mentality," he added.
The virus "seriously threatens the economic and social stability of the continent," the Pope said.
The UN estimates that without new initiatives and greater access to drugs, more than 80 million Africans may die from Aids by 2025 and HIV infections could reach 90 million, or 10% of the continent's population.
-bbc news
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