Transcript Religion and Ethics

ETH401 RELIGION AND ETHICS
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"This is the heart of the
problem because kava is the
food for the devil," said Mr
Vulaono.
"This is the heart of
the problem
because kava is the
food for the devil,"
said Mr Vulaono.
Source: Fiji Times, August 24,
2008.
RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE – 9/11
2001, September 11th, Islamic
Jihadists belonging to an
organisation called Al Qaeda flew
two commercial airplanes into the
World Trade Centre Twin Towers in
New York.
2606 people lost their lives,
however arguably the later fallout
has been more traumatic and
devastating.
The US declared a “War on Terror”,
invading Afghanistan and Iraq
resulting in the deaths of
100,000s.
Al Qaeda remains and continues
with violent attacks across the
world.
THE HOLOCAUST
In the Second World
War millions of Jewish
men, woman and
children were taken
to concentration
camps, starved and
executed for no other
reason than their
religious identity.
GUJARAT RIOTS OF 2002
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The fallout, and subsequent
retaliation of Hindus on
Muslims was terrifying.
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Official estimates put the
Muslim death toll at 790,
however other estimates say it
was closer to 1,500. Many
women were sexually
assaulted by roaming mobs.
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A smaller, but still significant
number of Hindus experienced
further loss of life in the riots.
RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE
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religious groups, often claiming authority from God have at
some point committed acts of mass murder upon each other.
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yet… many claim that their religion is the source of their
ethical values, their spiritual guide. Their key point of reference
for what is right or wrong.
Religions speak of love, hope, charity (Christianity), compassion,
selfless joy, serenity (Buddhism), dharma, kindness, hospitality
(Hinduism), virtue, honor, humility and piety (Islam)
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How
can religions speak so wisely, and yet be interpreted in such
horrific ways and lead to such awful events?
ETH401
WEEK 2: RELIGION AND ETHICS
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What is religion? Does it determine what is right?
What does religion do?
Why is religion a controversial issue?
What are the main functions of religion?
A very brief introduction to the world’s biggest religions and
their ethical principles.
What is it to live in a secular society, and what does that
entail for religious belief and practice?
WHAT IS RELIGION? – A SOCIOLOGY
There is not a perfect definition.
Many may think it is something like this…
“Religion is any set of attitudes, beliefs
and practices pertaining to
supernatural power, whether that
power be forces, gods, spirits, ghosts or
demons.” (Ember & Ember, 1996)
“Supernatural” – Something beyond the
material world. As such, it is a matter of
faith.
WHAT IS RELIGION?
“Beliefs”
Who/what made the world?
Why are we here?
What are we made of?
What happens when we die?
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT!
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What do you gain from your religion?
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Why is religion a controversial issue?
What is the relationship between religion and
ethics?
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DIVINE COMMAND THEORY
“The belief that human beings are made in the image of
God influences moral judgment.” (Preston, 2007, pg 23)
“To know God is to do justice.”
(Jeremiah 22.13-16)
“We are divine souls on a wondrous journey. We came
from God, live in God and are evolving into oneness with
God… becoming aware of the Life energy in all that lives
is becoming aware of God’s loving presence with us.”
Subramuniyaswami. S, Hinduism Today, (1996).
DIVINE COMMAND THEORY (DVC)
The Divine Command theory
argues that:
“Morality is based on the
commands and character of
God, and moral obligation is
about obeying God’s
demands”
(Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
The 10 Commandments of Moses
given to him by God at Mt.Sinai in
Egypt.
ABRAHAM AND DIVINE COMMAND THEORY
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Abraham was commanded by God
to kill his only son, Isaac, in
praise of His Name.
With Divine Command Theory
something is right BECAUSE God
says so, this means "the Good" is
DEPENDENT upon the will of God.
Something is wrong because it’s a
SIN. But is this sufficient?
Socrates (469 – 399 BC) was a
philosopher from Ancient Greece.
If Gabriel did not swoop down, would
Abraham have been right to kill his
son?
Is it not the case that God commands
what is right, instead, because it is
the right thing to do?
WEAKNESSES IN DIVINE COMMAND
Believers
may disagree on
what God’s command is, for
example Churches differ over
issues
such
as
homosexuality and divorce.
What about those who do not
belong to a religion?
WHAT DO ALL RELIGIONS DO/MAIN FUNCTIONS
OF RELIGION
1.
Provide unity and identity.
2.
Answer questions of people’s existence; their
purpose of life etc.
3.
Helps to give comfort and support in times of
difficulties/hardship.
1. SOCIAL SOLIDARITY AND IDENTITY
Shared values (eg: love,
charity, compassion) and
beliefs help bind us into a
community, provides identity
and instill a sense of
fellowship.
Members of Methodist Church
Nasea, Fiji (Holy Communion) in
Fiji Times, Aug 4, 2012.
1. SOCIAL SOLIDARITY AND IDENTITY
It offers damnation or
punishment to those who are
unafraid of earthly law, who
otherwise would fail to adhere to
good social principles.
“And do not fear those who kill
the body but cannot kill the soul.
Rather fear him who can destroy
both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:18
4. TACKLE LIFE’S GREAT UNKNOWNS
STRENGTH AND HOPE IN ADVERSE TIMES
In all societies many
people face hardships e.g.
natural disasters, poverty,
illness, pain.
Opposite: Fiji in the floods
THE WORLD’S 5 BIGGEST RELIGIONS
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5
Hinduism
Buddhism
Confucianism
Christianity
Islam
(Don’t forget Judaism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism,
Wiccan/Paganism, Ancestor worship and scientology to
name just a few more!!)
1. HINDUISM
Reincarnation (after death your
soul/spirit is reborn into a new
body) & reciprocity (depends on
your actions when you were
alive)
 Intention - selfless action for the
benefit of others (karma yoga)
 Kindness and hospitality are
key Hindu values
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KARMA & DHARMA
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Karma (deed/act): the universal principle of cause &
effect, action & reaction. Reap what you sow.
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Dharma: moral and social order (ethics), ordinance, duty,
right, morality, virtue, religion, good works.
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Ahimsa: one should avoid harming any living thing, and
also avoid the desire to harm any living thing. Ahimsa is
not just non-violence - it means avoiding any harm,
whether physical, mental or emotional.
2. BUDDHISM
Buddhism is based on the
teachings of Siddhartha
Gautama, who is called the
Buddha or the Enlightened One
Some people argue that
Buddhism was an off-shoot of
Hinduism
BUDDHIST MORALITY: 5 MAIN BELIEFS
Do not take/destroy life: avoid killing
humans & for most Buddhists, animals
 Do not take what is not given
 Do not distort facts
 Refrain from misuse of the senses (do not
overindulge - beauty, sexual activity etc.)
 Avoid self-intoxication (alcohol/drugs)
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BUDDHISM: CORE VALUES
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Love: towards all creatures
 2) Pity: compassion for all who suffer
 3) Joy: an unselfish sharing in the
happiness of others
 4) Serenity: freeing oneself from
anxieties of success or failure, &
being equal minded when dealing
with others
3. CONFUCIANISM
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Is a Chinese ethical &
philosophical system based on the
teachings of Confucius
Focuses on human morality/right
action
Confucianism stresses the
importance of education for moral
development
The state should be governed by
moral virtue than through coercive
laws
THEMES IN CONFUCIANISM
1. Li: ritual & etiquette, the acts of
everyday life.
 2. Hsiao: love within the family,
relationships
 3. Chung: (loyalty) to: family; spouse;
ruler/state; & friends
 4. Yi: righteousness
 5. Xin: honesty and trustworthiness
 6. Jen: (benevolence, humaneness
towards others)
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4. CHRISTIANITY
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Sources of Christian
authority include: Church;
Scriptures; Faith; and the
Holy Spirit
Sin & forgiveness (ability to
forgive those who wrong
you)
Guided by the 10
commandments (as code
of conduct)
5. ISLAM
Based upon the teachings of the prophet Muhammed
The 5 Pillars of Islam are: Faith (shahada)
daily prayer (salah), fasting (sawm),
alms-giving (zakat) and pilgrimage (hajj).
Other key values include:
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Shariah: the path or the right way of
life
Jihad: the internal struggle that
Muslims undertake to overcome
their personal faults, & the struggle
to defend the faith globally
Core values: submission, virtue &
honor, humility, piety
Human beings have a moral
responsibility to submit to God’s will
& to follow Islam
THE GOLDEN RULE
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Hinduism: ‘This is the sum of duty: do not do to
others what would cause pain if done to you’
Mahabharata 5:1517
Buddhism: ‘Hurt not others in ways that you
yourself would find hurtful’ Udana-Varga 5:18
Confucianism: ‘Do not do to others what you do
not want them to do to you’ Analects 15:23
Christianity: ‘And as ye would that men should
do to you, do ye also to them likewise’ Luke
6:31, The Holy Bible, King James Version.
Islam: ‘None of you [truly] believes until he
wishes for his brother what he wishes for
himself." Number 13 of Imam, Al-Nawawi's Forty
Hadiths
THINK QUESTIONS
 Do
we need to be believers of an
institutional religion to be moral?
 Are all religious people ethical?
 Are all ethical people religious?
RELIGION IN A SECULAR WORLD
FNU is a secular university.
The Republic of Fiji Islands is a secular state.
But what is the ‘secular’, what does it mean for religions and what
ethical issues does it generate?
“pertaining to worldly things that are not
religious, spiritual or sacred”.
www.dictionary.com. (2012)
NB: Secularism is not necessarily the same as:
Atheism – the belief that there is no God.
Agnosticism – the belief we can not know
whether God exists or not. It means that the government does not
interfere with what you believe, whatever that may be, so that
everyone has the same freedom to have and manifest their
beliefs.
RELIGION IN A SECULAR WORLD
Secularism argues that religion and the state, or
any institution in the public sphere, needs to be
free of religious control:
 Laws are not to be made on religious grounds.
 Discrimination based on religion is forbidden.
 Everyone has the freedom of religion.
Why is secularism so important?
RELIGION IN A SECULAR WORLD
Fiji is a multicultural society with a
rich diversity of cultural traditions.
If the country prioritised one
religion it would fail as a
democracy.
Restricting freedom of religion
would also lead to public disorder
as religion (as we all know) is
something for which people are
prepared to fight!
Ultimately, it is an issue of mutual
respect and mutual interest.
RELIGION IN A SECULAR WORLD
We need to be humble
about what we know. All
religions contain various
and many wisdoms.
It is truly to our mutual
interests to listen to one
another; especially on
such matters where there
is so much doubt and
confusion.
RELIGION IN A SECULAR WORLD
In a secular society, however, one
may be caught in an ethical
dilemma – loyalty to one’s religion
and loyalty to the rules of secular
society.
In the UK, road health and safety
made law that all motorcyclists
had to wear helmets. But this
wasn’t possible for Sikhs as they
have a religious duty to wear a
turban.
What was their dilemma?
What should the state do?
RELIGION IN A SECULAR WORLD
What does this mean for ethical arguments?
Secularism teaches respect for religions. As such we need
to listen to arguments based on religious beliefs with
patience and humility.
However, ethical argument is about persuading someone
to your side of the argument. In a multicultural society, do
you think you can convince someone of the rightness of an
action through religious argument if they do not share your
religious views??
REFERENCES
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Ember, C. & Ember, M. 2011. Anthropology 13th
Edition. Prentice-Hall, NJ.
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Preston, N. 2007. Understanding Ethics.
Federation Press, NY.
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The Blind Men and the Elephant
http://www.spiritualeducation.org/blindmenelephants.pdf