The Relationship between Religion and Moral Values

1
The Relationship between Religion and Moral Values

• Religious Morality

2
MORALITY IN THE MODERN WORLD

• Area 1 The Relationship between Religion and
  Moral Values
• Introduction (pp. 1-7)
• The Euthyphro Dilemma Are actions good simply
  because the gods command them or do the gods
  command certain actions because they are good?
• Religious Morality (pp. 8-21)
• Moral values are grounded in religious belief
• The interpretation of sacred writings guided by
  faith, tradition and/or reason
• Utilitarian Ethics (pp. 29-33)
• Act and Rule utilitarianism
• Principle of the greatest good
• Kantian Ethics (pp. 34-37)
• Categorical imperative
• Universal maxim
• Respect of persons

3
Moral Autonomy

• Moral autonomy is all about using reason to work
  out what is right and wrong and not simply follow
  a set of rules.
• It means doing things your own way. In fact
  autonomy literally means being a law unto
  yourself.
• It means that your values are not linked to any
  kinds of religious belief or founded on any
  religious principles.

4
So how does moral autonomy work?

• Autonomy is based on reason.
• Basically this means thinking things through and
  coming up with a decision.
• It can involve thinking about

5

• The best action to take in this situation, at
  this time, for this person.
• The best motivation.
• The best outcome.
• The best outcome for the majority even at the
  expense of the minority.
• General rules about right and wrong that can be
  applied to the situation.
• How flexible our ideas about right and wrong
  should be.
• Moral absolutism / moral relativism.
• Self-interest / the interests of others.

6
Autonomy pros and cons

• Using reason to make a moral decision is seen by
  many as the best way because you take account
  of as many things as possible and make your
  decision based on all the facts while staying
  flexible about the choice you make.
• Others think it is too flexible and reduces right
  and wrong to whims, likes and dislikes.

7
Discussion

• Does reason seem to you like a good way to make
  moral decisions?

8
Autonomy put to the test

• Aim to use reason to come up with a moral choice
  which everyone agrees with to the Baboonian
  dilemma.
• Baboonia is a relatively new country that lies on
  the banks of the South Pacific River, just off
  Nepal.

9
The Baboonian dilemma

• The government of Baboonia has decided that
  people are living too long. It can no longer
  afford to look after its ageing population. So,
  it come up with a solution. Everyone will have
  their every need provided for by the government
  up until the age of 30. Life will be sweet in
  every respect. No one will be cold, hungry or
  have to do without anything in life.

10
The Baboonian dilemma (continued)

• The price which will have to be paid for this is
  that when you get to 30 you have to be killed.
• Have the Baboonians got the right idea?

11
Some viewpoints on Autonomy

• An important part of this course is the ability
  to think about issues from different viewpoints
  both religious and independent of religious
  belief. Here are three to get us started
  Christianity, Buddhism and Humanism.

12
Christianity on Autonomy

• Totally depends on what kind of Christian you
  are.
• Some say that autonomy is a problem and only God
  should be the source of moral decisions.
• Others say that making decisions ourselves is
  what God wants us to do. Christians should use
  the Bible, community and traditions as well as
  reason to make decisions.

13
Buddhism on Autonomy

• The Buddha himself said you should try his
  teaching out for yourself and if they dont work
  for you should try something else.
• Buddhism is all about your own efforts to strive
  towards enlightenment.
• Buddhists also have the principle of skilful
  means that what is right depends on the
  situation, the people involved, what you think
  the outcomes might be and so on. There are no
  set rules.

14
Humanism on Autonomy

• For Humanists there is nothing guiding you, just
  you, so moral autonomy is what its all about.
  The ability to make moral decisions is part of
  what makes us human and something we should
  celebrate.
• Humanists believe in equality, fairness, justice
  and that human life is precious and worthy of
  protection.
• They decide whats best based on what will be
  best for human society.

15
Time Out Think, Pair and Share

• What are the major similarities and differences
  in these three ways of making moral decisions?

16
Religious Morality

• Heteronomy Moral values are grounded in
  religious belief.

17
Moral Heteronomy

• Basing your moral decisions on a range of
  different things and not just acting as a law
  unto yourself.
• This might involve working with others to arrive
  at a choices or basing your decisions on many
  sources of guidance or information.

18
Moral Heteronomy (cont.)

• You still make the decisions for yourself but you
  do so in the context of some other sources of
  guidance from outside yourself.
• You are more likely to appeal to an outside set
  of beliefs and morals, such as those found within
  religions.

19
Christianity on Heteronomy

• Christians are comfortable with this. They would
  argue that God directs them towards doing the
  right thing through scriptures, prayer and other
  traditions.
• Christians are also supported by the Christian
  community to help make decisions. This means
  Christians do not feel isolated and can get
  support.

20
Discussion

• How might thinking What would Jesus do? be
  helpful /unhelpful for a Christian when making a
  moral decision?

21
Buddhism on Heteronomy

• For Buddhists, faith is built around taking
  refuge in the Buddha (the role model), the
  dhamma (his teachings) and the sangha (the
  community).
• Each decision is yours, but Buddhists believe the
  teachings and example of the Buddha help to guide
  you and the sangha can support and encourage you.
  In the end though, its down to you.

22
Humanism on Heteronomy

• Humanists are like Buddhists in the sense that
  they dont make decisions about right and wrong
  in isolation. Humanists consult others, learn
  lessons from human history and match up what they
  think with documents from organisations like the
  United Nations.
• The Humanist community worldwide also have shared
  moral values and these can help, just as
  scriptures and religious leaders can help guide
  religious people.

23
Time Out Think, Pair and Share

• How would this article in the UN Declaration of
  Human Rights guide moral decision-making?
• Article 3 
• Everyone has the right to life, liberty and
  security of person.

24
Check Your Notes

• Heres a tune and the PowerPoint again.
• Check your notes and make sure they are accurate.
• Take a note of any questions you want to ask me.

25
Moral Autonomy

• Moral autonomy is all about using reason to work
  out what is right and wrong and not simply follow
  a set of rules.
• It means doing things your own way. In fact
  autonomy literally means being a law unto
  yourself.
• It means that your values are not linked to any
  kinds of religious belief or founded on any
  religious principles.

26
So how does moral autonomy work?

• Autonomy is based on reason.
• Basically this means thinking things through and
  coming up with a decision.
• It can involve thinking about

27

• The best action to take in this situation, at
  this time, for this person.
• The best motivation.
• The best outcome.
• The best outcome for the majority even at the
  expense of the minority.
• General rules about right and wrong that can be
  applied to the situation.
• How flexible our ideas about right and wrong
  should be.
• Moral absolutism / moral relativism.
• Self-interest / the interests of others.

28
Autonomy pros and cons

• Using reason to make a moral decision is seen by
  many as the best way because you take account
  of as many things as possible and make your
  decision based on all the facts while staying
  flexible about the choice you make.
• Others think it is too flexible and reduces right
  and wrong to whims, likes and dislikes.

29
Christianity on Autonomy

• Totally depends on what kind of Christian you
  are.
• Some say that autonomy is a problem and only God
  should be the source of moral decisions.
• Others say that making decisions ourselves is
  what God wants us to do. Christians should use
  the Bible, community and traditions as well as
  reason to make decisions.

30
Buddhism on Autonomy

• The Buddha himself said you should try his
  teaching out for yourself and if they dont work
  for you should try something else.
• Buddhism is all about your own efforts to strive
  towards enlightenment.
• Buddhists also have the principle of skilful
  means that what is right depends on the
  situation, the people involved, what you think
  the outcomes might be and so on. There are no
  set rules.

31
Humanism on Autonomy

• For Humanists there is nothing guiding you, just
  you, so moral autonomy is what its all about.
  The ability to make moral decisions is part of
  what makes us human and something we should
  celebrate.
• Humanists believe in equality, fairness, justice
  and that human life is precious and worthy of
  protection.
• They decide whats best based on what will be
  best for human society.

32
Religious Morality

• Heteronomy Moral values are grounded in
  religious belief.

33
Moral Heteronomy

• Basing your moral decisions on a range of
  different things and not just acting as a law
  unto yourself.
• This might involve working with others to arrive
  at a choices or basing your decisions on many
  sources of guidance or information.

34
Moral Heteronomy (cont.)

• You still make the decisions for yourself but you
  do so in the context of some other sources of
  guidance from outside yourself.
• You are more likely to appeal to an outside set
  of beliefs and morals, such as those found within
  religions.

35
Christianity on Heteronomy

• Christians are comfortable with this. They would
  argue that God directs them towards doing the
  right thing through scriptures, prayer and other
  traditions.
• Christians are also supported by the Christian
  community to help make decisions. This means
  Christians do not feel isolated and can get
  support.

36
Buddhism on Heteronomy

• For Buddhists, faith is built around taking
  refuge in the Buddha (the role model), the
  dhamma (his teachings) and the sangha (the
  community).
• Each decision is yours, but Buddhists believe the
  teachings and example of the Buddha help to guide
  you and the sangha can support and encourage you.
  In the end though, its down to you.

37
Humanism on Heteronomy

• Humanists are like Buddhists in the sense that
  they dont make decisions about right and wrong
  in isolation. Humanists consult others, learn
  lessons from human history and match up what they
  think with documents from organisations like the
  United Nations.
• The Humanist community worldwide also have shared
  moral values and these can help, just as
  scriptures and religious leaders can help guide
  religious people.

38
Any Questions?
39
MORALITY IN THE MODERN WORLD

• Area 1 The Relationship between Religion and
  Moral Values
• Introduction (pp. 1-7)
• The Euthyphro Dilemma Are actions good simply
  because the gods command them or do the gods
  command certain actions because they are good?
• Religious Morality (pp. 8-21)
• Moral values are grounded in religious belief
• The interpretation of sacred writings guided by
  faith, tradition and/or reason
• Utilitarian Ethics (pp. 29-33)
• Act and Rule utilitarianism
• Principle of the greatest good
• Kantian Ethics (pp. 34-37)
• Categorical imperative
• Universal maxim
• Respect of persons