I’ve been thinking about the question of morality for a long time:
Why does it seem like theologists don’t truly understand it—and are simply repeating phrases from a book that tells them they don’t need to?
And on the other hand—why don’t scientists, who do have the means to understand natural phenomena, ever truly confront the question of morality?
It’s as though people believe it’s blasphemous to attempt to understand it, so they’d rather not believe at all. Why is that?
This disconnect has left us with a strange vacuum: neither side fully understands what morality is, where it came from, or what its purpose is.
And yet, morality is very real. It evolved alongside us as a system of coexistence. It influences our decisions every day. It drives entire civilizations forward—or brings them down.
Why do we reward “goodness”? Why do we feel guilt? Why do certain actions “feel wrong” even when nobody else is watching?
The very idea of a “conscience”—our internal compass—is strongly linked to morality. In many ways, it’s our connection to reality itself.
And yet…
Among scientists, discussing morality is taboo.
Among believers, it’s often treated like a rulebook that mustn’t be questioned.
So who’s actually trying to understand it?
Here’s why understanding morality matters more than ever.
Let’s start with a basic definition.
The Oxford Dictionary defines morality as:
“principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong, or good and bad behavior.”
For centuries, major religions have created their own lists of moral “rules,” often without clearly explaining why those rules exist or what pattern links them.
The message was simple: Obey—or face divine punishment.
But here’s the thing: morality isn’t about obedience. It’s about function. It’s a system of productive vs. counterproductive behaviors.
Let’s break a few down logically:
- Don’t steal.
→ Nobody wants to lose what they’ve earned. A stable society must discourage theft. - Don’t kill.
→ Unregulated murder would collapse any community. Basic survival requires boundaries. - Don’t lie.
→ Lying distorts reality. Truth allows us to act logically based on reliable information. - Don’t cheat.
→ Loyalty builds trust. Trust allows us to collaborate, grow, and share vulnerabilities safely. - Honor your father and mother.
→ Respecting generational wisdom helps preserve knowledge and prevent avoidable mistakes. - Don’t covet.
→ Obsessive comparison leads to dissatisfaction, division, and destructive behavior. - Forgive those who wrong you.
→ Forgiveness reduces chronic stress, preserves community bonds, and allows emotional rest—without falling into unproductive vengeance spirals. - Don’t worship other gods.
→ Focus on one Creator. Understand the nature of the Designer to better understand your own.
When you really think about morality, you realize how useful and logical it is—almost like a science of its own.
So, what if ancient humans simply didn’t have the tools to explain these principles logically? What if divine instruction had to be abstract back then, because people lacked the scientific context we now take for granted?
People were able to blindly accept religion millennia ago because they thought reality wasn’t meant to be entirely understood.
What’s the next step?
Today, we have access to far more of what I’d call divine logic—through science. And instead of disproving spiritual truths, our new findings may be revealing them more clearly.
Maybe religion hasn’t become obsolete. Maybe it’s just outdated—written for minds that hadn’t yet developed the tools to decode it. And maybe, it’s time for a version that speaks to our current understanding of reality.
We were built for more than obedience. We were built to align with divine logic.
Next time, we’ll explore what that might mean… for heaven.
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