By Rachael Tissot

In the world today, it is difficult to find a society that is morally alive. That is to say that Morality is considered a thing of the past; it is frowned upon by most people. For example, the Ten Commandments were almost removed from the court system recently. How can a greater like for Morality be reestablished in a society today? One answer is through the wide-spread use of the 4-Way Test.

The 4-Way Test consists of four questions: 1. Is it the Truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? The 4-Way Test is beneficial to a society because it promotes Morality - the foundation for a well-balanced culture of people.

The 4-Way Test encourages honesty. The very first questions in the Test asks for truth. In Morality, there can only be black and white; there is no room for gray. It is possible to say, for example, that this essay is a poem, but the truth is, it is indeed an essay and not a poem.

Therefore, there is an underlying basis that distinguishes from what is truth and what is not. Since so many people today cannot distinguish between truth and untruth, most people become untrusting in themselves and likewise to t hose around t hem. This creates problems because there is a lack of trust in on another, whether in small relationships or those of greater scale such as in corporate businesses. If more people, however, ask themselves if what decision they are about to make is the truth, there would be a decrease in relativism, and an increase in what is honest and true among people and within themselves.

The 4-Way Test allows people to build each other up, rather than tear each other down. The second questions in the Test is “Will it build goodwill and better friendships?”

A common inclination for many people to do today is to hurt others by their words, either through the Internet, the telephone or body language. Gossiping cuts people up and lowers the standard of respect that people have for one another and themselves. People in a society, whether they realize it or not, are all connected. They are members linked to a common goal and end. Therefore, when one member hurts another, all the members are affected. Morality is concerned with how people treat one another - that is with respect and a common dignity for all - no difference to race, religion, age, born or preborn. When people come to understand this, they will seek to be more understanding of one another.

Finally, the 4-Way Test establishes the growth of character. The remaining questions in the 4-Way Test ask whether a decision being made is fair and beneficial to all concerned. In this day and age, the world is a very self-centered place. It says only “what can I get out of it?” or “as long as I am happy everything else is fine.” It is important that people give of themselves, rather than give into this desire to self-gratification. The late John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

Giving of oneself builds character, and character creates self-worth and awareness of the needs around an individual. It encourages people to not be satisfied alone with their own welfare, but to respond to the needs of others. Morality seeks to serve rather than be served.

Service strengthens the attributes of a person and helps him to live in a new way, bringing light to the darkness and touching the hearts of all those around him.

The 4-Way Test promotes morality in a society. If it were more widely used, perhaps more people would come to desire morality in their lives. thus, they may seek to reflect on their actions and decision, basing them upon the 4-Way Test in order to establish truth, goodwill and justice within a society.