Over the course of history, humans have done terrible things. They have fought wars, enslaved nations, and killed innocent people. Today, looking back on these atrocities, we see them for the horrific injustices that they were. This begs the question then, what is it that makes some action bad and others good? As well as, what was it that allowed people to make these decisions despite their dreadful nature? The answers lie in the realm of morality. The set of values which decide what is right and wrong, good and bad.
So, what is the source of our morality? This question has been debated often, with many religious supporters quoting sacred texts as the one true source for our ethics. Others say that morality is an intrinsic characteristic of humanity, independent of religion. The latter is the stance taken by Cromulism. However, to understand this position one must first understand why religious texts are not a good source for morality. The root of the problem here lies with the roots of the scripture. The most popular of these religious texts were written centuries ago, in a time with very different beliefs. Written when slavery, torture, and warfare were considered socially acceptable. When society lived in fear of gods and offered sacrifices to appease them. This context results in a rather flawed system when recorded and practiced at a much later time. With these morals one can justify Crusades or the persecution of other religions and races. However, most religions today aren’t preaching these atrocities that come from their own scriptures. So, what is it that allows people to claim that holy texts are the primary source of morals, while ignoring the flawed sections? The answer is figurative interpretation. When an especially immoral part is brought up, it can be referred to as “symbolic”, and be excluded from the ethics religions teach. Yet this brings up a new contradiction, if all the immoral parts are “figurative” and the moral components are real, there must be a way to distinguish between the two. There must be an alternative moral compass that decides which verses teach good practices and which ones call for updated interpretations. And this alternative doesn’t come from religious texts but rather from the reader’s interpretations. Therefore, our ethics aren’t found in religions but rather originate elsewhere.
If morality doesn’t stem from religion, where does it come from? One theory suggests our ethical views are the result of natural selection occurring for thousands of years. It posits that morality has become part of human nature in the same way other instincts, such as our fight-or-flight instinct, have. In other words, morality exists in human societies simply because it helps them to survive. A long time ago, as humanity began to group together and form societies, ethics would have been crucial to an individual’s survival. Failure to operate in a morally acceptable way, may have resulted in expulsion or death. Therefore, over time, only members of societies whose natural disposition aligned with moral values would have survived, leaving them to become our ancestors. This suggests that morality may be encoded in our genes and inherently linked to survival of our species, rather than being only taught. This theory was put forward by Charles Darwin, who viewed morality as a by-product of his ground-breaking evolutionary theory. More insights for this conclusion comes from the study of primates. Research has shown that monkeys also seem to be guided by a certain form of moral compass. In one trial, rhesus monkeys were given the option to pull a chain which would provide them with food but also deliver an electric shock to a fellow monkey. The rhesus monkeys chose to starve themselves for several days rather than inflict pain on their companion. An even more striking example is found in chimpanzees who, unable to swim, drowned trying to save others. Thus, Cromulism does not attempt to dictate external moral guidelines but rather encourages individuals to follow naturally existing moral norms.
Once the source of our morals has been determined, it is important to understand what those moral ideals are. To do this, one must first understand the different ethical theories that exist. The two we will focus on are Absolutism and Consequentialism. Absolutism refers to the idea that some things are inherently wrong and must be avoided at all costs. The importance of this theory is found in its frequent use by major religions. Certain laws are ordained by an important figure and must be practiced by followers. A well-known example would be the ten commandments found in both Christianity and Judaism. These have historically been interpreted as absolute rules, which can’t be violated under any circumstances. While this approach works for most situations, it may pose a dilemma under specific circumstances. For example, the Catholic Church’s position on abortion is an absolutist pro-life view. While we Cromulists agree that life is precious and need to be protected, there can be scenarios that require the consideration of other factors. Such a situation may arise if an unborn child would be destined to live a painful and short-lived life, lacked the care and attention necessary, or would cause the death of the mother through childbirth. Actions that consider the consequences and place value on aligning actions with complex realities that are not merely black or white fall into the concepts of a consequentialist moral theory. This theory is in its nature closer to views held by Cromulism.
Another major component of morality is the reward and punishment of behavior. People do many things in the name of religion. Some devote their lives to helping others or preaching their faith. Others commit atrocities in the name of God. More still, are willing to die for their beliefs. What is the driving factors behind these decisions? What is a strong enough incentive for suicide bombings or a life of servitude?
How about the promise of everlasting heaven? Or a paradise with seventy-two virgins? These are examples of rewards offered by both mainstream religions and twisted extremist groups. They are promised to people who live an ethical life, and people who “do the right thing”. This, unfortunately, is the greatest corruption of morality that exists. By rewarding good behavior, one is no longer doing something because it is right but rather because they expect a reward. Moral decisions have become selfish decisions. Of course, rewards are not the only reason behind our actions. Many people do things simply because of their ethical values, expecting no reward in return. However, the very existence of these promises devalues acts of goodness. It is similar to the hypocrisy shown by people who donate to charity but only in a very public way. Or someone who will only give money to a homeless person when they have friends around to witness their “generosity”. This is a major flaw in most major religious because it corrupts our moral decision making.
The implementation of these divine reward systems is another way in which Cromulism differs from other faiths. Unlike most religions, Cromulism is unable and unwilling to offer everlasting life or the favor of an omnipotent, benevolent supreme being. In fact, these ideas are incompatible with Cromulist beliefs. Instead Cromulism offers and alternative comfort; a different way of existing after death. This is through the notion of legacies. That idea that we live on even after death in the lives and minds of the people we affected while alive. In order to facilitate this practice Cromulism celebrates the lives of those who have passed away. For some people who had a large impact on the world it is through the esteemed status of Notable and the recognition which comes with this position. For others who may have had an equally strong effect but on a smaller crowd, it is through the people they interacted with that they survive. Cromulism believes that individuals are the products of their environment unique personalities formed through the influence of others. This way, even after one has died they continue to exist guiding the people with whom their lives intersected. This is not the literal sense of guiding but rather the result of the impact one had on their live. In this way, people who have lived a good life will be remembered and therefore never truly die.