Ethics

[watershield]

Time for some philosophy

Ethics / ethical. Just what does that mean to you?

If you truly believe in the Rede and the concept "harm none", is not every day a conflict?
If you eat, you've harmed something.
If you drive, you've harmed something.

Does the Rede only apply to magic? If so, is that not unethical?

[Aurora]

When I was wiccan I had trouble keeping the whole 'harm none' concept. I'd walk in the garden and suddenly I'd think 'how many ants have I just killed?' And then worry about the karma I would recieve. Every action you do has a concequence. The whole Butterfly effect teaches that just one small action can effect someone greatly somewhere else.

Do unto others is the law I live under now. Which is basically the same except it's 'harm none intentionly and think about the consequences of ur actions'. I suppose that's also how most ppl look at the Wiccan Rede really. But the author (was it Doreen Valiente?) could have been a bit more specific.

As for the 'just for magick' thing, i think thats up to the belief of the Wiccan. Once again the author could have made it more clear if she was talking about Magick or Way of Life in generel. And if it is just for Magick then what law do u base ur life around in generel?

Love and Light
x x

[thylasos]

Love under Will?

[pixiedust]

Don't believe in the Rede, so I'm not effected.
However I think that by trying to observe it people are trying to make the world a nicer place to be in (at least that was the initial intention) a lot of religions go totally to pot buy taking a rule to its furthest degree, why do that? Follow it in the spirit it was laid out and you won't go far wrong. I don't think any Deity actually wants starving or repressed followers ;D

[Jen]

Bravo pixiedust and nicely put!

[Ebony]

I agree with Pixie. People take concepts, like ethics, and take it to the limits. This becomes a buzz word that people then use to whatever advantage they want to suit their purpose at the time.

My concept of ethics is pretty narrow. Lieing, cheating, using someone, knowingly and/or purposefully hurting another living creature, having different values for different situations or for different people, these, among others, are unethical.

I think where the Rede is concerned, 'harm none' is symbolic for not willingly causing harm to others during a ritual or spell casting. Again, the buzz word can mean different things to different people, and will sometimes be used fit the situation.

I understand that the basic way of living in the pagan world is to love nature and respect the world and those who live in it, be one with the Lord and Lady. So my understanding would be that the Rede, for wiccans, should be how they live life and not just used during magic.