I Agree Kevin. Just finished reading an autobiography on Gandhi's early life until the 1920s and a sanctioned biography on Mandela. Both outstanding voices of the 20th century, self sacrificing, totally committed for their respective peoples. Yet both had some serious flaws, which they admitted to.
I suspect those who reached a state of being almost saints, have dark secrets in their background. We all have them. I look back at mine with some horror and shame. Its human nature I'm afraid. That battle between our wants and needs and our needs within our social life determine our morals. But morals are inventions to suit the society you live in to give it form and security.
But different societies have different values. Even our values concerning killing another are paradoxical when we look at it carefully. If I kill another for what I feel are legitimate personal reasons I am ostracised and declared a murderer. But if the state sends me to war and I kill someone on the other side who is just like me, trying to survive, I'm likely to be declared a hero.
Some societies maintain it is or was quite moral to kill the infidel or enemy and take booty. Christian popes declared not only that it was right to kill an infidel in the Crusades, but in doing so your other sins would be forgiven. Suleiman the Magnificent sent many to suicidal deaths in trying to take Vienna and Malta, declaring they would receive blessings in Paradise. His Janissaries, or elite shock troops, many stolen Christian boys conditioned to total devotion to Sultan, would die rushing into boiling oil. Vikings saw absolutely no wrong in attacking monasteries, killing the priests and taking the goodies. and dying in the attempt was honourable. Spartans sent out in training to survive in the land could steal with impunity but to be caught was dishonourable.
Such is the moral complexity of we humans
