Universal Values

Opening

The values of our founders are still not fully realized.  Alas, far from it.  But they are much more broadly accepted today than they were a few decades ago.  The Universal Declaration, in particular, has been accepted in legal systems across the world, and has become a point of reference for people who long for human rights in every country.  The world has improved, and the United Nations has made an important contribution.

But universal values are also more acutely needed, in this age of globalization, than ever before. Globalization has brought great opportunities, but also many new stresses and dislocations.  There is a backlash against it -- precisely because we have not managed it in accordance with the universal values we claim to believe in.

That being from a speech at the UN by a Germany University Professor speaking on Universal Values

Values - a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life. Can we come together as a world, community or people with one set of values?

Prayer

Theory of Basic Human Values

The Theory of Basic Human values, developed by Shalom H. Schwartz, is a theory in the field of intercultural research. The author considers the theory as an essential extension of previous approaches to comparative intercultural research theories, such as the Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory, and has been extensively applied in cross-cultural studies of individual values. Theory of Basic Human Values tries to measure Universal Values that are recognised throughout all major cultures.

The Theory of Basic Human Values recognizes ten universal values, which can be organized in four higher-order groups. Each of the ten universal values has a central goal that is the underlying motivator.

Openness to change

Self-Direction Independent thought and action—choosing, creating, exploring. Stimulation Excitement, novelty and challenge in life.

Self-enhancement

Hedonism Pleasure or sensuous gratification for oneself. Achievement Personal success through demonstrating competence according to social standards. Power Social status and prestige, control or dominance over people and resources.

Conservation

Security Safety, harmony, and stability of society, of relationships, and of self. Conformity Restraint of actions, inclinations, and impulses likely to upset or harm others and violate social expectations or norms. Tradition Respect, commitment, and acceptance of the customs and ideas that one's culture or religion provides.

Self-transcendence

Benevolence Preserving and enhancing the welfare of those with whom one is in frequent personal contact (the ‘in-group’). Universalism Understanding, appreciation, tolerance, and protection for the welfare of all people and for nature.

Other

Spirituality was considered as an additional eleventh value, however, it was found that it did not exist in all cultures.

Philosopher’s feel that adding spirituality is not a relevant term because all regions are not the same in a belief system. But will not use the same criteria for their own assumptions.

“Moreover, in the case that a choice and a value are intervened, people tend to pick the choice that aligns more with their own values.”

Values can lightly or more strongly oppose each other, which has led to the organisation of the values in a circular structure along two bipolar dimensions. The first dimension is openness to change versus conservation, which contrasts independence and obedience. The second bipolar dimension is self-enhancement versus self-transcendence and is concerned on the one side with the interests of one-self and on the other side of the welfare of others. Although the theory distinguishes ten values, the borders between the motivators are artificial and one value flows into the next, which can be seen by the following shared motivational emphases:[3]

Power and Achievement—social superiority and esteem;

Achievement and Hedonism—self-centred satisfaction;

Hedonism and Stimulation—a desire for affectively pleasant arousal;

Stimulation and Self-direction—intrinsic interest in novelty and mastery;

Self-direction and Universalism—reliance upon one's own judgement and comfort with the diversity of existence;

Universalism and Benevolence—enhancement of others and transcendence of selfish interests;

Benevolence and Tradition—devotion to one's in-group;

Benevolence and Conformity—normative behaviour that promotes close relationships;

Conformity and Tradition—subordination of self in favour of socially imposed expectations;

Tradition and Security—preserving existing social arrangements that give certainty to life;

Conformity and Security—protection of order and harmony in relations;

Security and Power—avoiding or overcoming threats by controlling relationships and resources.

Furthermore, people are still able to follow opposing values through acting differently in different settings or at different times.

If you notice these all relate to how you feel.

People that argue for human or universal values/ morality say that scripture backs this up but does it? Are they not taking a verse and bending it back to their desires?

Romans 2:14 ESV

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

They do not believe in the Bible but are just trying to use it for their own agenda. Because they leave out

Romans 2:15 ESV

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

Proverbs 19:3 ESV

When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.

The Romans passage shows a picture similar to common grace, but is common morals.

Even if we are not under the law, humankind try to please their parents or do what is right by community. Usually for the greater good. This points to the common grace of God through moral law. A man man not accept God and His grace of salvation but in the inward part the man knows what is right and wrong. Governments and laws are set by the basic moral law of God. Also see

Acts 17:22–23 ESV

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

Proverbs shows how man wants to deny God and why. His heart rages against God. Even his own theories argue against themselves, and he excuses it. But when examining Spirituality, any difference between different regions shows a proof against Spirituality as a whole.

The results of the Theory of Human Values are used against kids. They are the ones that are tested and said that if you don’t accept these then you are wrong. Other words, believe they way I tell you. We see this playing out in the media today.

The Parkland Survivors, or the media and the left want you to believe they represent the majority. They want gun control, but only the military style guns. This way all kids will be safe. But facts do not support or back-up their claims in anyway.

Military style guns have been banned since the 70’s. An AR is not a military style gun. It shots at the same rate as my 270 which is a mid to long range precision gun (which the military still uses along with the 308). So what are they really after? Also if you look at statistics the people killed with AR styled guns only account of less than 4 percent of the gun deaths across the US. Also if you take the 3 most heavily gun restricted cities (not even states) cities and remove them from the list, the US is not a high gun death country, in fact we would be on the bottom of the list for gun deaths.

The reason their argument is wrong is it is built off a moving foundation. Just like human or universal values. It feels good to say let’s save the kids, but there is no meat on that statement.

Moving Foundation Danger

Matthew 7:24–27 ESV

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Matthew 7:24-

How do we have a solid foundation

The one factor that people dismiss is the only foundation that does not change. You don’t have to be ready to adapt or be open to change. This is a conservation approach to philosophy, if you want to take a scientific view. It is holding up principals as unchangeable. If you take that approach, then you are left with one inescapable conclusion..

God’s Word

The Bible says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (). This reminds us that we cannot move along the path of life without God’s Word providing the light of truth to guide us. The Bible enables us to see the world as it truly is. Without the understanding that Scripture gives, we are lost in the dark, wondering how to accurately interpret good and evil, God and man, right and wrong. In other words, your foundation is moving like sand.

Psalm 86:11 ESV

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

Psalms

Psalm 89:14 ESV

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Right and wrong are defined through God’s word. What people want to deny is that God is the beginning point. Take a look at the Ten Commandments and the laws of this country. There is a very similar basis for the current laws. You can look around the world and see similar accounts in most areas. Does this account for universal morals, NO but common morals like common grace. Morals that are imparted on each person whether they believe or not.

Ever since we have had the knowledge of Good and evil. The descendants of Adam and Eve knew it, regardless of how they viewed God. Regardless of their obedience.