Basis For My Moral Beliefs example essay topic

419 words
Where Did My Morality Come From? Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll; it didn't always used to be like this for me. In fact, the rules that govern my social interaction and beliefs come from a largely Christian background, with influences from school, and the media. I grew up with an Advent Christian minister for a father. My mother was raised Penecostal; her father is a Penecostal missionary, the leader of the Penecostal churches of Alaska. From a young age my parents instilled in me biblical moral values.

The Old Testament 10 Commandments were a basis for my moral beliefs, until we got cable. Cable opened up a world to me that was not all news broadcasts and Saturday morning cartoons. Channel 34 was MTV, supposedly the representation of my generation's social structure. TV movies and shows influenced me to the point of altering my moral foundation. No longer were the 10 Commandments the only source I had to guide me. I saw different places, people fighting for the right cause, disobeying the law and law enforcement officers.

I saw disrespect, love in the highest regards with sex and no marriage. I saw abortionists reportedly representing my faith with bombs and death. I watched shows that were blue-collar, rough around the edges and complete with toilet jokes. Vulgarity, cruelty, masters, slaves: I viewed the programs, and, although I knew that they were not real, I experienced them as well. Believe it or not, television opened me to an entire world outside of northern Maine, a world I wanted to be a part of. Because of the magical tube, I reasoned that sex outside of marriage is o. k., drugs are bad, superficial people are stupid, and I have the right to challenge my parents.

Of course, variables come into play with all of those, just as they do with 'thou shalt not kill,' (unless he killed someone, or he is trying to kill you). School also exposed me to new things and ideas. I was taught moral lessons, mostly on the playground and in gym class, about sharing, respecting other peoples' private space, and not hitting. In the classroom I was taught to respect the ideas, thoughts and feelings of others. The D.A.R.E. officer came to us my fourth grade year and preached that drugs and alcohol are a moral sin, although he said nothing about tobacco..