ETHICS

• Various institutions – law, religion, and culture – have such a strong influence in the way that we think and we act, including how we make moral valuations
• It might be tempting to suppose that since we see ourselves already guided by these institutions, perhaps they are themselves the very authorities we should turn to in order to direct our ethics
• New American Bible: '"Love the Lord, Your God, therefore, and always heed his charge: his statutes, decrees, and commandments."'
• Divine command theory


  The idea that one is obliged to obey her God in all things as a foundation for ethical values
• At first glance, the divine command theory seems to make sense
• There is a strong inclination in us to refer to our religious background to back up our moral valuations
• Prohibitions given by religion

  • "Thou shall not kill"
  • "Thou shall not steal"
  • "Thou shall not commit"
• Religion also provides ideals to pursue, such as forgiving those who sinned against one and being more charitable to those who have less
• Taking religion to be the basis of ethics has the advantage of providing us with not only a set of commands but also a Supreme Authority that can inspire and compel our obedience in a way that nothing else can
• The Divine can command absolute obedience of a person, as the implications of her actions, good and bad, involve her ultimate destiny
• We realize the presence of a multiplicity of religions, each faith demanding differently from its adherents, which would apparently result in conflicting ethical standards
• Are we then compelled to judge others negatively given their apparently different morality?
• Are we called upon to convert them toward our own faith?
• How about the problem of realizing that not everyone is devout or maintains a religious faith?
• If we take the first option, and accept that it is wrong to take another's life because God commanded it, we are left with the problematic conclusion that there is nothing inherently wrong with killing
• It would seem then that there is something arbitrary about it all, in the sense that God could will whatever He wants, and on that basis and nothing further, we have the distinction between right from wrong
• How one's faith may contribute to ethical thought?
• Read the Natural Law theory of Thomas Aquinas
• Five world religions have had a profound impact on culture and civilization
• Five major world religions

  • Monotheism
  • Judaism
  • Christianity
  • Islam
  • Buddhism
  • Polytheism
  • Hinduism

  
• Monotheism


  Begun by Abraham about 2000 BCE, common beliefs: God created the universe, God continues to govern the universe, the Ten Commandments were given to Moses by God on Mt. Sinai and must be followed
• Judaism


  Monotheism, Ten Commandments of moral and religious conduct, Torah: Written records and beliefs of the Jews, Founder: Abraham, Followers are called Jews, Believe that God made a covenant with Abraham and his people (Israelites), Adherents are worldwide, but most are in Israel, Holy book is the Torah (= the first five books of the Old Testament of Christian Bible), Worship in a Synagogue
• Christianity


  Monotheism, Jesus as Son of God, Life after death, New Testament: Life and teachings of Jesus, Establishment of Christian doctrines by early church councils, Worship in a church, Holy Book: Bible
• Islam


  Monotheism, Muslim name for their God is Allah, Muhammad, the prophet, Holy Book: Qur'an (Koran), Mecca and Medina, Started his religion in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Muslims worship in a mosque, Muslims must follow the Five Pillars of Islam: Stating the Faith, Prayer 5 times/day facing Mecca, Charity to poor, Pilgrimage (Hajj), Fast during Ramadan
• Buddhism


  Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path to Enlightenment, Spread of Buddhism from India to China and other parts of Asia, resulting from Asoka's missionaries and their writings, Basic Tenets: The world is full of suffering, Meditation is our only escape, Nirvana is the ultimate goal, Follow the Eightfold Path: Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration
• Polytheism


  Worship of more than one god, May accept gods from other religions, Choose your favorite god
• Hinduism


  From India around 1700 BCE, No single founder, 3rd largest religion, Holy Book: Rig Veda, Brahman is the source of all divinity (holiness), Believe in reincarnation (soul is reborn many times based on Karma), Many forms of one god, Reincarnation: Rebirth based upon karma, Karma: Knowledge that all thoughts and actions result in future consequences, Embraces many religious ideas, Henotheistic, Believe in samsara (the continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and effect), Believe in atman (soul) and moksha (salvation), Strive to achieve dharma (code of living emphasizing good conduct and morality), Revere all living creatures and consider the cow a sacred animal, Food is an important part of life, Closely related to other Indian religions including Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism
• Geographic Distribution of World's Major Religions: Judaism concentrated in Israel and North America, Christianity concentrated in Europe and North and South America, Islam concentrated in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, Hinduism concentrated in India, Buddhism concentrated in East and Southeast Asia