Ain't No Good

When I grew up in the 50s and 60s, the way morality was taught is that things were right or wrong, every time and always.  It made sin very clear, and there was no need for me to think things through.  Why? Because the basic premise is that we are bad.  If  given any chance to make our own decisions, we would do wrong because we are selfish, sinful people at the core.  That is why priests yelled from the pulpit and talked about hell.  Fear is the only thing that would make us avoid bad behavior.  

Jesus was not like that, nor was any other truly God-filled person.  The newer way of teaching morality reflects this.  We are given norms that take into account our differing experiences.  From these norms, we make an informed and conscious decision.  We are graced filled people who can make such decisions.  In the first example above, birth control is always and everywhere wrong and you will burn.  In the second example, we get norms and then make an informed decision.  Our life experience counts.  There is a big difference between the college student who just wants to "hook up," and the mother of several children whose health is endangered by another pregnancy or a couple who are financially struggling to make ends meet in this economic downturn.