Loading ...A duty is the right thing to do independent of a person’s motives or interest. Agree OR Disagree. Why?
A person may have a duty quite independently of a person’s motives or interests. If it is right to keep one’s promises,then it is right for John or Jane or anyone else even if none of them is motivated to keep his or her promises or interested in keeping promises.
Emma and her faith community
“I hope we made the right decision”,said Arthur,chairman of the Board,as he reflected on the most difficult decision his Board made two hours ago. After 36 months of never ending meetings,the Board had finally decided to recommend the closure of their church …the revenue and membership simply didn’t justify keeping it open. The trend was clear. Over the past fifteen years,young and middle age people were not joining their church in sufficient numbers to sustain it.
What troubled Arthur most was not the closure of their church as such,much as he deeply appreciated its spiritual and community service for so many decades. The traditional hymns,sermons and social events had served the regular parishioners very well for over 100 years. He anguished over the effect the closure would have on young and old who depended on the care they received from the church over the years. His church had been a first responder for so many people suffering from mental illness.
He was thinking about sixty seven year old Emma (not her real name),who since her teenage years had suffered from mental illness. His church had been there when she needed it. Who would care for her now? Would she have the courage and confidence to transfer to another church in a nearby suburb? Would they attend to her needs the way his church had over the years? It seemed very doubtful to him.
To read her full story,click HERE.
Arthur’s Moral Dilemma
Arthur wanted to do the right thing …make the right decision even if it meant closing their church. He tried to reassure himself about this decision ‘much as he deeply appreciated its spiritual and community service’. ‘He anguished over the effect the closure would have’ as he hoped that his Board had made the right decision. His interests were squarely aligned with keeping the church open.
‘He was thinking about sixty seven year old Emma (not her real name),who since her teenage years had suffered from mental illness.’ He was proud of the fact that his church had supported Emma,who suffered from mental illness,time and again through her entire life. Who would support her after his church was closed,he worried.
At times,Arthur felt he was facing a conflict of duties. Could he? To find out,click HERE.
