There seems to be a difference between morality and spirituality. — Pathogen
The simplest way to make this distinction clear would appear to be to use the concept of honor for the sake of a few exploratory thought experiments. To this end I turn to the Japanese samurai who lived and died by a code of honor. They did not have a spiritual system to speak of, and their actions were not spiritually motivated, but they were still willing to ritually sacrifice themselves for their honor. They lived in perfect obedience to their masters, even to their own deaths, undoubtedly a moral life. — Pathogen
[My highlighting.]The state of being moral then, is any state that coincides with the satisfaction of fundamental human needs. — Pathogen
Let's look at what I initially found to be a particularly confusing part of delineating the difference between spirituality and morality--the concepts of good and evil. I would assert that these ideas are not equivalent to morality or immorality, and whether they truly exist or are merely superstitions they belong within the domain of spiritual beliefs. Concepts such as law or government, which are directly involved in the process of a system of rewards and punishments in society, are morally inclined. Therefore regardless of whether a law which has been passed is considered to be good or evil by the people under it, it would be moral to carry it out if it did not contradict the basis of what has been determined to be moral. That is, does not violate fundamental human needs, proves to be in the best interest of society, is a necessary evil or a greater good etc. — Pathogen
My current conception of spirituality is that it consists of a collection of beliefs and behaviors generally seeking to satisfy or alleviate needs for purpose, belonging, or fears etc. — Pathogen
I would like some clarification on what you consider a fundamental human need though, as morality would only seem to require a socially imposed reward or penalty according to the knowledge resulting from the classification of events. — Pathogen
Would I be correct in restating your definitions as follows?
1. Morality (I presume as a system) is the classification of events as moral or immoral as far as they do or do not satisfy fundamental human needs respectively. The state of being moral then, is any state that coincides with the satisfaction of fundamental human needs. — Pathogen
2. Spirituality is observed as a personal condition. Spirit is the ethical character of a person. — Pathogen
Am I then correct that you would consider spirituality a measure of one's moral or immoral character? — Pathogen
I would like some clarification on what you consider a fundamental human need though... — Pathogen
Let's look at what I initially found to be a particularly confusing part of delineating the difference between spirituality and morality--the concepts of good and evil. I would assert that these ideas are not equivalent to morality or immorality, and whether they truly exist or are merely superstitions they belong within the domain of spiritual beliefs. — Pathogen
Concepts such as law or government, which are directly involved in the process of a system of rewards and punishments in society, are morally inclined. — Pathogen
Therefore regardless of whether a law which has been passed is considered to be good or evil by the people under it, it would be moral to carry it out if it did not contradict the basis of what has been determined to be moral. — Pathogen
So how we treat other animals, for example, is not concerned with morality? — Pattern-chaser
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