Morality is the fundamental element of civilization. It is civilization's essence; the cement of society. It is the stabilizer of human relationships and their protector.
As the elements of spirituality have dawned on them, men have become more civilized, more humane, and they have recognized the need for regulations to protect the rights of individuals and society in general. The impelling force for good has always been spiritual, although it has not generally been recognized as spiritual.
For the Jew and the Christian, morality commands, "Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal."Ex. 20:13-15; It requires many other things too, but these three commandments of the Mosaic Decalogue are basic laws in civilized society, and however limited their general observance has been throughout the centuries, without their mighty influence in world thought there would be complete chaos in the world today. The thinker recognizes this to be true. Even the non-religious have to recognize this to be true.
