If it's Legal, it's also Moral

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"For most, what is legal is a guide to morality." This is from a letter to The West. It appears to me to be true. It is very unfortunate.

The point of the letter is prostitution: if prostitution is legal then it will be seen to be moral. Is that the case with every law?

Lawyers look for loopholes. If I want to do something -- or I have already done something -- then I can hire a lawyer to look for a loophole which allows my action. Did I murder someone? The law says that that's okay -- as long as I was drunk or insane at the time.

Does that make murder "moral"?

The adjective moral is synonymous with "good" or "right." (Wikipedia, 9 Nov 11)

If I am drunk, or insane, does that mean that killing a person is "good" or "right"? Perhaps it does. "For most, what is legal is a guide to morality."

Why does Western Australia have so many laws? It is to allow people to do things which would otherwise be considered to be, not moral.

We may think that we live in a moral state. We don't. We live in a legal state.

Some people may consider that it is "bad" or "wrong" to kill someone. To some people, murder is "not moral". Yet we have laws which allow murder -- if a "good" lawyer can convince a jury that the circumstances match the legal loopholes.

Yes, I use murder as a ridiculously extreme example.

What about taking someone's property and giving back nothing of value? Does that sound moral? Well, it is... as long as a legal contract was signed.

Did you not read the twelve page legal contract before you signed it? Silly you. Did you not pay $2,000 to a lawyer to check the rental contract before you signed? Silly you. Did you trust the seller? Silly you.

There are laws in place to tell people exactly how much they are allowed to lie and cheat -- legally.

Which -- in the eyes of many people -- makes lying and cheating "moral".

Leave your morals at home

Is homosexuality moral or immoral? I don't know. I don't really care. Religions, however, do seem to care.

Several major religions consider that homosexuality is immoral. That the practice of homosexuality is a sin.

Are you a member of one of those religions?

Do you also believe that homosexuality is a sin? If not, why are you a member of that religion? Apparently:

The failure of the Church to accept homosexuality has been identified as the leading reason why Australians reject Christianity, new research suggests. (Church's attitude to gays puts people off, The West, 9 Nov 11)

The Church -- for whatever reason -- believes that homosexuality is immoral. Yet homosexuality is legal. Australians accept homosexuality so they reject a Church which will not allow homosexuality. Fair enough.

Yet there is also pressure on religions to accept homosexuality. After all, it's legal... so it must also be moral...?

Okay, I'll follow your religion. But I want full access to homosexuality. Some theft. A bit of murder, in certain circumstances... Oh, and shorter penances for sins which my lawyer can prove to be legal...

No, I'm sorry, it doesn't work that way.

The first law of religious morality should be, Follow the laws of the country. Give unto Caesar and all that. Illegal equals immoral. But legal does not equal moral.

After the first law, religions may further restrict their followers: It may be legal, but bottom-of-the-harbour is not moral... It may be legal, but being drunk does not make killing moral... It may be legal, but your chosen religion tells you that prostitution is not moral.

Religion is all about power over people. Most religions also come with a fixed moral code. If you follow the religion then you must also follow the moral code.

You don't sit in the pews -- or kneel on the mats -- demanding changes to the rules to suit yourself. Certainly not if you hope to be accepted into whatever heaven is offered by your chosen religion.

You may be able to choose your country. By doing so, you accept the laws.

You may be able to choose your religion. By doing so, you accept the moral code.

If you don't like it -- you may choose to leave that religion.

In Australia, anyway.

So far.

Independent thinking & independent analysis of your problems. Agamedes Consulting: Support for your thought. email nick leth at gmail dot com