We live in a culture that finds experience as the central resource for moral choices. It's often expressed as "well, that's MY point of view" or as a "gut reaction" that you mentioned. In its extreme it degenerates into a insular form of tribalism or me-ism. That's what I see in many forms of religion and spirituality these days. But it happens in many sectors of our society.
Fortunately the appeal to reason still exists in American culture as part of our culture's tradition. American was founded during the Age of Reason, and our culture still values it, however it is quickly rejected when reason is relied on soley and in exclusion of other forms of epistomology.
So, I don't expect most people to leap into a discussion that is purely intellectual.
I'll give you an example. A close friend of mine made the statement "You can't legislate morality". Now I know the illogic in that axiom. We legistlate morality all the time, as our laws enforce moral imperatives against murder, theft, purjury, etc. But I know the person was probably referring to private morality, rather than public morality. So I didn't argue with them, though I was tempted to.
Now if I sensed a "teachable moment", I might have taken a step toward that conversation with the Socratic method of questions. "So, what are some examples of morality that can't be legislated? What about..." and so on.
That seems to work for me. But then, I'm not a missionary nor a warrior.
reason vs experience and waiting for the right moment
Fortunately the appeal to reason still exists in American culture as part of our culture's tradition. American was founded during the Age of Reason, and our culture still values it, however it is quickly rejected when reason is relied on soley and in exclusion of other forms of epistomology.
So, I don't expect most people to leap into a discussion that is purely intellectual.
I'll give you an example. A close friend of mine made the statement "You can't legislate morality". Now I know the illogic in that axiom. We legistlate morality all the time, as our laws enforce moral imperatives against murder, theft, purjury, etc. But I know the person was probably referring to private morality, rather than public morality. So I didn't argue with them, though I was tempted to.
Now if I sensed a "teachable moment", I might have taken a step toward that conversation with the Socratic method of questions. "So, what are some examples of morality that can't be legislated? What about..." and so on.
That seems to work for me. But then, I'm not a missionary nor a warrior.
bright blessings,
Cern