Do People Truly Believe in Morals?

Statistically, people are more likely to commit crimes if there is enough reward, and if they strongly believe they will not face consequences. Although there is a small minority who can’t be bought, the majority follows a set of morals primarily based on self-interest. These moral codes serve as a guise for self-protection, self-gratification, and self-promotion.

Self-Interest Drives Moral Codes

Without the fear of a higher power, humans are inherently selfish and self-centered. Their subjective moral values serve as mere reflections of their self-interest. The Bible, particularly 1 John 2:16 and James 4:1-2, suggests that the world is driven by self-centered desires:

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. (1 John 2:16)

From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts? (James 4:1-2)

Societies often establish moral codes not out of genuine ethical concerns, but for practical reasons like safety and mutual benefit. However, these societies may still exhibit barbarous, discriminatory, or even cannibalistic tendencies.

The Role of Objective Morality

The objective moral values, as prescribed by a higher power, such as the God of the Bible, are what truly civilize human societies. As America grows further from its religious roots, tolerance for heathenism, paganism, and barbarism increases, leading to a potential militaristic and dictatorial regime. Robert Charles Winthrop, a prominent speaker of the United States House of Representatives, echoed this perspective:

Men in a word must necessarily be controlled either by a power within them or by a power without them, either by the word of God or by the strong arm of man, either by the Bible or by the bayonet. (Robert Charles Winthrop, 1809-1894)

Ultimately, the persistence of objective morality and the adherence to the divine commandments are what separate truly civil societies from those driven by base human desires. As civilization progresses, reflecting on these foundational beliefs becomes crucial in maintaining a harmonious and virtuous society.