Science and Religion as moral guidesBased primarily on “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to

Understanding Ethics”

2

“Something is right or good just because God commands it and … something is wrong or bad just because God condemns it.” (p. 38)

THE DIVINE COMMAND THEORY

3

“[It] is the pursuit of truth based on solid, well-established scientific principles. It differs from traditional religion in that it is based on knowledge that can be logically and rationally explained and proven.”

“[Science] is the only justified true belief available to men, a precious tool with which we can fully explain our past, improve our present and make the positive choices that will determine our chances for the future.”

SCIENTIFICISM

(http://www.scientificism.com/)

Science and religion

While RELIGION “addresses the big, spiritual mysteries of life,” SCIENCE “addresses the mundane workings of cause and effect in the material world.”

(p. 59)

For an active believer (a religious person), his/her religion and his/her code of ethics go hand in hand …they practically become one.

(“El aporte de la ética en la sociedad del siglo XXI”, Dr. Emilio Martínez, Dic. 2011)

Ethics and religion

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Due to the many differences in religions, the foundation for our morality should be our human reason and intelligence.

(“El aporte de la ética en la sociedad del siglo XXI”, Dr. Emilio Martínez, Dic. 2011)

Ethics and science

Although science is based on proven facts, “[it] doesn’t mean […] that science should be our guide in all things. After all, science isn’t everything, and can’t provide all of life’s answers.” (p. 52)

8

“…science can tell us what the most efficient means are for achieving our ends, but it can’t tell us which ends are the right ones.” (p. 61)

…

In other words, scientists cannot offer answers to moral dilemmas.

…Philosophy is not like

science, and moral knowledge isn’t like scientific knowledge.

Asking whether something is

scientifically possible is different from

asking whether we should do it!

(p. 55)

Ethics, science, and religion

“…ethics [and religion] need science as

much as science needs ethics

[and even religion].”

(p. 52)

“…science and ethics (and maybe religion) are different, but

equally necessary, perspectives for viewing the world.” (p. 59)

“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.”-Albert Einstein

12

“Contrary to the extreme view that science is all there is, we really do need religion (faith and hope) and ethics (values and moral rules) to give our lives meaning and

purpose.” (p. 61)

Avoid both religious fanaticism and scientific

extremism!

All extremes are bad!

Cited work:“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Ethics”Chapter 4: God Made Me Do ItChapter 5: Let Science Be Your Guide