Moral Nihilism

Mahatma Gandi is often noted for his infamous quote, “be the change that you wish to see in the world”. In today’s society, we see a wide spread case of moral nihilism (the belief that nothing is moral or immoral). Each day the news reports various acts of violence, that we are committing towards our fellow man. I say “we” even though I am not physically involved because if I do nothing to prevent it, than I am as guilty as the perpetrator. A recent example would include Stephen Paddock, the gentleman named as the Las Vegas mass shooter . He placed himself in a hotel and used semi-automatic weapons to shoot into an open crowd below. Before taking his own life, Stephen injured hundreds of people and killed 58. While I was no where near

Thinking back to an early paragraph, in this paper, I mention the human condition and the two factors that make up the “self”. By nature, we are all born an egotistical individual, but by choice we can cross over the tension, to Christ and the law of love. The way to do it, is to change your stance and self-empty (kenosis) or die to your self. To achieve this, one has to let go of the desires and needs of the body and begin to focus on the mind and things higher then him. One is not able to do this alone, he must rely on agape (the love of God for man and of man for God) to give him strength and a “life-transforming power”. (xlii). “Men must turn into another path psychologically”, once this happens “the Kingdom of Heaven will be for them not a dream, but a living reality.”

I feel that moral nihilism can be cured in the world and it’s in answering the questions surrounding Stephen Paddock and what drove him to shooting innocent people. Who could I have loved and treated better that, in turn, loved and treated him better? The answer lies in my way of treating my neighbor. Mihail says that, “a man must set an example”. (58). This is a very tall order and a hard act to follow, but it is possible. When we look to Christ for the love we must have for our neighbor, He gives us an idea of what that looks like. “ 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.” (New International Version, 1 Cor.