-5- RELIGION AND MORALITY

-5-

RELIGION AND MORALITY

God and Morality

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The relation between Religon and Morality seems to be an issue which is primarily significant for theistic religions. This is because the God of theism is a moral being: he is perfectly good.

Moreover since on this view God intervenes in the human affairs

through revelation he has commandments for them. Hence

there is intimate relation between God and morality.

Some Questions

However there arises some problems at this point:



Does morality ultimaltely depend on God?

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What is God’s relation to moral truths?

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Can God change the value of moral propositions?

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Is morality autonomous?

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Can there be morality without religion or religion without

morality?

Some Basic Approaches

1) Religion and morality are somehow Inseparable (identical):

Religion and morality cannot be conceived apart from each other.

Therefore, «whatever is religious is moral» and «whatever is moral is religious».

2) Religion and Morality are Compatible:

Although religion and morality are compatible, they are not identical.

They are considered as detached but harmonious with each other.

3) Religion and Morality are partly Compatible:



Religion is partly compatible with morality given that there are some religious views and actions that are in conflict with some basic moral truths.

4) Religion and morality are Incompatible:

 Religion and morality are not just independent but also in conflict with each other. Religion and

morality are mutually exclusive.