I grew up in a moderately religious family, in very religious areas, and started my formal education in a private Christian school. The school probably wouldn't have been chosen for me, but my mom taught there so I went tuition-free. Bible Study was an every-morning occurrence, and mandatory. We also always went to church growing up, but I never really believed the godstuff, even when I got involved with youth groups and choir and things.
My parents separated when I was about eleven and my dad got super-religious after some gnarly health issues; but even before that I was allowed to read whatever I wanted and listen to whatever music I wanted. I was restricted, however, from certain TV shows (Married... With Children, for example) and movies.
I chose to read (among other things, like the Bible) Stephen King and V.C. Andrews. I listened to Metallica and Iron Maiden, and eventually the really bad glam-metal bands like Poison and Motley Crue. In other words, I was exposed to sex and violence, in my mind, like nothing a video game or movie could ever portray. I had/have a vivid imagination.
That being said, I have never had a proclivity toward violence or casual sex. I didn't lose my virginity (not for a lack of suitors) until I was twenty. I've had one one-night stand, and in my naivete I thought he was serious about me so the one-nighter wasn't intentional on my part.
Regardless of my father's racism and my grandparents' country-club-republicanism, I have always been color blind and tolerant; pro-social equality. I would never judge another for making different decisions from my own, unless those decisions affected someone else negatively, but even then, I don't expect jurisdiction for my judgements.
None of these things, in my view, makes me any more or less moral than anyone else, but they are things related to morality in the eyes of most societies... especially religious ones.
I would love to hear anecdotes... things that shaped or mis-shaped your morality along the way, whether positive or negative.
Thanks guys!
My parents separated when I was about eleven and my dad got super-religious after some gnarly health issues; but even before that I was allowed to read whatever I wanted and listen to whatever music I wanted. I was restricted, however, from certain TV shows (Married... With Children, for example) and movies.
I chose to read (among other things, like the Bible) Stephen King and V.C. Andrews. I listened to Metallica and Iron Maiden, and eventually the really bad glam-metal bands like Poison and Motley Crue. In other words, I was exposed to sex and violence, in my mind, like nothing a video game or movie could ever portray. I had/have a vivid imagination.
That being said, I have never had a proclivity toward violence or casual sex. I didn't lose my virginity (not for a lack of suitors) until I was twenty. I've had one one-night stand, and in my naivete I thought he was serious about me so the one-nighter wasn't intentional on my part.
Regardless of my father's racism and my grandparents' country-club-republicanism, I have always been color blind and tolerant; pro-social equality. I would never judge another for making different decisions from my own, unless those decisions affected someone else negatively, but even then, I don't expect jurisdiction for my judgements.
None of these things, in my view, makes me any more or less moral than anyone else, but they are things related to morality in the eyes of most societies... especially religious ones.
I would love to hear anecdotes... things that shaped or mis-shaped your morality along the way, whether positive or negative.
Thanks guys!
