Does Morality Depend on Religion?

Rachels, Chapter 4

Are religious experts moral experts?

Religious Motivation and Guidance

a. Claim #1: Religion is necessary to provide moral motivation

b. Claim #2: Religion is necessary to provide moral guidance

Two religious theories of morality

Divine Command Theory

c. Only by assuming God is at the foundation of morality, can we explain an objective difference between right and wrong

d. An act is morally right if and only if it is commanded by God; an act is morally wrong if and only if it is forbidden by God

e. What is commanded may be found by

1. Direct revelation, or

2. Scriptural readings

Natural Law Theory

f. All things in nature have a purpose established by God

g. These purposes are discoverable through reason

h. An act is morally right if and only if it accords with the laws of nature; an act is morally wrong if and only if it is fails to accords with the laws of nature

Application problems: Ambiguity in Scripture & Doctrine