Merton and Conscience
Posted by Mark Shaw on June 29, 2008
Thomas Merton believed that inside us all there is a traffic signal dictating whether we are living a “good” life. Each of us, of course, must decide what a “good life” is, what it truly means according to whatever standard we choose. Some believe that as long as we are good to others, never hurt anyone, treat people with respect, and help wherever possible, we can honestly say we are a good human being regardless of whether we are a spiritual person or not.
In No Man is an Island, Merton writes, “We do not create a conscience for ourselves. We are born with one, and no matter how much we may ignore it, we cannot silence its insistent demand to do good and avoid evil. No matter how much we may deny our freedom and our moral responsibility, our intellectual soul cries out for a morality and a spiritual freedom without which is knows it cannot be happy.”
So what is your standard for whether you are leading a good life? One suggestion given to me is that people act “Christlike” whether they believe in Christ or not. This means they love others more than themselves, treat people without judgment or condemnation, truly listen to them, pray for enemies instead of seeking vengeance, forgive, offer help to those less fortunate, share money with those in need, protect the innocent, especially children, and offer peaceful solutions to problems instead of threatening violence.
If this world has a chance to survive, Christlike behavior must prevail. Far too much hatred exists instead of kindness and understanding. If you have not read the bestseller, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and Davide Oliver Relin, do so immediately. He is the courageous man who risked all to start schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afganistan. Against all odds, education is thriving in these areas as the anidote to ignorance, the demon seed at the core of the world’s calamity. More may be learned at www.threecupsoftee.com.
What is your conscience telling you these days? Do you rationalize bad, perhaps even evil behavior, with the idea that “everybody is doing it so why can’t I.” Or are you turning your back on your morals and acting immorally by cheating, or badmouthing others who think you are their friend. If you have questions, try this – stand in front of a full length mirror and take a good look at yourself. Look carefully, perhaps for fifteen minutes or so, and then think about what type of person you are. If you like what you see, terrific, but if you don’t, then start right away to change and become the truly good person you have always wanted to be. In may ways, our conscience is a measuring stick for assessing our behavior. How do you measure up?
asimplesinner said
There is much truth to the notion that we have an ability to know what is right. As much is alluded to in the New Testament when it is mentioned that the natural law is written on the hearts of man…
That being said, we also have reason to be concerned about how well in tune we are with that, versus how much our “reasoning through it for ourselves” is influenced by our own fallen natures… Speaking personally, when I spent several years away from the Church, I was always convinced that the sins I liked weren’t that bad, and the sins I didn’t (and avoided!) were always “more important to avoid”… In the end, I was always convinced that I was doing rather well for myself when I decided for myself. In a real way, it is like going to the grocery store when you are hungry for junk food… You can talk yourself into buying a lot you certainly don’t need and should not get!
So we should all go by conscience… but we do well to think with the Heart of the Church and examine where and why our conscience differs if and when it does…
Mark Shaw said
Good comments. Merton, and others wise in spirit, really believe that our biggest problem with decision-making is doing what we think is right instead of doing what we know is right in God’s eyes. This is where the Holy Spirit may really guide us if we will simply have faith and trust in the spirit showing us the “right” way.
Also, I know from experience that a huge obstacle for actions I think are right is rationalization. You are right when you say that we must exclude these thoughts, and face up to our responsibilities as true Christians following the path of Jesus. Then we see the world as not being about us, but about doing what is right in accordance with God’s mission for us. The conscience is then in effect the compass by which we may be driven in the right direction.