Do We Moralize Only to Mask Our Immorality?
 

People that I know that are truly moral do not slam in down anybody else throut but the ones that seem to scream the most about morality are either trying to mask their own moral concerns or are closet immoralist (is that a word?).

So - the question is, do we moralize only to mask our own immorality? The stronger we press, the more immoral we have the capacity to be?

My grandfather ( as I grow older, I see he was truly a sage ) used to say that thing about 'the barking dawg most likely being the one that is farting'.

He used to get the sayings wrong, but you knew exactly what he was talking about. Archie Bunker had nothing on him.

After years now here in OT, I have to agree, Lube.

Sometimes it smells funny too.

Just remember I am a man of wealth and taste....

I don't view it as morality/immorality issue per se but more someone insecure in their beliefs needing to ensure their beliefs do not get challenged. Hard to listen to what others say if you are yelling really loud.

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Jesus always _had_ to go first!

I agree with this statement. There are many examples that are public figures, David

My Dad once said it was the empty barrel that made the most noise when you struck it. I got the feeling he might have been referring to more than just drums of fuel.
Les

Re: Do We Moralize Only to Mask Our Immorality?
 

You know it. Great post.

One who is truly moral doesn't need to brag about it to try to establish some sort of ego-driven, self-serving feeling of "superiority" either...

Clearly this is a main driving force behind the environmental movement. All these folks who want to stop somebody else from doing what they consider to be environmentaly damageing, all while doing their own damage but choosing to ignore that. These do-gooders seem to think that that their s--t don't stink and they somehow have the inside scoop on what is bad for the earth.It's all about trying to atone for their sins. If they can "save the planet" in their minds, then that somehow excuses all of their impacts. This is their level of morality. They are ready to get a speck out of your eye while there is a log in their eye.

So you're the one pouring used motor oil down the drain...

Great thread and interesting topic. I would say that people often do things to make themselves feel better. It is truly rare to find someone who will voluntarily do something that they get nothing out of. Even those who volunteer their time or donate money get personal satisfaction out of it.

This occurs throughout society. I think many automatically would look at the religious people to point a finger at, but it happens everywhere. Barbra Streisand rails against pollution and using the earth's resources yet I wonder how much energy she spends heating and cooling her home? How much jet fuel does her personal jet burn? Politicians tax others while raising their own salaries every time they get a chance and often evading taxes themselves (can you say John Edwards??). It's everywhere. True honesty requires that you recognize those tendencies in yourself and try to work on improving them.

Like I said, insightful thread.

Without pointing too may fingers, there are those that attempt to impart thier will on others yet I wonder if you turned up the lights just what evil would be found?

Of course there are those just animals that truly are blessed with virtue and still try to save the rest of us rascles...they require more prayer than us!

I did not say that all environmental causes were bad. I am in no way advocating wasteful or destructive practices. The problem here is that the environmental businesses have some how become the the fountain of all truth to a vast segment of society. People are ready to take any doctrine or theory put forth by these businesses. The environmental business goal is to create a continous crisis, therefore enriching their coffers with the gifts poured forth from a segment of society whose heads are so far up their collective a--es that they wouldn't know the truth if it came up and hit them in the face.By supporting these businesses, these folks seem to think that they are somehow atoneing for the impacts that they make on the environment, at least the people who realize that nobody walks around without leaving some footprints.

Oh poo, I know I'm going to miss quote this... maybe someone can help me with it (as if I had to ask)
Something like...

"We are always most offended by our own shortcomings when we see them in others."

Re: Do We Moralize Only to Mask Our Immorality?
 

This is the very issue that motivates the Democrat vote. Guilt. As opposed to doing something about societal problems, futiley try to absolve themselves of guilt (usually in the case of the trust-fund types) or engrained victim mentality (as propagated and cultivated by the Democrats), by voting for the politician that promises to redeem their deep-seated sin-complex with false promises of redemption through taxation...Real solutions obviously are elusive. By design? Real solutions would infuriate organizations like the NEA or life-long bureucrats whose livelihoods depend on the forced tithing repentance and unresolved problems. And so it goes, the vicious cycle of sin, repentance and the necessity of keeping problems unresolved for the purpose of guilting or victimizing the voter base to continue voting to cleanse their immoral hearts...Personal responsibilty need not apply, nay, indeed irresponsibility (immorality) is encouraged and bred into society...The problems increase, society decays and government enlarges as there is more immorality and a need for absolution.

Oh ya, and to effect this cycle of immorality God must be removed from the public sphere and ridiculed in order to make the state the godhead and redeemer.

Why can't God, sprituality and religion be a personal thing? Why must any gov or country even think about legislating morality and vurtue? Is it becuase in a very base level organized religion just doesn't have the juice it used to have?

In my very limited experiance with organized religion I have found lubes statement to be very true.

Years ago I was screamed at by a co-worker who was a youth minister about my choice to listen to Howard Stern. He grandstanded and made quite the scene.

4 months later he was conviceted of kidnapping a minor from his youth group and raping her. He served 5 years for that.

I also see much of the same in church the ones that speak out the most about how moral they are or damning the immoral are usually hiding something.