Morality and Religion

Week 5
 Session 1

• What is morality?
• What is religion?
• Do you think our behaviour should be governed by religion?
• Find out views of religion on critical ethical issues such as abortion,
prostitution, ……etc.
• Is moral dimension a must in our all day-to-day activities?
What is morality?
 What is religion?

Feature Primitive Religion Institutionalized Religion

Leader

Sacred texts

Place of worship

Rituals

Symbols
Do you think our behaviour should be governed
by religion?
Yes No No idea

6 4 2
Find out views of religion on critical ethical
issues such as…..
• Abortion
• Homosexuality
• Prostitution
• Handicapped babies
• Euthanasia
• Assisted reproduction
 Is moral dimension a must in our
all day-to-day activities?

Why morals should become a very important part of our lives?

•Informal Social gatherings
•Formal social gatherings
•Media
•Politics
•Diversity - Polytheists / Monotheists / Atheists / Multitheists
 Hospitals – ethics committees

• Healthcare professionals – technical matters

• Lawyers – legal matters
• Religious representatives – moral matters
Research in universities – ethics committees

Research on
•children
•Otherwise-abled individuals
•Mentally ill people
•Old people
 Common understanding …..

• Religion and morality are inseparable

• Religious priests know what we do not know
• Religious texts have always prescribed the right behaviour
 Session 2

• What is the summary of ‘The divine command theory’?

• What are three main parts of ‘the theory of the natural law’?
• What is your idea about political leaders getting advice from religious
leaders?
• Conclusion - Does morality depend on religion?
 What is the summary of
‘The divine command theory’?
• Divine command theory is the belief that things are right because God commands
them to be. In other words, it means that things which are considered wrong or
unethical are wrong because they are forbidden by God.
• It is an absolutist theory. This means that there is no debate or discussion over
whether an action is right or wrong. The divine command theory defines an act or
action as good or bad, depending on whether it supports God’s commands or not.
• Any act that goes against what God has commanded is classed as wrong, no
matter the situation or circumstance. An absolutist approach means that the
decision and outcome will always be the same.
Positives
•There is no ‘grey’ area when it comes to decision making.
•There are set guidelines and rules to follow.
•Emotions will not cloud judgements.

Negatives
•Situations are all different, so need a different response.
•To be moral beings, then humans should make their own decisions and not simply
follow instructions.
 What are three main parts of
‘the theory of the natural law’?

• Rests upon a certain view of what the world is like

• The laws of nature not only describe how things are, they specify how
things ought to be as well.
• The question of moral knowledge
What is your idea about political leaders
getting advice from religious leaders?
 Conclusion
Does morality depend on religion?