When a society allows the erosion of moral values, they guarantee the weakening of society. Think of moral values as guardrails that keep people within a certain framework of behavior that is acceptable to all. As we move those boundaries out further and further in our society, more and more harm is caused to society as a whole.

When I tell my child it’s not alright for him to tell a lie, I put a boundary in place. This boundary isn’t meant to harm him, but to save him from possible consequences of dishonesty. If he listens and remains honest, he may get in trouble occasionally, but if he doesn’t listen and lies, his consequences will be even greater when the lie is discovered.

Taking that illustration a bit farther, we find that the boundary of honesty keeps him from harming other people through his lies. It lets him know that his boundaries end where the other person’s begins. It teaches him selflessness by teaching him where the boundaries are and how they affect him and others.

In a society where moral values have eroded, people no longer have communal boundaries. They do not know where to stop or how their behaviors effect and affect other people. They become self-centered and their moral base becomes whatever makes them happy, regardless of its expense to other people or society as a whole. In the end the lack of moral guidelines results in a devaluing of human rights and human life.

In order for a society to function and remain strong, people must take care of themselves, but they must also take care of others. The individuals give up some of their “rights” for the good of society as a whole. When people refuse to do so, they wind up facing sanctions, either legal or social, that let them know they have crossed a boundary and hurt the society they life in. Social sanctions and the law place boundaries around people, giving them only enough room for a healthy society. In the end, all will win.

Even though the good of society is ultimately good for the individual, some cannot see that. They don’t worry about the future and the effects of their actions on society, they worry about now and getting what they want through whatever means necessary.

A society that contains people, who value their own needs above the good of that society as a whole, cannot remain strong. It slowly unravels as the individual pulls out threads to wrap him or herself in. A strong moral foundation, guide rails or boundaries if you will, is an important foundation for a society to stand upon. A weak moral foundation leaves a society in a very precarious position indeed.