Morality and its place in our society?

[Neon Knight]

So basically hedonism on a personal level and inter-personal compromise based on the majority rule on a society level?

That's a good description but I would not use the word hedonism; the things that make me happy might include helping others.

[1stLightHorse]

So you believe in the idea of "original sin", basically that humans are naturally bad and selfish, and that they therefore must be controlled by an morality?

If you are into Ego leveling ideas, i would check out Sufism and Buddhism, both focus allot on this issue, Sufism have allot of great "stories" to illustrate these ideas, one of my favorite is this one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Con...e_of_the_Birds

Yes, although i would say something more along the lines of...naturally impulsive or uncontrollable. I tend to view myself in the opposite way though. I like to control everything about myself, especially my desires and refrain from making emotionally based judgements or conclusions.

I was reading some about Buddhism the other day actually, what is the difference between the various sects?

[evon]

Yes, those. The same good old values that we have had for centuries.

I think this is a illusion, but ofcourse if you uphold it for yourself it does not stay an illusion, the reason i say illusion is because the idea of a hegemonic culture/morality based on a form of shapeless protestantism is to me only found in bad history books.

That's a good description but I would not use the word hedonism; the things that make me happy might include helping others.

Do you extend this to Sadists, who enjoy hurting others?

Yes, although i would say something more along the lines of...naturally impulsive or uncontrollable. I tend to view myself in the opposite way though. I like to control everything about myself, especially my desires and refrain from making emotionally based judgements or conclusions.

I was reading some about Buddhism the other day actually, what is the difference between the various sects?

There are countless Buddhist branches, i find Chan/Zen Buddhism interesting, but also earlier branches from South Asia...

[el22]

I created a thread about this sometime ago

[mr. logan]

There is only one power structure. There is only one reality.

[evon]

There is only one power structure. There is only one reality.

Care to elaborate on this vague statement?