Underpinning Societal And Personal Values?

[Theland]

What do you believe underpins western societal values?
Whatever it is, if anything, is it the same as underpins your own personal values?

[Eleena]

I appreciated the humour wolf .. LOL ;0)

[rowanwitch]

Where behaviour is followed in a manner that is for the right reasons and for a positive outcome. Not just for the individual but if not to the benefit of society at least in such a way that causes no harm. The deepest roots of this for me come from the one rule I had to follow as a child think before you act and consider if what you do will hurt anyone else. Oh and be prepared to justify your actions if it goes wrong. Too much freedom? It's no freedom at all it's part of a rights come with responsibilities way of thinking.

[nailit]

I quiet like the wiccan creed
''An it harm none, do as ye will''

Cant see anything wrong with that as a moral code :-)

[rowanwitch]

in summary it's how I try to live but it's harder than people think. Every decision has an ethical dimension, packaging, relationships, even watching tv does watching a programme harm me as a viewer by supporting the producers who are dealing in showing people up or humiliating them. It's the choice of walking and using public transport, of being aware and mindful. Also remembering the rule of threefold return that goes with it.

[sandyRoe]

^^^ That's much better than the dark side injunction: 'Do as you will be the whole of the law'.

[rowanwitch]

Do as you will an it hurt none shall be the whole of the law, I think Kval pointed out that was the Dennis Wheatly version.

[sandyRoe]

I was thinking of Aleistir Crowley's take on it.

[nailit]

//I was thinking of Aleistir Crowley's take on it.//
The full quote is
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the law, love under will."

[rowanwitch]

Wheatly based his fiction on Crowley I believe, I prefer to go back to the pre Christian origins. The concept of living with nature, of accepting the cycle of life along with the cycle of the seasons. When care for members of your community meant care would be there when you needed it.

[nailit]

Thelands thread has turned into an occult quote fest ;-)

[rowanwitch]

Not whAt he was hoping for....

[nailit]

he will have a coronary when he read it...

[sandyRoe]

Merry meeting. :-))

[nailit]

''Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again''
Blessed be ;-)

[Old_Geezer]

Underpinning is years of cultural evolution having tried most things and gradually understanding what can be labelled "right" (and beneficial to society) and what "wrong" (and detrimental to society). A fair chunk comes from understanding how I'd like others to treat me, and realising that if that's right, it's only fair to apply the same to all. I don't believe there should be a difference between the conclusions for society and for the individual but would welcome 'thinking points' where there are examples of when there might be a difference.

[Old_Geezer]

Heck, every country differs. Consider the UK and the continental Europe.

[sandyRoe]

Indeed, I fear we may have fallen under the influence of Satanic forces who want to seperate us from our mainland cousins

[andres]

Traditions,Culture,National pride underpin Western societal values for me.
Compassion and understanding ,strong morals and caring for those less fortunate than myself are my personal values.

[Old_Geezer]

Never fear, we'll let you stay in the UK Sandy.