Editorial August 2, 1969 Issue

Morality Makes Good Sense

Alan A. Aylwin

This is the era of reason. People have to be shown. Mere theories are unacceptable unless buttressed by logic and pragmatic proof. On account of this atmosphere of careful inquiry and examination, many religious teachings are losing their influence because they are unsupported by substantive evidence.

This is especially apparent in what has been called the sex revolution, the rapidly changing attitude toward morality. Traditionally, the Christian Church has stressed the value of moral self-control, but with little convincing explanation of why it is important. For example, some religionists have urged and practiced asceticism—an extreme form of self-denial amounting to self-torture—without any real rationale to support it except a vague promise of reward in an afterlife. This sort of thinking, however, makes little sense today. Why, it is asked, should one control desires and appetites that are natural facets of human nature? So long as no one else is coerced or physically harmed, why not enjoy oneself?

This is some of the reasoning back of the current permissiveness in sexual relations, and it really requires close scrutiny from a spiritual standpoint to sort it all out and get to the nub of it.

Send a comment to the editors