John Arthur: Religion, Morality, and Conscience
Name of the Book:
Contemporary Moral Problems
Library Reference: N/A
Amazon Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0495553204/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1233910528&sr=1-1
Quote:
“
To have a moral code, then, is to tend to evaluate (perhaps without evenexpressing it) the behavior of others and to feel guild at certain actions when we performthem. “
Learning Expectations:
1. Expects to learn if morality needs religion.2. Expects to learn more about morality3. Expects to learn what is being argued in this chapter of this book.4. Expects to learn what’s the connection of religion and morality to conscience.5. Expects to learn what’s the difference of the authors’ point of view and my pointof view.
Book Review:
In this chapter they talk about if morality is connected to religion. There are somearguments that morality is connected to religion and that religion has nothing to do with morality.In this chapter also it is also being argued here that would religion be a motivation to people thenfor me the answer is no, because religion only motivates our guidance while morality needs tohave your duty as a person, rules to follow, and the things that we should know in our life.The author wants to argue about if religion has a connection to morality and for memorality is for doing things that we ought to do while religion is a guidance that we can have. Soreligion could also have a connection to morality because morality could never be there if there isno God, and God started our religion. Without God then there would be no morality becausemorality also starts to Him. Another thing it is also discussed here that religion is necessary formoral motivation, is it really necessary for moral motivation? For me it can be, becausesometimes our motivation comes from our religious belief because sometimes when our priesttold us that “ We are doing good in one way and said that we can also do better. “ then that is oneway that motivates us, it is not just our guidance but it is also a thing to motivate a person.
Things I have learned:
I have learned that the divine command theory could also be true that God canalso change His mind about his commandments. So God is also not perfect and He canalso be wrong because God is also someone who like us and He just know how He woulduse His powers or gifts.
Integrative Questions:
What is Morality?What is Religion?Does Morality need Religion?What is the connection of Religion in Morality?What’s the effect of morality and religion to our life?
Review Questions:
1.
According to Arthur how are Morality and Religion different?
•
Morality involves our attitude toward various forms of behavior (lying and killing,for example), typically expressed using the notions of rules, rights, andobligations. While religion, typically involves prayer, worship, beliefs about thesupernatural, institutional forms, and authoritative texts. (This is according to theauthor).
2. Why isn’t religion necessary for moral motivation?
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Because religion is so much different from morality because in religion there is norules it only has beliefs so when your going to use religion in morality then youmight fail on what you would do because in religion it is not discussed their thethings that you must do or your right as an individual.
3. Why isn’t religion necessary as a source of moral knowledge?
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Based on the book religion focuses more on our moral guidance rather than ourmoral knowledge so that’s why religion is not that necessary as a source of moralknowledge.
4.
What is the divine command theory? Why does Arthur reject this theory?
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Divine command theory is a theory of the commandments of God. They arearguing that can God change his mind that He would change His commands.
5. According to Arthur, how are morality and religion connected?
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Morality and religion are connected because in religion there is God and if therewas no God then morality would not be created.
6. Dewey says that morality is social. What does this mean, according to Arthur?
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Arthur said, “ Morality is therefore inherently social, in a variety of ways. Itdepends on socially learned language, is learned from interactions with others,and governs our interactions with others in society. “ So Arthur means thatmorality could only be social if and only if people would say that it is social and itis also depends on the language that have learned.
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Religion, Morality, And Conscience by John Arthur
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| Upload Date: | 05/24/2009 |
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