Related questions:
v Identify and discuss the relationship between Religion and morality.
INTRODUCTION
The question on the connection and familiarity between ethics (morality) and religion has been around for long. This is due to the fact that both concepts have a virtual resemblance. But are there really similarities or differences between Ethics (morality) and religion? What are the controversies involved, if any? These are some of the questions we intend to address in this write up.
PHILOSOPHY: A BRIEF ANALYSIS
There are several issues about philosophy ranging from its definition to its nature and so on. But its relevance and connection with religion and ethics, is more pertinent here.
· Emanation from religion and mythology
The pre-philosophical era in ancient Greece was religious and mythological. Even at that, people wanted to know the ultimate principle of reality. Literary giants like Hesiod and Homer dominated the scene by explaining the ultimate principle of the universe in the light and favour of the gods. However, this was the case until about 600 B.C. when Thales the first philosopher dared to question religion and mythology by postulating “water” as the uniting principle of the universe.
· The medieval period of philosophy
Following the Pre-socratic and Socratic era, known jointly as the ancient period of philosophy, was the medieval era. This was an age when theology dominated the philosophical scene. In fact, philosophy was used as a handmaid and tool for clarifying the themes and basic concepts of religion.
· The ethical definition of philosophy
Philosophy as the “search for value or the best forms of life” is one of the general consensus definitions of philosophy which asserts its ethical orientation. With some other definitions, this one evolved to procure a far reaching solution to the problem of definition in philosophy.
ETHICS: A BREIF SURVEY
Also known as “moral philosophy”, ethics is a major branch of philosophy which seeks to guide human actions along the lines of morality and its ideas. Morality is the basis and the central concern of Ethics as a discipline. Hence, without ethics there would be no morality, or even if there will, it would be abused and misused. Basically, ethics has been defined as, “the normative science of human conduct”. Also, its etymologies are the Greek words “Ethos” meaning “customs” and “Ethika” meaning “morals”. Intrinsically, ethics is a prescriptive and normative discipline which asserts the oughtness of virtue and vice through its theories e.g. utilitarianism.
RELIGION: DEFINITION
Religion is the spiritual worship and the traditional adherence to basic beliefs and laws of a divine being believed to exist. It has been ascertained that one of the most influential, phenomena in human society is religion. There are several religions all over the world but the major ones are “Christianity” and “Islam”.
SIMILARITY BETWEEN ETHICS AND RELIGION
There are very few similarities between ethics and religion, and it goes thus;
· They are both concerned with the morality of human conduct and behaviour.
· They both presuppose human freedom, choice and responsibility for action.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ETHICS AND RELIGION
The contrasting points between ethics and religion are quite more than the similarities. Some are;
· Ethics centrally and primarily deals with morality and its principles, while; religion deals with morality only as an important condition for its true worship.
· The direct object of Ethics is morality, while; that of religion is spiritual worship.
· Ethics is a recognition of man’s latent (hidden) personality strengths as it seeks to empower man to be virtuous and to live better in society, while; religion is a recognition of man’s limitation, weaknesses and dependence on a supreme being which promises to strengthen man’s nature once he obeys the rules.
· Ethics is the judge of morality as it sets the criteria by which moral actions can be justified, while; Religion is judged by morality in the sense that, any religion which ignores moral principles and practices immorality, automatically fails as a religion. In other words, morality is above religion while ethics is above morality.
· Ethics is a materialist social discipline, while; religion is an idealist system of faith according to a supreme being.
THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT RELIGION AND MORALITY
Religious men believe and objectively assert that morality of human conduct solely depends on religion. Thus, for one to be moral he initially has to be a religious person. Nevertheless, some philosophers disagree with this ideology.
Firstly, morality is latently (naturally) inherent in man, for man is by nature a moral being. This, it is erroneous to imply that one must be religious in order to be morally upright.
Secondly, it has been established that some people who do not belong to any sort of religious sect, practically live morally upright lives. On the other hand, some very religious people are known to be hypocrites as they live immoral and vicious lives. Even in the bible, Jesus Christ rebuked such people.
Finally, it is one’s ethical orientation that determines one’s moral uprightness and not religion. Religion uses fear to instil morality while Ethics uses rationality.
(YOUR PERSONAL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND CRITICISMS)
CONCLUSION
Religion, ethics and morality are related to one another in very intensive ways. But on a more critical inquiry, one will definitely discover their differing points. As a point of note, morality and its values are the connecting platforms between religion and ethics and this has been duly enumerated.
