RS: Ethics: The Relationship Between Religion & Morality

Home & Away Text A: The Relationship between Religion and Morality

The relationship between religion and morality is not clear! There are three broad views, that morality:

Depends on religion Is independent of religion Is opposed to religion

The view that morality depends on religion maintains that without religion there would be no morality because moral codes come from religion, and moral opinions are judged against the standards set by religious teaching. Moral behaviour is judged to be right or wrong depending on whether it conforms to or contradicts the teaching of God, religious texts, religious leaders, or religious tradition will determine.

Some religious groups will place more emphasis on one source of authority over another. For example, Evangelical Christians will emphasise the authority of the teaching of the Bible, Muslims the Qur’an, and Roman Catholic morality will be influenced by the doctrines of the Church and Papal teachings. Morality in this instance depends on a religious source of authority and other sources of moral teaching are judged to be unreliable.

Interestingly the secular (non-religious) world often adopts or is influenced by religious moral teaching, and frequently looks to religion to make a moral stand on important issues such as abortion and war. Even if religious moral positions are not ultimately accepted by the secular world, the expectation that religion has something valuable to say about moral issues suggests that there is at least a strong perception that religion and morality are connected in a positive way.

In a similar way, religious leaders and believers are often expected to have high standards of morality and are called to account more readily if they fail to demonstrate them. The media is quick to expose religious leaders who have extramarital affairs, are caught in financial irregularities or appear to be acting hypocritically. Overall despite secularism (non-religious views of the world and society), the media often appeals to religion as having a beneficial effect on social morality.

RS: Ethics: The Relationship Between Religion & Morality

Home & Away Text B: The Relationship between Religion and Morality

Religious believers have historically stood against moral outrages and have resisted moral change if it appears not to be in society’s best interests.

Pressure groups such as the UK organisation CARE (Christian Action for Research and Education) consistently lobby for a reduction in the time limits for legal abortions (typically to 18 weeks) and against the growing swell of public opinion in favour of legalising assisted suicide.

In the USA, the influential organisation Focus on the Family is run by Dr. James Dobson, a conservative Evangelical close to the White House. He has written numerous books on family life, parenting, marriage, sexual relationships and medical ethics. Dobson’s radio commentaries are heard by more than 270 million people every day and he is seen on around 70 television stations in the USA.

Religious groups are often quick to stand up against moral outrages in secular society. A Connecticut abortion rights group has angered some conservative Christian groups by selling key chains that include an image of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel with God handing Adam a condom. “It’s an example of depraved morals and contempt for the sensibility of Catholics everywhere”, said CJ Doyle of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts. The key chains, sold by Planned Parenthood of Connecticut on its website, come in 28 designs. Judy Tabar, Planned Parenthood of Connecticut’s president and chief executive, said 100,000 visitors swamped the site after Internet columnist Matt Drudge posted a statement by he conservative Christian group condemning the key chains as “blasphemous.” Kristian Mineau, president of the conservative Massachusetts Family Institute said, “This does nothing to deal with the horrific promiscuity rate we have among teenagers. We believe the real approach particularly to the young people that this is targeted at is abstinence before marriage.”