Morals are a sticky subject. Often we think we know what morals are, but I often wonder if we truly have a good grasp on it. I was recently reading an article from Adbusters called Virtual Morality which focused on the question of morals within a technological and virtual realm. This is a great question to ask, Does the technology world influence/effect our morals? They were focusing on the new release of Grand Theft Auto 4, and the new ability to sleep with prostitutes, and then kill them. Also well as the continuing theme to kill anything that is walking. 


Is this moral? Our society has said that "Morality" is not hurting anyone else; you can do whatever you wish as long as no else is hurt. Have you heard this argument made? Who cares if I …. it doesn't hurt anyone else! This is how we have begun to measure morality. Who cares if I engaged with virtual sex, killing, no one is hurt. But Jesus felt very different about Morals. In Matthew on the Sermon on the Mount Jesus moves morals (the Ten Commandments) to the heart. 
"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing (RACA)' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell (Gehenna)  
 Matt 5:21-22

Ancients moral – Don't Kill
Jesus moral – Don't be angry with your brother, don't say, "You fool" or "Good-For-    Nothing"

Jesus moves our morals from that which just hurts others, to that which hurts us. In a world that is increasingly allowing us to engage in acts that if were in reality would be immoral; the question must be asked can it be immoral in the virtual realm? Of course angry at a video game is different than angry at a brother, but can it sow seeds of anger?

The core idea is that morals have always been framed as that which hurts someone else, Jesus move morals to that which hurts us and others. So how can our morality be effected by a virtual world? Both in that which there is only fake – video games and what not – but also how we engage with people through virtual means. Is sex is Second Life immoral? Is the short, angry email I sent immoral?

Once again this is just the start of the conversation for me, be no means does it cover all the angles or is even all correct. But are just thoughts that might be engaging. 
I think maybe we need to rethink morality as we continue to engage with this virtual world we live in.  

Check out this article that just came out in the AP
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