Religion and morality – problems with Biblical morality

By the end of today’s lesson you will have:

* Re-capped the problems with Divine Command Ethics

•Know the difference between ‘necessary’ and ‘contingent’ moral

values•Be familiar with the arguments of

Soren Kierkegaard and Jon Habgood

RE-CAP

• Which four scholars talked about the nature of the connection between religion and morality?

• What is the Euthyphro dilemma?

• What implications does the Euthyphro dilemma have about the nature of God?

Mini-Quiz

Kant

Aquinas

Euthyphro Dilemma

Russell

Copleston

Divine Command Ethics

Criticisms of Divine Command Ethics

• There are 7 criticisms of Divine command ethics pinned up around the room – by the end of the lesson you will know 4 of the criticisms well

• Activity:• You must select one of the criticisms – • - discuss• - anecdotal evidence• - write• Bring in examples from work we have already

done i.e Bible stories, Westboro Baptist church

Richard Swinburne

• Distinguished between:

• NECESSARY and

• CONTINGENT moral values

Kierkegaard & Habgood

‘ you gotta have faith’ – highest virtue, and always answer God’s will

There’s a nagging doubt – but the fact that God answers to these people at all shows he is gracious and bothered

Scholars who argue that there is a link between morality and

religion

Scholars who argue that there is a link between morality and

religion• AQUINAS – Pale reflections• KANT – Morality proves existence of

God• COPLESTON – I act in a moral way

because of God• RUSSELL – I act in a moral way but

not because of God

The Euthyphro Dilemma

The Euthyphro Dilemma

• Is X good because God demands it?• Does God command X because it is

good?• Problems with these positions:• God only does what he commands – he

doesn’t make a choice• Or• Where does goodness come from if not

from God?

Divine Command Ethics

• Follow what is written in the Bible • Problems = • Are all commands reasonable?• Are we acting out of self-interest?• Areas where God hasn’t given a

demand

Criticisms of Divine Command Ethics

Counter-arguments

• Kierkegaard – Got to have faith• Habgood – God answered – stop complaining• Swinburne – necessary and contingent values

Counter-arguments

Mini-Question

• Examine the key ideas of the Euthyphro Dilemma and how it is a critique of the link between religion and morality

• AO1 – select and demonstrate clearly relevant knowledge and understanding through the use of evidence

• AO2 – Critically evaluate and justify a point of view through the use of evidence and reasoned arguments