What's happening to American Morality?

Originally posted by spines

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
To be honest with you, sex didn't even come into my mind when I made the post. I am not old enough to say a lot about the 60s, all I know about it is what I have read and been told by others who had lived in that era.

[...]

Sex really never entered into the equation in my mind.

Alright, well then what were/are you reffering to? You still haven't given a clear answer and I am still curious.

I don't understand where you're getting confused. I am just stating that people's concern about the morals of others seem to have turned to disgust in the 1980s and that disgust turned into indifference in the 1990s and that is what has led us to our present predicament morally. People have gotten to the point to where they don't really care about the immoral acts of others.

American Morality is going the way of the dodo, extinct. Part of this is the religious institutions, and not because God was left out of the schools. Rather it is from corrupt preachers and leaders of the religious institutions who are suppose to lead the people, and be a symbol of morals and instead what do you see? Children abused by preachers, and then in some cases it is covered up, and they try to bury it. If you want to bring back morality you need to strengthn the churches and have them stay out of politics and special interests, rather concentrate on being leaders in spiritual strength. I do not advocate a strong church, but can not see the purpose of one which is corrupt or even where it tries to dictate the policies of the country.

Originally posted by intrepid

Originally posted by AryanWatch
I strongly believe that the decline in morality is the direct result of decline in religion...

Could not the opposite be said though?

I don't only think that it could be said but that is should be said. Extremely valid point here and one that the OP should seriously consider.

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
These people refuse to play by the civil rules of society, yet, they demand respect. They won't receive any from me nor from any other member of civil society until they reciprocate.

What people and where is this "civil" society? I'm getting lost with all the side-stepping.

From what I've seen, the members of the "civil" society tend to be far more sophisticated criminals than the "uncivil" man with the blunt object. I'm sure I could guess which one would be more likely to have the offshore bank account.

A simple thief could never achieve what an educated business man with a no-bid contract can. Its some of the members of "civil" society that tend to steal from ALL of us without you even knowing it.

I'm sure Dennis Kozlowski lived in a nice suburb somewhere, while he stole 400 mill from TYCO.

[edit on 11-5-2007 by lee anoma]

I think its peoples ignorance that is leading to the decline in basic logic and morality all around the world.

People are responsible for their actions. Dont blame the preachers, as corrupted as they are, for brainwashing you, you have the final say, you have responsibility.

Its like these people who do bad things in the name of good, and people blame the good for it. Well I killed this man because of my religion, and people blame the religion! Its ridiculous, especially when the religion, in its basic teachings which everyone seems to forget, teach love and understanding for your fellow man. It is the basic foundation for all religions, but people, in their ignorance, forget that.

Ignorance simply means lack of knowledge, so dont get offended please.

Its also that the US government is about as immoral as you can get, and their actions overseas are totally immoral. But that doesnt mean you hate Americans and the American ideals for peace and freedom, cuz even though the Al Queda threat is a myth, there are still arabs who have bought into the instigation, and can rightfully be labeled terrorists.

I wonder, shot in the air, if the soaring rate of violence, and sex, and crime, and all the types of degradation and rude comedy, shown to us on our television mind programs.....could be somehow influencing this rapid decline in morality in the minds of people??

Why do media corporations and hollywood people tell you no it has nothing to do with it? Why do they tell you images on the TV do nothing to the minds of young people, when the opposite is obviously true? EVERY image on the TV has an influence on the young people watching it.

But again, people are supposed to be smarter than that, theyre supposed to know its wrong to go shoot someone, your supposed to know its wrong to lie and use other people. You are responsible for your actions, each individual American bears some responsibility for creating the immoral situation now rampant.


[edit on 11-5-2007 by LightWorker13]

When I say Civil society, I am talking about those of us who do not murder,rape,steal and do such acts. We tend to our own business and leave everyone else the hell alone. Those are who I refer to when I say civil society.

[edit on 11-5-2007 by SpeakerofTruth]

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[edit on 11-5-2007 by SpeakerofTruth]

[edit on 11-5-2007 by SpeakerofTruth]

Throw God out the proverbial window and morals will follow...
our country is becoming overrun with Secular Fundamentalism and Relativism.
This is why morals are leaving....
...nobody wants to be a member of a religion that requires "true discipline".
...nobody wants to feel guilty for their wrongdoings.
...nobody wants to be held accountable for their sins.

So, the younger generation of this country is fervantly denying God/Jesus/Holy Spirit and the downward spiral speeds up and everybody says, "I don't understand, what happened to morals?"

Answer: They leave when you deny and mock God.

Expect to see it get worse....much worse.
I'm only glad that I'm in my mid-40's.
I feel sorry for any child born today.....their future and their world is bleak to say the least.

Originally posted by sdcigarpig
.....and not because God was left out of the schools. Rather it is from corrupt preachers and leaders of the religious institutions who are suppose to lead the people, and be a symbol of morals and instead what do you see? Children abused by preachers, and then in some cases it is covered up, and they try to bury it.

Every church has corruption. There's a rotten apple in every bunch. But you can't judge the whole by a rotten few.

Remember, Jesus chose 12 apostles. Judas stabbed him in the back and took blood money for his arrest and persecution. Eleven apostles abandoned him when he was arrested. Peter denied him 3 times right after his arrest.

I'm sick of hearing the lame excuse of priests and preachers being scandalized. Let him without sin cast the first stone.....which basically means, there's not a person on the planet worthy of throwing rocks....even me and you.

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
We tend to our own business and leave everyone else the hell alone. Those are who I refer to when I say civil society.

And this is the problem. We all say we've become "tolerant", but this is the great lie.
We've all become indifferent.

Originally posted by rocknroll

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
We tend to our own business and leave everyone else the hell alone. Those are who I refer to when I say civil society.

And this is the problem. We all say we've become "tolerant", but this is the great lie.
We've all become indifferent.

That's exactly my point. Read my previous posts. Although, I certainly wouldn't support some renewed inquistion or such by the church, either.



[edit on 11-5-2007 by SpeakerofTruth]

Centralized power is a threat to any nation. When we think about theshape of things to come, we've got to remember our place in all this. WE still have the power to speak and be heard.

We know there are people out there who are intent on doing things that are good for them and bad for us. Before you make the decisiion to dig in, please take a moment to stop and think about what you can still say and still do. There are some terrible truthsthat many know about...but few actually talk about. It's fine and well to worry about the future, but let's not forget that we in the here-and-now have to leave them a message.

Some of you worry about your kids, and their apparently dark future. What are you saying and doing NOW that they can take in to their future? You're going to be gone some day, and what will you leave them? A bad attitude just isn't enough. Historically speaking, today's politicians are hoping that you'll keep your mouth shut.

Why? They know that some day, the folks in da future are going to look back. If they don't see any inspiration in what they find...they will not fight. they'll search books, films, and t.v. If they don't find the messages of hope that you leave for them now...they won't fight...later on. "Tradition" is more than what we teach our kids, or do just because it feels good. Real tradition means passing on values.

Yeah, sure. Some of what you typed here might still be in archive some day. "ATS, Best of 2007." Then again, it might not. Speak and write. Spread it around all over the place. Be positive, and be sure to explain your best reasoning. It may cost you some money, but its the one thing THEY don't want you to do. Fight back now so that some day, somebody else that you never met will know how to fight back later on.

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
...I certainly wouldn't support some renewed inquistion or such by the church, either.

Neither would I.
What is sad is that people nowadays think that only weak, spineless people believe in God. That something emotionally is wrong with a person to turn them to religion.
This is a great lie also. It is true than when people experience sickness of the soul they turn to God. Why? Because He is the only way a soul can truly heal itself.

I'm not a born-again, a fundamentalist or a bible thumper. I simply love and believe in God/Jesus/Holy Spirit. Deep meaning can be found in the Bible. I can't scoff at it because what it speaks is the Truth. The Truth cannot be denied, even by the most intellectual being on our planet. Our problem is that we are self-absorbed. We seem to think we can control our lives. The reality is that in small ways we can, but in the big picture we can't.

Getting close to God brings peace and contentment into our lives. many people don't believe this and would rather try and create their own happiness, usually by means of this material world. Everything of this world will come to an end eventually (all things). Money doesn't last forever, enjoying drugs doesn't last forever, drowning problems in drink doesn't last forever, finding peace in New Age practices doesn't last forever, exercising and working out doesn't last forever (we get old, remember).

Nope. The peace that we all long for is in God.
Until our world realizes this, things will only get worse.

religion is not the source of morality. PEOPLE are the source of morality. there are clear evolutionary links to morality.

religion is the stuff that's brought us some of the most horrible stuff in human history. only politics has done worse.. but that's a development of the last 100 years. we have thousands of years of atrocities done in the name of certain religions.

Morality is not connected to religion at all.

2 weeks ago, people working in an Italian religious nursery school raped 3 and 5 year old boys (yeap, boys), with the help of the female teachers that drugged the young boys and led them to the rapists. And that in a country where religion reigns supreme.

There are periods in history that people acted in a very immoral way. Let's remember Rome's orgies with Vorgies, ancient greek symposiums, Byzantine intrigues etc.

Originally posted by AryanWatch
Has America gone totally immoral? Where are our Moral Inspectors? Why is nobody raising there voice when a 14 year old girl get raped by 9 men? Why are we disintegrating into seperated units when we are expected to fight as one unit? Why are families not together? Why is everyone preaching his/her own religion? Whats FSM? Mockery of Jesus? Or Mockery Of Religion?

Depends.
But look at it this way:
There has never, ever, been a completely-verifiable point in history where humanity has ever been close to true 'morality'.
Those of you that think that morality 'peaked' in the 50's I beg to differ.
Can we say 'swept under the rug'?
And for those of you that say that 'Religion is immoral!' simply because a few clergymen are abusing children/spreading corruption etc is a pathetic response.
It's like saying 'blacks are criminal!' because a few are in gangs.
Also 'morality' is entirely subjective.
Your, my and everyone else's morals are completely different.
I believe homosexuals should be able to lead normal lives.
I believe that women should have a choice in regards to their bodies.
I believe everyone should be able to chose their religion.
Also I think that the main 'decline' in teenager 'morality' was this:
My, and the previous generation, are different from previous generations.
Why?
We haven't had a global war looming over our heads.
We didn't live through the horrors of the Depression.
We don't have to 'grow up' until we're between 20 and 30.
We have the 'time' to do basically whatever we want

Now time for responses!

Originally posted by YIAWETA
The civil rights movement

I guess giving blacks rights was another way to dissolve the goold ol' American way.

Originally posted by YIAWETA
the women's movement

Yeah. Those stupid wimmin' think they have rights.

Originally posted by YIAWETA
tolerance

Tolerance of what? People with different beliefs?

Originally posted by YIAWETA
Just check the AOL/MSN home page on the staggering divorce rate!!!!!.

Well maybe it's because back in the 50's and before women couldn't leave marriages.
They would be looked down upon by the community
Have little to no means to make ends meet
Basically there were no other options in marriage back then.

Just my thoughts.

Interesting thread. I believe that America (and the rest of the world) is on a downward spiral. Not just because the lack of faith. (Which is a big part IMO.) But the lack of caring.

We are more concerned with ourselves, that what happens to others seems to go right over our head.

Wish I could post more on the subject, but I'm worn out by the thought of where we are heading.

Peace

[edit on 11-5-2007 by Frontkjemper]

[edit on 11-5-2007 by Frontkjemper]

Originally posted by masterp

There are periods in history that people acted in a very immoral way. Let's remember Rome's orgies with Vorgies, ancient greek symposiums, Byzantine intrigues etc.

Rome is the key word there. Rome was once a republic like the US. An easy life makes lazy people and lazy people lose their easy life. Just like Rome lost, just like we will.

The only real issue to be confronted with this thread is,what is in your head?,who put it there?,and why/how did they put it there?.
many will argue that people are NOT a product of their environment,the truth is, that environment is the product of people,the supposedly dominant species on the rock we call earth.
As far as religion...I could go on and on...the religious leaders are in it for profit just like anyone else,most people are just dumb consumers.I am sure there are many who would consider me to be one also.Everyone is entitled to their opinion for the moment,but it is becoming dangerous to express it/them.
That old outdated "golden rule" thing is not oft enough referred to in our day to day deeds and dealings,sheeples who are in conflict with one another are easy to control because they are not paying attention.Bitching about taxes and fuel prices and what not,never considering we are all sitting in a sinking ship,bitching amongst ourselves instead of forming a bucket line and bailing water from the bilge.
chiponbothshoulders,formerly uNBaLaNCeD

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
I'd say that the moral downswing in this country began in the 1960s. However, the 1980s is when, at least in my opinion, the disgust of the moral American became prominent. Unfortunately, this disgust led to indifference on moral issues.

so you mean after the civil rights movements, where everyone pushed for equal rights - that's when the moral downswing came into play? I would have to say the exact opposite. We've always been perverted and selfish. There's just most coverage of it on TV now, plus the internet. Before you could only hear about it, or read about it, a much more detached experience compared to live video and interactive experiences, etc.