The founding motto of America that it is a “free” country, seems to continue to advance in definition and application. Americans have come to accept the relevance of individual freedom, not only economically, politically, and religiously but also morally. This idea of moral freedom deals with the very core of people. It is asking to have freedom over what matters most. Moral freedom, at its very basic core, means that individuals should determine for themselves what it means to lead a good and virtuous life. Not looking to “god” or nature but considering who they are, what others require, and what consequences follow from acting one way rather than another (Wolfe, 2011, p. 195). For the first time in human history, a large group of individuals believe that people should play the essential role in defining their own morality as they contemplate their proper relationship to God, one another and themselves (p.
…show more content…
The Christian belief has been the most influential and most widely accepted in America for hundreds of years. This surge of self-proclaimed morals has had the biggest effect on the church and the way people relate to religion and God. As Wolfe says, “The desire of so many Americans to have a greater say in the moral choices they make is anything but a bitter renunciation of religion” (p. 227). The ultimate implication of the idea of moral freedom is not that “people are created in the image of a higher authority. It is instead that any form of higher authority has to tailor its commandments to the needs of real people” (p. 200).In April of 2000, The Wall Street Journal published a story that focused on the way Americans redefine God to suit their own tastes and feelings (as cited in Wolfe, 2001, p. 226). “Like alcohol, too much moral freedom can be a dangerous thing” (p.
The Christian belief has been the most influential and most widely accepted in America for hundreds of years. This surge of self-proclaimed morals has had the biggest effect on the church and the way people relate to religion and God. As Wolfe says, “The desire of so many Americans to have a greater say in the moral choices they make is anything but a bitter renunciation of religion” (p. 227). The ultimate implication of the idea of moral freedom is not that “people are created in the image of a higher authority. It is instead that any form of higher authority has to tailor its commandments to the needs of real people” (p. 200).In April of 2000, The Wall Street Journal published a story that focused on the way Americans redefine God to suit their own tastes and feelings (as cited in Wolfe, 2001, p. 226). “Like alcohol, too much moral freedom can be a dangerous thing” (p.