Why is there such a thing as morality and what is it anyhow? Morality as a word which comes from the Latin word moralitas which means "manner, character or proper behaviour".

Morals are social ethics created and defined by our society, philosophy, religion or individual conscience, but morality goes beyond the scope of what is considered right or wrong, criminal behaviour socio-political ethics and codes of behaviour are also included within the scope of morality.

Morals vary from country to country and between social groups which causes the  confusion seen as bigotry especially when one class of people has a code of morality or conduct toward one class within society and another for another class or social group.

The moral variations in behaviour are generally between rich and poor, the rich often behave badly toward the poorer or weaker while exploiting their labour and resources, whereas they behave in a more equal manner to their own class and in this way, morality is perhaps the root of social injustice.

If we look at society, there are a great many levels of wealth and a great many moralities and on analysis, much of morality is a lie. For children this causes great confusion and anxiety; children are taught to be honest and kind, but they see the immorality of their parents and governments.

For instance: children are told not to use swear words or tell lies, but parents and peers often do which to a child is totally unjust. On the world stage, the USA promotes world peace and democracy, however according to the Pilger Report, US government and corporations have caused over 30 wars, the deaths of countless millions of people and destroyed democracies in order to secure the assets of weaker countries.

This is bigotry on it grandest scale and yet is is so common in all countries and levels of society that perhaps it is time we dispensed with morality and replaced it with the practice of harmlessness.

One of the greatest areas of moral decay and bigotry exists within the worlds governments and business corporations who stop at nothing to gain greater profits as a great many lie, cheat, steal and kill for profit, power and control.

What should our morals and code of conduct be?
Christianity gave us the 10 commandments which are a good tool to help maintain world peace and serve as a good place to start and Hinduism and Islam also provide similar ethical guidelines. The Buddhist concept of harmlessness is also very good, but more difficult to follow.

What does morality cover?
Injuring, stealing, harming and killing are morals also covered by laws. Lying and  cheating cause harm but are not necessarily criminal and are typical social morals.

Down the moral scale we have social behaviours such as codes of conduct from addressing and relating to elders, treating people of a different social class and all the rules and taboos around sexual behaviour.

Lets remember the cause of suffering is ignorance, yet morality is an ethical code of conduct designed to reduce suffering* that fails to work because it is fundamentally flawed.

Perhaps it is time to revise our morality and our laws and bring them into line with what it really means to be human in the 21st centaury?

References
The cause of suffering is ignorance - Buddha
Ignorance is the mother of evil
The Gospel of Philip in The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus
Ignorance brings error
The Gospel of Truth by Valeltinus in The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus
Ignorance is a nightmare
The Gospel of Truth by Valeltinus in The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus