Do You Have To BelieveDo You Have To Believein God to Be Ethical?in God to Be Ethical?

UUCB January 2, 2005UUCB January 2, 2005

EthicsEthics - Definition- Definition

WebsterWebster’’s - normal state of humanss - normal state of humans’’ Essential quality of oneEssential quality of one’’s own characters own character

Standards of conductStandards of conduct

Whose standards?Whose standards? CommunityCommunity

ProfessionProfession

Social Contract?Social Contract?

Ethics - PurposeEthics - Purpose

Ethics - clarify theEthics - clarify theway people normallyway people normallybehave toward eachbehave toward eachother.other.

Creates trust andCreates trust andsafetysafety

Golden rule(s)Golden rule(s)

Global Ethic?Global Ethic?

Ethics often seen asEthics often seen asspecific to culturespecific to culture

Is there a universalIs there a universalbasis?basis?

Could respect be aCould respect be auniversal?universal?

Standards are basedStandards are basedon what? Why?on what? Why?

Rules for Rules for ““goodnessgoodness””

Standards / Rules Based onStandards / Rules Based onNeedsNeeds

Need for safety = Standard that protectsNeed for safety = Standard that protects CanaryCanary

Need for rules = standard for obedienceNeed for rules = standard for obedience PenguinPenguin

Need for winning = standard for competitionNeed for winning = standard for competition EagleEagle

Need for community = standard forNeed for community = standard forrelationship/diversityrelationship/diversity Barn SwallowBarn Swallow

Need for self-expression = standard for variety &Need for self-expression = standard for variety &freedomfreedom SwanSwan

Different EthicsDifferent Ethics

Canaries, Penguins and EaglesCanaries, Penguins and Eagles Fear based = respect for authorityFear based = respect for authority

Ethics include obedience to higher authorityEthics include obedience to higher authority

Mix up ethical and legalMix up ethical and legal

Seek to preserve the traditional orderSeek to preserve the traditional order

See success as a measure of See success as a measure of ““goodnessgoodness””

Hard work and good connections - model citizen -Hard work and good connections - model citizen -imageimage

Community is similar to selfCommunity is similar to self

Authority externalized (God)Authority externalized (God)

Different Ethics conDifferent Ethics con’’tt

Barn swallows and SwansBarn swallows and Swans Experienced basedExperienced based Seek greatest good - other focusedSeek greatest good - other focused Value diversity of thought, people, experienceValue diversity of thought, people, experience Love optionsLove options Look to Look to ““spiritspirit”” vs.. Letter vs.. Letter Value self-expressionValue self-expression Community is larger than selfCommunity is larger than self Authority is internalizedAuthority is internalized

Integrating DifferencesIntegrating Differences

Respect others needsRespect others needs Make sure they are met or thatMake sure they are met or that

you understand and will addressyou understand and will addressthat need.that need.

DonDon’’t ignore or disparaget ignore or disparage

All ethical actions should:All ethical actions should: Not put others at riskNot put others at risk

Be extended to all others (asBe extended to all others (asrules)rules)

Promote success in lifePromote success in life

Promote relationshipPromote relationship

Allow for a range of expressionAllow for a range of expression

Being EthicalBeing Ethical Caring about your fellow humansCaring about your fellow humans Expressing that care by meeting their needsExpressing that care by meeting their needs Respecting the spark of divinity that resides inRespecting the spark of divinity that resides in

each or the goodness in each souleach or the goodness in each soul Trust that each is doing their very bestTrust that each is doing their very best Have patience, allow for personal space and noHave patience, allow for personal space and no

coercioncoercion Listen actively so understanding is recognizedListen actively so understanding is recognized See the value of the other perspectiveSee the value of the other perspective Include others in the decisionInclude others in the decision

Incorporate the value of authority, if needed inIncorporate the value of authority, if needed inways that address all of these needsways that address all of these needs

Albert SchweitzerAlbert Schweitzer First thought of humans is,First thought of humans is,

““II’’m alivem alive”” Reverence for Life is firstReverence for Life is first

ethic.ethic. Second ethic is surrenderSecond ethic is surrender

to life - not control of it.to life - not control of it.The exaltation found inThe exaltation found inbeing alive is the sourcebeing alive is the sourceof all ethics.of all ethics.

Thus veracity -Thus veracity -authenticity is the groundauthenticity is the groundof virtue.of virtue.

Sincerity is thus the firstSincerity is thus the firstethical quality.ethical quality.

Albert SchweitzerAlbert Schweitzer Loving the life in me I must then love the life in all otherLoving the life in me I must then love the life in all other

beingsbeings Goodness becomes enhancing the life in all other and inGoodness becomes enhancing the life in all other and in

myself and in the development of all beings to theirmyself and in the development of all beings to theirhighest possibility.highest possibility.

Evil is what hampers or eliminates life.Evil is what hampers or eliminates life. I believe that the life of the soul is as great as the life ofI believe that the life of the soul is as great as the life of

the body. So respect is key to ethics.the body. So respect is key to ethics. Ethics becomes spiritual when it puts us into harmonyEthics becomes spiritual when it puts us into harmony

with the universe.with the universe. As the universe seems to move toward complexity andAs the universe seems to move toward complexity and

toward life, then a reverence for life and all that thattoward life, then a reverence for life and all that thatmeans seems to me to be the basis for ethics.means seems to me to be the basis for ethics.

Universal EthicsUniversal Ethics

Reverence for all lifeReverence for all life

Working to enhanceWorking to enhancelife and thelife and thedevelopment of alldevelopment of allliving thingsliving things

Respect for all livingRespect for all livingbeings as they strivebeings as they striveto live as I doto live as I do