Question

What does a moral life entail and how does one achieve it?

Answer 1

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Answer 2

living a "moral life" entails following some kind of moral code.
moral codes are essentialy cultural products: what is moral for somebody might perfectly be inmoral for somebody else.

Answer 3

http://www.justiceharvard.org/

Answer 4

I'd say the most typical way of living a moral life is to adhere to a set of religious principles as described in the world's major religions of Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Buddism. On the basic points, they agree.

Answer 5

Living a moral life means to follow the morals of religions, whether it be Christianity, Islam, Judaism or Buddism.

Answer 6

that's absurd, u r basically saying that non-religous people CANNOT be moral because they don't believe in some magical being (god) or have the guidance of a magical book (bible, coran, tora, etc).

Answer 7

I said the typical way. And quite frankly it's true. Those who live morally tend to believe in a power higher then themselves and adhere to a common set of principles as outlined in a major religion. Now, they might not even follow every bit of the religion, be a member, but I guarentee that even "non-relgious" people leading a moral life will hit 90% of the basic commands outlined in major religions.

Answer 8

i agree @r.arena . some religious principles are just common sense, hence u don't need magical beings telling u them.

Answer 9

However, it doesn't mar the fact that while those principles are common scene it's good to FOLLOW them. You don't have to believe they came from god, but they still are necessary for a basic moral life. Also, believing that you are not in control of the universe is an important part of clear psychological thinking. God complexes near the conditions for psychopathy and sociopathology and therefore, are not inherently moral.

Answer 10

I think it can be agreed upon that religion does not necessarily result in a moral life; the same is true for a nonreligious life. Morality really depends on the individual.
But what are morals, and how does one achieve it?

Morality is doing what is 'right', in search of self-improvement, but also for the greater good of society. Socrates emphasizes this in his writings on virtue; morality is attained through acceptance of man's place in society and the permeating will to do what is best for all. You can use his death as an example of this: Socrates's ideas were considered radical, and the Athenian government sentenced him to death. Despite his ability to easily escape and live elsewhere, he willingly gave up his life for the sake of the state and its perpetuated order.
The benefit of a moral life is a life where one is able to live in a sort of harmony with themselves and their surroundings, a sort of coherent co-existence. Self-fulfillment is also promising, no? :)

Answer 11

But in religion one is held accountable for one's misdeeds and essentially rewarded for one's good deeds and piety (Islam, Judaism, Christianity). If you do bad = eternal hell fire, do good = eternal rest, paradise. Surely these things would motivate one to do good and live a moral life. Although if it is true that human beings are inherently good, then one does good and lives ethically and morally because one is "born to be good." If you want to live morally, its simple, Do no harm unto others. That should sum up everything let everyone coexist peacefully.

Answer 12

When God rules your life, and you cannot achieve it, its a gift of God when you believe in Jesus Christ.