What is the relationship between Religion & Morality

US & religion

• Reagan: politics & morality linked
• 3 issues:
  1. religion providing foundation for morality
  2. definitions: ethics, morality, sacred (morality having to do with human welfare & religion having to do with sacred)
• Which takes priority? religion? morality? (Kierkegaard's focus on Abraham & Isaac, set sacrifice his son per God's command

Justification

Deontological

• ask what is one's duty
• What one ought to do in certain circumstances
• based on principle

Teleological

• asking what are the consequences of this action
• what is the end or final result from this action? (intended or unintended)

Rule based? or Act based?

• each of these arguments can focus on rules
• or on acts

3 case studies

Hinduism & caste system

• oldest Vedic hinduism based on the social order of caste system
• newer Upanishads focused on individuals, universal Brahman and the release (moksha) from endless cycle of birth & death

• religion & morality in tension with one another

Islam & war (jihad)

• Islam born under the burden of persecution – Quran approves the use of force when one is wronged
• while war not to be undertaken lightly, religious justification for war (cautious)
• jihad is struggle to expand Islam

• religion complementing and filling out morality

Christianity & prayer

• Pray because we are commanded to?
• Pray because it provides good results?
• both?

• religion animating the moral life