Religious MoralityReligious MoralityThe interpretation of The interpretation of

sacred writings guided by sacred writings guided by faith, tradition and/or faith, tradition and/or

reason.reason.

MORALITY IN THE MODERN MORALITY IN THE MODERN WORLDWORLD

Area 1: The Relationship between Religion and Moral Area 1: The Relationship between Religion and Moral ValuesValues

Introduction (pp. 1-7)Introduction (pp. 1-7) The Euthyphro Dilemma The Euthyphro Dilemma ‘Are actions ‘good’ simply because the ‘Are actions ‘good’ simply because the

gods command them or do the gods command certain actions gods command them or do the gods command certain actions because they are ‘good’?’because they are ‘good’?’

Religious Morality (pp. 8-21)Religious Morality (pp. 8-21) Moral values are grounded in religious beliefMoral values are grounded in religious belief The interpretation of sacred writings guided by faith, tradition The interpretation of sacred writings guided by faith, tradition

and/or reasonand/or reason

Utilitarian Ethics (pp. 29-33)Utilitarian Ethics (pp. 29-33) Act and Rule utilitarianism Act and Rule utilitarianism Principle of the greatest goodPrinciple of the greatest good

Kantian Ethics (pp. 34-37)Kantian Ethics (pp. 34-37) Categorical imperativeCategorical imperative Universal maximUniversal maxim Respect of personsRespect of persons

End ofEnd of

Aim to pick out the key points yourself…Aim to pick out the key points yourself…

Your heading can be:Your heading can be: IntroductionIntroduction InerrancyInerrancy Christian ScriptureChristian Scripture Buddhist ScriptureBuddhist Scripture Viewpoints Independent of Religious BeliefViewpoints Independent of Religious Belief

IntroductionIntroduction There are many scriptures that religious There are many scriptures that religious

people believe come from God(s).people believe come from God(s).

These scriptures also tell followers what is These scriptures also tell followers what is right and what is wrong.right and what is wrong.

Many religious people disagree with each Many religious people disagree with each other because they feel that their scripture other because they feel that their scripture is divine.is divine.

As well as this there are many different As well as this there are many different interpretations of these scriptures interpretations of these scriptures withinwithin a a religion. religion.

InerrancyInerrancy This means to what extent the scriptures could be This means to what extent the scriptures could be

said to be TRUE (or inerrant).said to be TRUE (or inerrant).

Traditionalists/LiteralistsTraditionalists/Literalists: the scripture is : the scripture is completely true with no errors.completely true with no errors.

ConservativesConservatives: the scripture is mostly true but : the scripture is mostly true but there are some factual errors.there are some factual errors.

LiberalistsLiberalists: the scriptures are not to be seen as : the scriptures are not to be seen as fact books. The lessons and meaning of the fact books. The lessons and meaning of the stories are the important thing.stories are the important thing.

Christian ScriptureChristian Scripture Some Christians believe Some Christians believe

that the scriptures (OT & that the scriptures (OT & NT) were sent directly NT) were sent directly from God to those who from God to those who wrote them down.wrote them down.

Other Christians think Other Christians think that they should be seen that they should be seen as a general guide to as a general guide to how to live and that how to live and that some parts of the Bible some parts of the Bible are more important than are more important than others.others.

Christian Scripture 2Christian Scripture 2

Some Christians worry about Some Christians worry about how scriptures are used: how scriptures are used: should you take it all as a should you take it all as a whole or pick bits out?whole or pick bits out?

Other Christians say that the Other Christians say that the Bible can be interpreted in Bible can be interpreted in many ways and they are meant many ways and they are meant to be understood in the context to be understood in the context of the time, place and situation of the time, place and situation in which they were written.in which they were written.

Christian Scripture 3Christian Scripture 3 Christian Scripture were written Christian Scripture were written

a long time ago (Bronze Age) a long time ago (Bronze Age) when many issues could not when many issues could not have even been imagined. have even been imagined.

This means Christians try to This means Christians try to match up teachings to fit with match up teachings to fit with modern dilemmas.modern dilemmas.

This will still leave you having to This will still leave you having to work a few things out for work a few things out for yourself.yourself.

Christian Scripture 4Christian Scripture 4 The Guide / Unchangeable Set The Guide / Unchangeable Set

of Laws debate.of Laws debate.

Jesus stuck to the laws of the Jesus stuck to the laws of the Hebrew bible (OT), but also Hebrew bible (OT), but also ‘bend’ the laws when he felt it ‘bend’ the laws when he felt it made sense to do so.made sense to do so.

Also, what’s in Christian Also, what’s in Christian scriptures and what is not isn’t scriptures and what is not isn’t agreed on by all Christians.agreed on by all Christians.

Christian Scripture 5Christian Scripture 5

To resolve this many To resolve this many Christians use scripture Christians use scripture but also compare it with but also compare it with their reason and check their reason and check with their religious with their religious leaders or other leaders or other Christians.Christians.

Buddhist ScriptureBuddhist Scripture There are many Buddhist There are many Buddhist

scriptures, so there are some of scriptures, so there are some of the same problems here too.the same problems here too.

Some scriptures contain sayings Some scriptures contain sayings of the Buddha; memories of his of the Buddha; memories of his followers; stories about what he followers; stories about what he did when he was alive (did when he was alive (or in or in previous rebirthsprevious rebirths); and writings ); and writings of Buddhist teachers or leaders.of Buddhist teachers or leaders.

Buddhist Scripture 2Buddhist Scripture 2

When trying to interpret the When trying to interpret the scriptures Buddhists have scriptures Buddhists have the same problems as the same problems as Christians: Christians: what did they what did they originally mean and how originally mean and how can you link them to can you link them to modern scenarios?modern scenarios?

Buddhists also disagree Buddhists also disagree about what counts as about what counts as sacred scripture.sacred scripture.

Buddhist Scripture 3Buddhist Scripture 3 For Buddhists there For Buddhists there

is an added is an added problem: the problem: the scriptures are only scriptures are only to be seen as a to be seen as a guideguide..

A key factor in A key factor in Buddhism is working Buddhism is working things out for things out for yourself by putting yourself by putting its teachings into its teachings into practice.practice.

Buddhist Scripture 4Buddhist Scripture 4

There are some There are some Buddhists who don’t Buddhists who don’t read any scripture: read any scripture: for them being a for them being a Buddhist is all about Buddhist is all about learning what’s right learning what’s right and wrong for and wrong for yourself, maybe with yourself, maybe with the help of a teacher the help of a teacher or through meditation or through meditation and reflection.and reflection.

Viewpoints Independent of Viewpoints Independent of Religious BeliefReligious Belief

No sacred scriptures! No No sacred scriptures! No god(s)!god(s)!

There are written texts which There are written texts which act as a starting point to help act as a starting point to help people make decisions about people make decisions about right and wrong.right and wrong.

For example, Utilitarians refer For example, Utilitarians refer to the works of Bentham and to the works of Bentham and Mill.Mill.

Viewpoints Independent of Viewpoints Independent of Religious Belief 2Religious Belief 2

Documents like the United Documents like the United Nations Declaration of Human Nations Declaration of Human Rights can give people a start Rights can give people a start in moral decision-making.in moral decision-making.

Remember though: there’s no Remember though: there’s no need to follow anything that’s need to follow anything that’s written and no writing can written and no writing can ever take the place of ever take the place of personal choice about personal choice about morality.morality.

Viewpoints Independent of Viewpoints Independent of Religious Belief 3Religious Belief 3

Non-religious might Non-religious might use written sources use written sources to help them make to help them make moral decisions, its moral decisions, its just that these just that these sources are in no sources are in no way seen as way seen as sacred sacred (this is not to say (this is not to say they are thought of they are thought of less importantly).less importantly).

Viewpoints Independent of Viewpoints Independent of Religious Belief 4Religious Belief 4

……the peoples of the United Nations the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to and women and have determined to promote social progress and better promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.standards of life in larger freedom.

UN Declaration of Human RightsUN Declaration of Human Rights

How do you do?How do you do?

Peer assessment- Notes swap.Peer assessment- Notes swap.

Work together.Work together.

Fill in any gaps.Fill in any gaps.

Take a note of questions for me to Take a note of questions for me to answer.answer.

MORALITY IN THE MODERN MORALITY IN THE MODERN WORLDWORLD

Area 1: The Relationship between Religion and Moral Area 1: The Relationship between Religion and Moral ValuesValues

Introduction (pp. 1-7)Introduction (pp. 1-7) The Euthyphro Dilemma The Euthyphro Dilemma ‘Are actions ‘good’ simply because the ‘Are actions ‘good’ simply because the

gods command them or do the gods command certain actions gods command them or do the gods command certain actions because they are ‘good’?’because they are ‘good’?’

Religious Morality (pp. 8-21)Religious Morality (pp. 8-21) Moral values are grounded in religious beliefMoral values are grounded in religious belief The interpretation of sacred writings guided by faith, tradition The interpretation of sacred writings guided by faith, tradition

and/or reasonand/or reason

Utilitarian Ethics (pp. 29-33)Utilitarian Ethics (pp. 29-33) Act and Rule utilitarianism Act and Rule utilitarianism Principle of the greatest goodPrinciple of the greatest good

Kantian Ethics (pp. 34-37)Kantian Ethics (pp. 34-37) Categorical imperativeCategorical imperative Universal maximUniversal maxim Respect of personsRespect of persons

The challenge of moral autonomy: The challenge of moral autonomy: what what do you think?do you think?

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