No, because people are in denial, or lie to themselves all the time. I do believe in trusting your gut instinct though. I believe that to be a survival instinct that can be relied on.
Can a person's conscience always be relied on for direction? Why do you feel that way?
Well it has to be---it's all we have.
It's the last judgment of the practical intellect before we act.
That's why "formation of conscience" is so important.
Morality is what we should do because of what we are.
Yes. I believe God gave us our consciences. Through our consciences he lets us know what's right and wrong. But we have to apply some common sense. I might be so angry I want to override my conscience. I have to be able to recognize that.
Not really. Our conscience depends on the experiences and morals we have assimilated during our lifetime, especially during our formative years. Consciences must necessarily vary as our background varies.
No. I personally do not believe in the old saying "let your conscience be your guide." Even though it is good to listen to our conscience, the message we get may seriously misled us. For me, a well trained conscience comes from learning and applying Bible principles. When our conscience is enlightened according to God’s standards, it can better serve as a moral safety device, enabling us “to distinguish both right and wrong.” (Hebrews 5:14) Without God’s standards, our conscience may give us no warning when we stray into a bad course. (Proverbs 16:25; 17:20)
