Comparing Morality, Law, and Religion

On June 20, 2013 the Huffingtonpost.com posted an article titled Exodus International shuts Down: Christian Ministry Apologizes to LGBT Community and Halts Operations. Exodus International, a large Christian ministry that claimed to offer a "cure" for homosexuality rescinds its stance of the issue of homosexuality after four years of affecting thousands of people in its movement. The closure comes less than a day after Exodus released a statement apologizing to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community for years of undue judgment, by the organization and from the Christian Church as a whole. This article is a great depiction of social morality at its best when it comes to remaining ethical despite a popular opinion or religious viewpoint. Social Morality concerns a human being in relation to other human beings (Kraseman,
Thiroux); and so we see that the relation of the (Exodus Church) hinged on a context between law and religion without the human element.

The sensitivity for the realities that are occurring in our world at this moment seems to be leaving out the human element; in response to the law and religious views that are expressed within our world culture. In the wake of a new generation of Christian believers it seems that morality, law, and religion is beginning to separate into a more socially driven movement and group dynamic. The world is shifting into a more collaborative and cross-cultural paradigm of thinking and sharing; that eliminates the outdated historical viewpoint of old; and so what worked 50 years doesnt hold much weigh in this evolutionary shift of what I call dangerous diplomats. So, what we are looking at is the removal of old mindsets from off the scene and the advent of new laws, rules, and regulations that will change the culture in which we live for the next 50-100 years. The rules are literally being rewritten as we speak in terms of a collaborative effort to place the love of god back at the forefront of the movement despite religious viewpoints,

laws that alienate people from their faith; or acts of immoral behaviors that only perpetuates hate to another level. If we are to bring religion into the picture as a metaphor for what we can possible represent or stand for then an element of change must be present. Basil Mitchell wrote a powerful review concerning Wortleys Law, Morality and Religion in a Secular Society concerning the legislative change. He states that The power to make changes in the social pattern in often exaggerated by politicians. Wortley goes on further to say indeed it is a modern superstition to think that compliance with constitutional form necessarily changes social habits. Despite what religion can offer and or how the law may hand out its compliance measures; social conduct doesnt tend to change overnight but has to be implemented in gradual phases. The sentiments that are being expressed here hinges on the fact that the natural laws in light of those who implement them may not sway parts of a particular theory. Ethics Theory and practice (pg.12) shows values as totally objective with different ways of looking at them. If we look at the natural law theory we can see that some believe; morality somehow is embodied in nature and that there are natural laws. Again, this is just only a value or belief system that is begin expressed by a particular or individual. While this helps us to see that religion, laws, and morality dont rely upon one another; it gives a hope that we can abide by each concept within a specific framework of governance according to a higher power, self realization or an intuitive feeling. If we begin compare morality with law it may inevitably contains flaws based on too many theories or viewpoints. Who is to say what is inevitably right or wrong but the most high. This is where we are able to usher in the supernatural theory based on people who believe all things emanate from a higher power or source; in which is definitive and punctual. They believe

that these beings or principles embody the highest good themselves. So, how do we begin to usher in a movement that can bring all these different viewpoints together based on love for one another? The concepts of religion, law, and morality all come from one source but can carry new meanings depending on the time in which we live. I dont think the definition of morality in the 15th century means the same as morality in todays present context. W e as a human race should rely on God and God alone and not on concepts that we try to fit into our sphere of influence. There should be a consensus towards allowing others the freedom and equality to be who they are; and not what they have to be made into. The world definitely is shifting into a more collaborative star of affairs in which in ushering new nation-states that will come to produce change on a major level.

Sources:

Huffington post; (2013) Exodus-international-shuts-down (website) - /2013/06/20/ Thiroux, Jacques P. Ethics : theory and practice/ Jacques P. Thiroux with Kieth W. Kraseman. 11th ed. Pg 10. cm. Wortley, B. A. (1968). Law, Morality and Religion in a Secular Society (Book). Sociological Review, 16(1), 114-118. doi:10.1111/1467-954X.ep13631057