what makes something right and something wrong?

Because they are. Some things simply ARE "right" and some things simply are "wrong."

Forgive others as I have forgiven you.

I’m not here to win a popularity contest, but to witness to and speak the TRUTH.

I do believe there is an absolute moral code for humanity.

It is this: What is harmful to yourself, you ought not do to others.

It was sighted by Jesus as the primary moral imperative (Mathew 7:12). Although he may just have been cribbing off of Rabbi Hillel (who, if we trust bible scholars' timelines, died when Jesus was about 12 to 14). Rabbi H said the same thing Jesus would later say (that is the summation of all the law and the writings of the prophets). It's in the Mahabharata. Buddha says it, Lao Tzu says it, and Confucius says it. There are Islamic versions, Native American versions and versions from a variety of ancient Greek and Roman philosophers. For instance, Thales, the father of Greek philosophy, said it 7 centuries before Christ. And I love the Shinto version, “The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form.” If nothing else, even if it doesn't represent an absolute morality, such an impressive consensus should allow us to use it as if it were an absolute moral standard. Especially as it requires no eternal threats, nor promises of heavenly reward in order to operate, just enlightened self-interest.

Game theory shows that using a strategy based on a such a code leads to viable long term success: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tit_for_tat

Moreover, evolutionary biology and game theory mathematics overlap, and show that such behavior can confer adaptive benefits on a population: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_and_the_The...

Depends on the perceptions and mental constructs people use to create these concepts of right and wrong. Many will say killing another is wrong, but they validate killing in 'self defense' or 'times of war'. Stealing is wrong, but might turn a 'blind eye' to a man starving that steals a piece of bread to feed his children.

Most things are 'right' when used in moderation, like drinking. A glass or two of wine no biggie, but a gallon or two might make a person get out of hand. Even the bible says drinking and money are okay. Ecclesiates 9:7 "Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do." Ecc 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.

Often times 'wrong' things when a person is being SELFISH, obsessing on their own personal needs/wants even when having those damage another. The extremes of the 'right' are typically when a person is being SELF-less, being humble, charitable, caring, even tolerant of others.

Research shows that the reason humans struggle with emotion to find equitable solutions is pinpointed the region of the brain called the insular cortex, or insula, which is also the seat of emotional reactions.

The fact that the brain has such a robust response to unfairness shows that sensing unfairness is a basic evolved capacity.

The emotional response to unfairness pushes people from extreme inequity and drives them to be fair. This observation shows our basic impulse to be fair isn't a complicated thing that we learn.

It therefore fully illustrates that all humans have morals controlled by the brain and that Christians are entirely wrong to try and claim morals as their own!!!!

But Christians found a way round it!

Government statistics show that christians are vastly over represented in prisons for sexual, violent and fraudulent crime!

The Catholic church is paying millions in compensation for the sex/pedophile crimes of their priests alone!

Christians are vastly over represented in the divorce courts!

Christians invented the concept of sin and then the idea that you could sin, ask forgiveness, get pardoned and start with a clean sheet!

So no surprise that they are so expert at it is it?!

A Christian is a man that feels repentance on Sunday for what he did on Saturday and is going to do on Monday. - Thomas Russell Ybarra

"Are things good because God loves them or does God love that which is good?"

-Socrates

"Name one moral act or statement that can not be made by a non-believer. Can you name any wicked acts and statements that are exclusive to believers?"

-Hitchens

Morality is objective, meaning moral assertions can be correct or incorrect. If a person thinks killing puppies is good they are incorrect.

You have a moral-compass. Develop it and think for yourself. That's what the Quakers do and they are pretty awesome. They call it 'listening to the quiet voice within'. Personally, I'm a Buddhist and so I follow a moral code based on alleviating suffering and benefiting others.

Valid moral codes are based on metaphysical assumptions. Many of the moral codes around today are based on invalid metaphysical assumptions (myths). This is why someone might think blowing up innocent people is a good thing.

It sounds like someone is telling you how to think and you have conflict with that. If you are a member of a valid religion with a good reputation, perhaps you don't understand the deeper meaning of your religion. For instance, mainstream Christianity is becoming accepting of gays but cults like Westboro preach hate.

I personally believe in certain objective Morales that if utilized leads one towards a better social stature. Therein, as society changes, so could the way we view right and wrong, as history has shown. There are certain things that seem wrong universally among human society, murder certainly a large one.

Morality is doing what is right, no matter what you are told.

Religion is doing what you are told, no matter what is right.

If you are concerned with what is right and wrong, you need to abandon the search for a simple list of rules to obey. You need to decide what your real values are -- things like compassion, courage, honesty, wisdom -- and then examine your choices in the light of whether or not they are consistent with these values. You also need to distinguish between primary and secondary values. Secondary values are those which are useful in pursuit of the primary values, but depend upon how you use them. The most obvious example of this is money, but sex appeal, intelligence, entertainment and so on are good or bad depending on how they are used.

An action can cause benefit and those are good. Those that cause harm are unskillful, unfortunate and will lead to suffering. Actions that benefit some while harming others are to be avoided, and that's where the fearlessness comes in. Capitalism demands this type of action, and our deep fear of loss makes us justify such actions. It takes courage to be loving, and that's rare.

Whether there will be a victim or multiple victims or potential victims resulting from a behavior, this is what determines something right from something wrong.

Personal opinion, mostly.

It also has a lot to do with how others react to your actions, if the majority of people react badly to you hitting a child, then chances are it will be perceived as "wrong" (for example).