"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." -- James Madison
It becomes complicated when you assign morality to religion. Which religion and to what extent do you follow the code set out by scripture? The Christian bible for instance sets out a variety of rules in Leviticus and a basic moral theme throughout both testaments. Plus scripture is open to interpretation. The bible can be used to justify a whole host of things we now find immoral, such as slavery, the death penalty for adultery and the subjugation of women.
Morality outside of codified dogma is hard to define. Morality isn't black and white...even though some claim it is. Moral dilemmas raise questions, as does the fact that morality has and continues to evolve. Not to mention, relying on religion as the basis of morality sort of implies that adherents are moral only because of a punishment/reward system, rather than being good because it's right.
Many evolutionary biologists claim that morality is an evolutionary trait that has helped us succeed as a species. Doing the right thing and employing empathy are good for us all. It's helped us cooperate and become the dominant animal on the planet.
Helena (05-14-2020)
That's what I always found odd about the claim that morality is only possible and derived from the supernatural/higher being/God/religion, etc...
That implies that people wouldn't be moral without it...which is demonstrably false. It also implies that the believers are only being moral because they will be punished if they don't, and rewarded if they do. Seems a bit phoney and selfish.
One's morals should not affect my Freedoms.
I find your lack of faith...disturbing...
-Darth Vader
There are plenty of things outside of the cultural norm that I consider wrong. But there you go again assuming what I think or believe. It would be nice if you judged me by what I actually say, rather than what you think I believe.
Where are you getting these statistics from? Another assumption? I'm not sure of the statistics regarding married and not married couples, but I have no reason to believe non married couples have shorter relationships than married couples.
I do know that roughly half of marriages end in divorce. I actually think that couples that live together before marriage probably have a higher success rate than couples who marry before living together.
Actually she does in the situation where they are married. Community property. Your saying that if they get married then it avoids the situation just reverses the situation and the man is sleeping in his car and then stuck with the bills.
I've seen woman claim there husbands were child abusers just to spite him. Ivanka Trump admitted lying about Donald Trump in her divorce proceedings.
There are no clean breaks unless both sides decide to do it that way and being married does not change that..
I don't think cohabitation has anything to do with marital breakup. Why would it?