THE DEATH OF REASON
In more reasonable
times, it was understood that the “burden of proof” rested on
those that sought to deviate from normally accepted standards of
morality. These “accepted standards” were usually based on
long-standing religious doctrines, or cultural niceties, and often
had no legal standing. For example, lying to your mother is not
normally acceptable to society, because it is morally wrong.
However, lying to mother is not normally illegal. On the other hand,
murder is both morally wrong and illegal. Again, “in more
reasonable times,” moral standards were as effective in determining
behavior, as were legal prohibitions. Indeed, most people were more
concerned about “right or wrong” than they were about “legal or
illegal.”
Throughout the
ages, wherein morally right governed people as much, or more, as
legally right, it was understood that deviation from “normally
accepted standards of morality” required a much higher burden of
proof to do so than simply stating, “it is illegal.” Legal or
illegal may be determined by the wishes of government, but morally
right is determined by higher authority. While I personally believe
God is The Higher Authority, I realize that many people do not agree
with my belief. Therefore, let’s identify the higher authority as
being the welfare of society. The “Welfare of Society” is a much
higher standard than legal or illegal, because that which is “legal
or illegal” by man-made decree, is not always best for society.
Slavery was an example of “legal” and Prohibition was an example
of “illegal,” but both proved detrimental to society.
Today, the law,
which only defines “legal,” or “illegal,” and often does not
consider “right,” or “wrong,” is being used to determine the
moral standards of society. Keep in mind that societies existed long
before written legal codes, but every society that failed to maintain
a moral code, failed.
Jim
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