Studies have found that children who are most influenced by the people they have the strongest attachments and respect for, are more likely to copy those individuals’ moral beliefs.
And whilst I believe that to be true, I also believe other considerations will always come into play. While these foundations are the right place to start, other influences and relationships will always be part of that scenario.
Even if in the short term those initial moral influences are not part of that scenario, all relationships must be based on mutual respect.
The reality is that in my life, I had to develop my own morals since I had parents who didn't exactly provide very good role models!
It shouldn't have been surprising that I had such difficulties, without having very much of a moral compass to live by. There were so many mistakes I made because I was so confused about what was the right thing to do under the circumstances.
It is very hard to live with things I have done in my life, but I can't change them. I have to accept the past as it is, which doesn't mean I have to like it but I do need to move on!
Thanks Randy. Yes it's not always easy working through and understanding what is expected from us, when we learn very little from our parents. I don't remember how much I learned from my mum in terms of her beliefs. I was very much kept in the dark on most things.
Although we learn everything we need to know from our parents, we also learn a lot by listening to other children and their parents, through school and other institutions.
I think you're right though, with or without a moral compass from our parents, we still have to find a level of acceptance on our past, so that we can live our life appropriately, if needs be by creating our own moral compass; but it has to work two ways.
People sell themselves to the highest bidder, but at the end of the day morality is priceless. But I'm also convinced that our environment has a lot to do with how we see things and how we interpret and measure morality.
Unfortunately, despicable behavior is often done in the name of somebody's God. It seems there's a whole world of wounded people, half-conscious and morally deprived.
I couldn't agree more. Like you, I also believe morality has a lot to do with our environment, how we see and interpret morality and how we measure morality up.
Although what you describe is part of the bigger picture because there will always be other influences around us, who change the way we see morality, but I do believe morality starts with our upbringing, our parents and their parents before them and ends with us.