Are some people more moral than others?

[slywakka250]

Are some people morally better than others?

Can you compare two people and conclude that one is more holy, righteous, or moral than another person??

And if so, does this mean that some people are less valuable as persons because of this??

I ask this because Catholicism seems to put so much emphasis on following its moral code. To me, it feels like too much like a competition with some people coming out ahead, and some losing the race.

 

[JacarandaPurple]

Anyone can CHOOSE to follow the moral code, or not.

Any race you CHOOSE to lose, you should.

Every human life has equal value to God. Not every human values life equally, thus immorality.

Yes, of course some people are more moral than others.

However, some are handicapped by lack of knowledge, and that is where loving evangelization comes in.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Are some people morally better than others?

Can you compare two people and conclude that one is more holy, righteous, or moral than another person??

And if so, does this mean that some people are less valuable as persons because of this??

I ask this because Catholicism seems to put so much emphasis on following its moral code. To me, it feels like too much like a competition with some people coming out ahead, and some losing the race.

Yes, people are morally different. Usually Christians have moral values that include generosity, charity, cheerfulness, love, honesty, caring for the elderly/widowed/orphaned, etc.

No, people are not more “valuable,” unless you mean valuable to society. People who obey society’s rules and laws are more valuable because they produce things and improve others’ lives instead of causing trouble and taking others’ things and lives.

God sees us all the same, we all have the same free will, to choose life or death. He wants us to choose life, but many choose death (which can mean bondage on this earth).

 

[Edmundus1581]

Are some people morally better than others?

Can you compare two people and conclude that one is more holy, righteous, or moral than another person??

And if so, does this mean that some people are less valuable as persons because of this??

I ask this because Catholicism seems to put so much emphasis on following its moral code. **To me, it feels like too much like a competition **with some people coming out ahead, and some losing the race.

Thankyou for your honesty and insight in explaining your question. I think that you are mistaken here. Yes, Catholicism does put much emphasis on following its moral code, but it does this because it believes it (the moral code) to be the truth. We say that adultery and lying are wrong, because they ARE wrong, and not because we wish to set up a competition in honesty and marital fidelity.

Does this sometimes lead to a “competition”? I guess it can do, however I don’t see much of that in practice. It is an honest observation of mine that there is more humility and less judging of others in the Catholic church than in Protestant churches, of the world at large.

I’'ll use mathematics as an analogy. The truths of mathematics are permanent, and mathematicians seek to discover them. Some people will compete in their mathematical knowledge, and others won’t. Either way, it doesn’t change the mathematical truths.

I’ll compare my moral progress with someone else’s only when I’ve become perfected in love and mercy. [1 Cor 13,Matt 5:48]

If someone else wishes to compare his moral progress with mine, then I hope he gets some benefit from his thoughts. The saints have always rejoiced when they are taken for sinners and as the least of men.

 

[Edmundus1581]

Are some people morally better than others?

Can you compare two people and conclude that one is more holy, righteous, or moral than another person??

And if so, does this mean that some people are less valuable as persons because of this??

I ask this because Catholicism seems to put so much emphasis on following its moral code. **To me, it feels like too much like a competition **with some people coming out ahead, and some losing the race.

Thankyou for your honesty and insight in explaining your question. However, I think that you are mistaken here. Yes, Catholicism does put much emphasis on following its moral code, but it does this because it believes it (the moral code) to be the truth. We say that adultery and lying are wrong, because they ARE wrong, and not because we wish to set up a competition in honesty and marital fidelity.

Does this sometimes lead to a “competition”? I guess it can do, however I don’t see much of that in practice. It is an honest observation of mine that there is more humility and less judging of others in the Catholic church than in Protestant churches, or the world at large.

We could look at the truths of mathematics as an analogy. These truths are permanent, and mathematicians seek to discover them. Some people will compete in their mathematical knowledge, and others won’t. Either way, it doesn’t change the mathematical truths.

I’ll compare my moral progress with someone else’s only when I’ve become perfected in love and mercy. [1 Cor 13,Matt 5:48]

If someone else wishes to compare his moral progress with mine, then I hope he gets some benefit from his thoughts. The saints have always rejoiced when they are taken for sinners and as the least of men.

 

[MidnightSun12]

Yes, some people are more moral then others, but we are all such a distant second compared to God and we are all in need such great mercy that this question is more or less moot. I don’t think we should ever judge ourselves to be more “moral” then somebody else, but rather focus on identifying specific actions as being “moral” or “immoral” in the hopes of helping yourself and others you know to move closer to God!

 

[JNdoum]

Faith isn’t a competition, and no one is more valuable than another person (I say this again because it cannot be stressed enough). We are all equal, and valuable in our own ways. IT is true that it is hard to compare two people morally, given all the factors that go into being moral, but at the end of the day, yes, some people are more moral than others.

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

Are some people morally better than others?

Can you compare two people and conclude that one is more holy, righteous, or moral than another person??

And if so, does this mean that some people are less valuable as persons because of this??

I ask this because Catholicism seems to put so much emphasis on following its moral code. To me, it feels like too much like a competition with some people coming out ahead, and some losing the race.

Do some people make better choices than others?

If everyone is equally loved by God and a person’s value is derived from them being God are some people more valuable?