Morality and Time

There is no statute of limitations on morality --Pug Mahoney

   Boys will be boys, it is often said, to explain naughty behavior by teenagers. And while it may be true that the expression explains their behavior, it does not necessarily excuse it.
   To use that as an excuse for bad behavior is at best immoral and at worst it enables those with poor self-control to continue abusing others.
   Such behavior is especially unacceptable when perpetrated by those who claim to follow the precepts of a prominent religious organization.
   But then again, morality has little to do with religion. Churches may teach morality, along with their version of spirituality, but the two are different.
   Spirituality is a person's relationship with a Higher Power, whatever you construe that Higher Power to be. Morality deals with your relationships and attitudes toward other people.
   However, this raises the question of whether there is a universal moral code, or does it vary among cultures, just as religion and spirituality vary?
   One very popular moral code stipulates that you should not kill. But many followers of this moral code often deem it acceptable to kill others, especially those of a different culture.
   Suppose that a ban on killing other people is part of a universal moral code. How, then, to explain why some cultures and those of a particular religious belief system, encourage followers to kill non-believers?
   So is this morality or politics? Or neither? Or is this what happens when morality and politics mix, and are rationalized by religion?
   When people mix politics and religion, with the approval of their spiritual leaders, morality is forgotten and all kinds of nasty things happen.