Pippa’s dilemma: the moral demands of affluence

Ironically, she is reminded of this through her engagement with a great religious work of art. But it is important, I think, not to confuse conscience with its traditional religious connotations. Religions did not invent and do not own conscience, any more than they invented or own our basic moral values. Both are inherent in our common humanity.

Whether religious, agnostic or atheist, we all have a conscience – that inner voice which tells us what is the right thing to do, and which we ignore at our peril.

So Pippa’s advice to herself could also have meaning for us.

Follow your conscience… It has brought you to this dilemma. And it will lead you out of it.

…your conscience is the primary source and trajectory of any meaningful personal flourishing for you.

If your conscience is uneasy about a course of action, stop and listen to it. Wait rather than try to push through by some act of willpower.

Allow the mystery inherent in such a dilemma to deepen in you.

Be open to surprise. Something might come out of left field that resolves the immediate dilemma and leads you forward in unexpected ways.

This is in fact what happened to Pippa and led her to a surprising resolution of her dilemma that was less ‘saintly’ but nonetheless admirable.

However, if you want to know what she did you will need to go to the Life Matters website. It is a wonderful program to listen to – radio at its best. And the few comments deserve to be read in full.

This is the kind of sensitive, collaborative and serious engagement with fundamental issues that makes the ABC great. Life Matters…well done!