Many times in our various endeavours, private, public or work, we find ourselves in situations which demand a second look at our knowledge and understanding of what is truly wrong or truly right. That is, despite our understanding of the Biblical directives, social moralizations, Quran dictates etc on the subject, we realize in a particular instance that our desire to do right (which I suppose is the intention of every human being), is either at war with our internal proclivities or an external influence, to do otherwise.
This source of perplexity of the conscience, according to Rev. Harry Emerson Forsdick, can be solved by testing the particular course of action against six benchmarks. These benchmarks are not necessarily based on a religious authority (informed by the Bible, Quran), state directives (obtained from the constitution and the law books) and social moralizations - deeper than all these three main determiners of good or bad lay these six benchmarks.
If any person is in confusion about the rightness or wrongness of a course of action, he or she should submit the action to the test of common sense. Assume for instance you have been rendered financially sound through inheritance or some other means that did not involve your sweat or effort. You can live lavishly and very expensive; enjoy the pleasures of life - buy the latest car models, acquire the latest designer wears, date the smoothest babes. Or you can live moderately; invest some of the money in bonds, the rest in your quest to finding knowledge through education. Common sense should easily tell you which course of action is right or wrong.
Or in another instance, suppose you are dating a certain beautiful girl or a very smooth talking young man who constantly makes you do things that get you into trouble at school, quarrel with your parents or someone you respect very much. Or by virtue of their actions (or inactions) you are constantly having restless spirits - you are always wondering whether they are being faithful to you or they are just using you, especially when your predicament has been made known to them. Common sense should tell you that in as much as you find their good looks, way of talking, and other subtle characters appealing, you matter as well, and hence the best thing is to get out the relationship. It is better to be single than be in a relation that makes you unhappy - at least this is what appeals to my common sense.
Secondly if a person sincerely seeks to know whether his/her actions are right or wrong, they should submit it to the principle of the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is: do unto others what you want others to do unto you. The essence of the Golden Rule is that you do not take for yourself special favours which you deny other people in an endeavour; that you make the rules and opportunities equal for all, you including. In daily life that means that a person should always question concerning their conduct whether, if everybody acted on the same principle, it would be well for all.
So for instance you are the head of a ministry in the government, or a corporate institution, but you are prejudicial towards, say Akans, especially Ashantis because in your encounter with several of them, (where several means ‘more than two but not many') they are bossy and arrogant. Hence you only recruit other tribe members when a job opportunity comes up. After all, to enhance efficiency, you would have to work with people you are comfortable with, right? And true as it is, there are a few ‘bossy' and ‘arrogant' relatives in your progeny, but would you like it if this prejudice was extended to you?
Moving away from this individualistic assessment of the Golden Rule, let's assume that a wealthy company is in the habit of sinking smaller companies with low financial base. They do this by influencing decision-makers with money but not a fair competition for the market. To this company, all business is a matter of ‘survival of the fittest'. So what happens if this wealthy company, due to circumstances beyond their control, is the smaller company? Would they want to be kicked out of business unfairly?
If a person is perplexed about a question of right or wrong, he/she should submit it to his best self. Inherent in any person is the good and the evil. But the best self is that inner self where dwells the light that lights every person coming into the world. The best self is deeper than conscience, for conscience is formed from experiences in one's surrounding as they trudge through life; it tells you to do right but not what is right.
