The Relationship Between Religion and Morality

Morality (sometimes called true object lessonity or high chasteity) should be gilded from those rules which are simply those which are debateed necessary for the efficient running of a ships company. Such rules of a society are enshrined in law, custom and convention and are supported and enforced by society through with(predicate) the legal placement and public opinion. These rules are usually obeyed because of self-interest, a kind of genial contract in which, for lawsuit, we agree not to steal from anyone else in the society if they agree not to steal from us.In very early societies these social rules were supported by religion, and presented as behaviour which the gods insisted humans obeyed. It is arguable that some (ie numbers pool 5-9) of the Ten Commandments (13th Century BCE) are just such(prenominal) social rules.However such a system of social rules whitethorn break down, particularly in a secular or pluralistic society. For example some bulk may consider that the society in which they live is unfair, and only benefits certain groups in it or the legal system may be too inefficient to prevent other people stealing. In such situations individuals may think it is no longer beneficial for them to continue to agree to the social contract, and then at that place would be no compelling reason why they should continue to obey societys laws.What we consider to be true morality is different from social rules in two important respects1. It is base on real concern for others as human beings of equal value to ourselves2. Our motivation for behaving morally is that such behaviour is right and we feel we ought to do it, even when it is inconvenient to ourselves.Is Morality dependent upon Religion?The reason to support this view is* All religions insist upon a moral code as a central part of the religious life.* Even non-religious people when discussing where ethical values came from will refer to religious sources, such as the Ten Commandments (Ex odus 20. 2-17), or the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5. 3- 7.27).* When people (eg newspaper reporters) require an capable opinion on moral issues they will ask religious leaders.* People expect higher standards of moral behaviour from religious people (a story of an adulterous vicar is more than likely to appear in the newspapers that a similar tale about a bank manager unless, of course, the latter is a churchwarden).* Even in our largely secular society, high morality is often referred to as having Christian values.* When people communion of someone being a effectual Christian they are usually referring to their moral behaviour (ie how they shroud others) and not to their doctrinal orthodoxy (ie whether they hold the traditional Christian beliefs).* True morality sprung up within religion. arguably the first clear and unequivocal expression of true morality was the insistence by the Israelite prophet Amos in the 8th Century BCE that Yahweh (God) required honesty, truth and j ustice among his people more than religious observances (sacrifices, etc) Even though you offer me Yahweh your burnt offeringsI will not accept thembut let justice throw up down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5.22-4).* No society authentic morality without having real religion first, and all morality was originally proclaimed in the name of religion. It could be asserted, therefore, that morality is a product of religion, and true morality throne only derive from religion.* Conscience can be see as the voice of God telling us what is right and wrong.* It can be argued that even when societies overlook their interest in practising a religion, they still maintain the moral values which that religion originally instilled into the society. then it can be claimed that in Britain today, where about 1 person in 30 is a practising Christian, the moral values which the society proclaims, believes in and tries to live by are Christian moral values (sec ularised).* It can be claimed that people will not chose to be moral unless encouraged to do so by religion.Is Morality independent from Religion?The evidence to support this view is* Religions existed for many thousands of years before they developed a real morality. This suggests that morality is not an essential part of religion.* Atheists and agnostics, who do not believe in or follow any religion, can still live truly moral lives, with a altruistic compassion for other humans.* Whole societies (eg China and the former Soviet States) can be officially atheistic, and there is no evidence that such countries or governments are necessarily more wicked than ones which claim to be religious states.* The origin of moral values can be explained in terms of Evolutionary morality (ie as societies develop and become more complex and sophisticated so social rules become more demanding, evolving into true morality).* Conscience can be explained in other ways (eg Sigmund Freuds concept of t he internalisation of maternal(p) norms).* Agriculture, families, medicine and learning all developed within a religious context, as did morality. They have forthwith all entered the secular domain, and are considered independent of religion, so the fact that morality developed in a religious context does not mean that it is necessarily dependent upon religion.* Plato posited the Euthyphro Dilemma which raised the question that good must be independent of God, or there would be no way of knowing if Gods commands were real good or not.Can we come to some kind of finale?How you evaluate the above evidence, and the conclusion you come to about where the balance of the evidence lies is something you have to do for yourself but you must do it honestly, thoughtfully and intelligently.You may like to consider the following thoughts* All people have some kind of beliefs concerning the record of humanity, what is of real importance and value, and what one should do with ones life.* Reli gious people will refer to these beliefs as their religion, and agree with groups of like-minded people who share the same religion. Atheists and agnostics will tend to refer to their beliefs as their doctrine of life, and may consider them a more individual matter.* These beliefs (whatever we call them) affect our behaviour, and we legitimately judge a persons philosophy of life by how it affects their moral decisions and actions.* So ones beliefs determine ones morality.