In the complex nature of human decisions, where does one draw the line between choice and consequence, between moral clarity and ambiguity? Deuteronomy 21 offers a profound exploration into this very quandary. As we journey through tales of warriors, captive beauties, complexities of love and hate in marriage, and the…
Category: Ethics
Moral Compass When It’s a Choice Between Two Evils
The world is watching with a sense of horror at events unfolding in Syria and Egypt. Just this past week in Syria there have been credible allegations of chemical weapons use against citizens. In Egypt, protesters have been killed in the streets of Cairo by their own military. Yet it…
Identifying a phony rabbi
There have been numerous examples over the last year of religious leaders causing difficulties for the people that they guided or advised. The most famous amongst them was Barack Obama’s former Pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Obama was forced to distance himself from his pastor after Wright was exposed as making…
Is Free Healthcare Our Moral Duty?
The argument about healthcare in the United States is heating. According to many on the right the United States has the best healthcare in the world and it should not be tampered with. According to the left the entire healthcare system needs to be overhauled because, in their view, it…
Are Americans becoming too envious and losing their morals?
The great Jewish philosopher Maimonides wrote that a person who has suffered misfortune feels less miserable when confronted by a person in a more calamitous situation than themselves. Similarly when a dejected person sees someone who is more privileged than them their sense of despondency is increased. People who are…
Morality: A Catch-22?
If Moral Relativism leads to chaos and Moral Absolutism to tyranny, what’s left? In conversation with the president of a local university he claimed that ninety percent of his students are moral relativists. Moral Relativism, which is practically the state religion of collegiate America, asserts that there is no such…
Euthanasia – What Is Really at Stake
The continuing Terri Schiavo saga is both tragic and encouraging. One cannot help but be drawn into the ethical and moral discussion surrounding the case. Much has been said about the US Congress and President’s interference in the life of a private family. But when I heard about it I…
Where Does Ethics Come From
Should we clone people? Is there such a thing as a life not worth living? When is it correct to go to war? Is terrorism always wrong? Is there anything wrong with same sex marriages? Can abortion ever be legitimised? The list of 21st century ethical dilemmas is endless. The…
Is Freedom Really Worth Fighting for?
We are told that as humans we were given the gift and responsibility of freedom. In decent societies people who abuse their freedom forfeit it and are imprisoned. Western leaders maintain that they are the leaders of the “free” world and are fighting to defend freedom. We are brought up…
Guns & Roses: Are They Compatible?
When I was a child growing up in London, my Mom strictly forbade us to play with toy guns. Other friends received toy guns as birthday presents from their parents and grandparents, but no such toy was ever to be found in our home. In fact, my parents never let…