Have you considered the fact that inside of you there exists a law that you have no control over, that tells you something is right or wrong? We commonly refer to this law as “our conscience”. People who do not have a consciousness that something is wrong are called “Sociopaths”. This is the ability to do absolutely anything, no matter how heinous, and yet feel not guilt or remorse for the act. A person becomes a sociopath by repeatedly doing things that they know are wrong, until they can not longer feel any guilt for having done them.
The real question here is: “Why is this Moral Law present in us?”
After all, none of us is perfect and we should not expect anyone else to be perfect. Yet, when someone acts in a certain way, or does a particular thing that displeases us, we might say “that is wrong”. Why do we evaluate the behavior of someone over and above the actual act itself and determine if it is right or wrong?
There are two principles at work every day in all our lives: One, the fact that people should behave a certain way in a civilized society. Two, The way in which they actually do act.
When we see the behavior of an individual, and determine that it is acceptable or unacceptable, what we are really saying is that the way in which someone acts is either pleasing or displeasing to us. Or, are there certain behaviors that are universally displeasing to all human beings? Take for example, it is generally accepted that taking the life of another human being is wrong. Except in the case where it is in the course of defending one’s self, or during a time a war. If it is wrong in the first place, why is it acceptable in the second place? You can see where this is going, who gets to decide whether something is wrong or right? Why do we universally all accept the fact that certain behaviors are unacceptable or wrong, at all?
At work in every law of right and wrong, there is a sub-law called “circumstantial justification”. This law is used by every human being to justify why we do certain things, even though we know inside that it is wrong. We might even be aware that there is a law that prohibits such practice, yet when we feel that we need to do it, we feel we are justified in breaking that law. Others may come along and see that we have broken the moral law, hear our excuse, but still condemn us for what we believe to be correct behavior, considering the circumstances, or our reasons we had for doing so.
In these cases, acceptable behavior is only what is seen as useful or beneficial to us. Let’s be honest here for a moment; is it not true that the real reason we do most everything that we do, is for our own benefit? Even when we are doing our acts of charity, or love, we know that deep inside we have a secret desire to be acknowledged for our acts of kindness. Evidence of this is the fact that when no one does take notice of our charity or love that we have shown, we usually get hurt or offended. Our response to this lack of appreciation, should tell us that the real reason we do anything, is for us. To make us feel better, quench guilt for something else that we are doing that we know is wrong, or to simply feel loved. Ah, the real heart of the matter. We just want to be loved by someone. Unconditionally, completely and deeply. Just as important, we also want to be able to love someone else, fully, and deeply. If you doubt that this deep human need is true, just listen to the radio for an hour. How many of the songs on that station are about the need to either be loved or love someone else?
When you get down to the real heart of the matter, if we are all just the product of random chance and the evolutionary process, why should we even care what is good for society. “I am trying to survive here”. Looking out for “number one”, “Survival of the fittest”, and all that…
You might jump in here and tell me why we should care about the behavior of others: “Because a person should not be so selfish and only think of their self”. Where did you get this moral law that determines from within you, that some things are right and some things are wrong? This brings us to the conclusion that the law of right and wrong, or the Moral Law, is something that is real, tangible and a part of every human being. There is something within all of us, above the actual facts of behavior and it did not come by random occurrence or an evolutionary process. It is clearly and logically certain that we were designed with certain qualities “hardwired” into our being. Evolution does allow for the sense of moral law being present in a living being. If this were true, then the animal kingdom would have a sense of right and wrong. The animal world would be concerned about the actions of other animals and show opposition when wrong is committed. If we are in fact a higher evolved species from Apes, why does not an Ape have a moral law?
If you believe that matter and space just happen to exist by random chance, and human beings are one of the byproducts of these chance occurrences, then how did we obtain this Moral Law, within us?
It is impossible that evolution could have made the moral law within a human being possible.
The universe is similar to the human mind. It has a consciousness, a purpose, is governed by a set of laws, and it designed for human life, as far as earth is concerned. When we consider how finely tuned the earth is to allow for life, the slightest change of these purposeful elements would make life on earth impossible.
The single element in the universe that causes me to question the origination and purpose of the cosmos, is man. We find that all persons who have been born on this planet know that within themselves there is some sort of Moral Law. There has never been a time in recorded history when any man has not known that certain things are right and others are wrong. This law has not changed or been altered since the beginning of man on the earth.
The only reliable source for exactly how this Moral Law came to be inside of man, and a clear insight into the nature of man himself, is the Bible. The reason that I personally have placed by trust in the 66 books of the Bible, is that it is the only book in the world that so perfectly describes the nature of man. The old testament is filled with stories that are used as illustrations of what the nature of man is like and why we do the things we do. This compilation of books has amazing details on what motivates, enlightens, and fulfills us, and reveals what is deep within the heart of man. Science has never been able to explain the nature of man, nor the working of the human mind. How we can be a material being yet so enamored with spiritual matters? What is there inside man that consumes him to know who he is and where he came from? If Science had given a sufficient answer to these questions, then men would no longer be searching elsewhere for answers.
The fact is that only the Bible describes the condition of man as being “fallen”, less that he was created to be. This is the only satisfactory answer as to why we are the way that we are. The answers for why we are so self centered, yet have the capacity for great sacrifice. The answers to why we do what’s best for us, but are aware that others are being harmed by some of our actions.
After 36 years of reading and searching every conceivable intelligent source for the origin of the universe and the unique byproduct of that universe, man, I have come to the conclusion that only the Bible gives me sufficient answers to all of the most important questions.
Rob Robinson
