Religion and Ethics

[ShamanFeather]

What is the relation between religion and ethics in today's world?

Just thought I'd see what some ppl's answers were. :)

[Darkwater Stone]

I believe that they coincide 100%.
Good question.

[Xentor]

I base a part of my ethics on my current path, and a part on christianity, which was used in my raising.

[~Elise~]

In theory, they would coincide...but in the real world, I find most people don't follow those ethics. Sad to say, but they don't unless it is convenient to them at the moment or they are doing it for show.

Elise

[Verthandi]

Interesting question. Ethics are a social construct, so I would say that they can conflict with each other. Take the Mormons, for example: the only way Utah was allowed to enter the Union was if the Mormons stopped practicing polygamy. To the rest of the country, polgamy was unethical, but to the Mormons, it was a way to practice their faith.

Ethics and morals can also conflict. The majority of America is Christian and one of the staples of belief is self-sacrifice and giving more to the world than the world gives you. Yet, some time ago, there were several evangelicals that were in a lot of trouble for fraud (forgive me for not knowing their names--I think this was in the 80s). Obviously, the evangelicals' morals were more flexible than their ethics.

[Calen]

To me, ethics and morals are synonamous, and I think a person's morals and religion should always coincide. Your morals tell you what you think is right, and if your religion strays too far from that, there must be a problem.

[Arion]

I actually think that morality and religion should be seperate (but related) aspects of life. Religion is about what higher power(s) you have faith in, and in my opinion, it shouldnt be an authority on telling you how to live. Of course, it does have an effect on your worldview, which affects the way you treat the world and those around you. I just don't believe in having set rules and restrictions that people blindly follow because their religion tells them to.

[StarSpiral]

To me ethics are a code of how determines what is right and wrong and then aligning their actions to meet that code. There's also personal/individual and social ethics which interact and align to some degree but not always totally. Like how I personally believe nudity is great but social ethics say it is a no no, so since I don't feel so strongly about the issue I follow the law despites its contradiction to my own ethics.

Religion is a set of beliefs about the Divine and supernatural. One's religion usually effects their ethical framework and religion has also been used to impose certain ethics on its followers and a set of reward/punishment or adhereing to or deviating from those ethics.

[Exloration_La]

What is the relation between religion and ethics in today's world?

Just thought I'd see what some ppl's answers were. :)

I think there is a big difference between good common sense ethics and dogma .

Unfortunately there is many religions that only apply ethics to those who believe the same thing as them, and anyone outside their circle of belief they don’t’ apply their ethics to, and are fair game. For that reason, and many others I see many religions are extremely unethical despite some of their masks, and as far as Christianity (the bible) has so many things that in my opinion contradict good ethics that it would be to much to list here. Evilbible.com lists some good bible verses to take note of. Though I think every religion has good aspects to it I don't see ANY of the mainstream religions complete in all goodness, so I think it is best if a person follows a certain path I would hope they take it as part of their life and not just blindly accept other unethical doctrine .. I.e. don’t' swallow everything whole..

[gillian_greenleaf]

Religion is one place we can get the values that are the foundation for ethics, but I know of people who believe in no higher power who are incredibly value-driven and ethical.

[Windygo]

I think I disagree with most people here?

Ethics are codes of behavior that aren't necessarily there for moral or religious purposes, but to keep order.

It can be morally okay for me to enter a relationship with someone, but that's ethically wrong if they're some sort of client or patient of mine- even if we're both adults in the right frame of mind. Also, some Christians believe they have a moral obligation to tell everyone about their faith, but in some situations that would not be an ethical business practice.

Has anyone here seen the movie Election with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon? It's the same theme. (Well, not with religion, but with morals.)

Ethics may be influenced by religions around it, but it helps people of different faiths interact peacefully, by requiring a bit of compromise from one or more groups.

[gillian_greenleaf]

Ethics are codes of behavior that aren't necessarily there for moral or religious purposes, but to keep order. ... Ethics may be influenced by religions around it, but it helps people of different faiths interact peacefully, by requiring a bit of compromise from one or more groups.

That's an interesting idea. Do you think it's a "chicken or the egg" idea? Which came first -- order or ethics?

[Windygo]

That's an interesting idea. Do you think it's a "chicken or the egg" idea? Which came first -- order or ethics?Chicken or egg makes it sound like they're the same thing- not really. Order is a constant, ethics are how people preserve it.

[gillian_greenleaf]

So you see order as inherent in our social groupings? My question is "From where does this order come?" Because order is a given in the physical world, this is reflected in our social world also? Why then do we have conflicting ethical beliefs within the same societies?

[Windygo]

So you see order as inherent in our social groupings?I see it as inherent everywhere.
My question is "From where does this order come?" My answer is that it is a constant. Different forms of it come out of what different people want.
Because order is a given in the physical world, this is reflected in our social world also? Why then do we have conflicting ethical beliefs within the same societies? Different people want different things in their lives. Their needs vary depending on a lot of things- age, sex, location, wealth, background, even if they are in the same society. Chaos is still present, after all.

[sari0009]

What is the relation between religion and ethics in today's world?

Just thought I'd see what some ppl's answers were. :)

The answer depends on what type of power used when and why (http://mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=3314637&postcount=30) as well as individual desire, imagination, intelligence, and conditioning. That often steers and defines more strongly than dogma.

[~*Sacred*~]

I believe they go hand in hand. That is not to say that doing a misdeed is against our religious ethics or moral code, it is simply human nature.... and most importantly, by being yourself you are being religious (well...kinda ya know?). Hm.... to deny yourself to do bad,guilty,selfish, etc.... would be to deny yourself to learn and empower yourself with more knowledge and understanding of the ethics and morals behind the religion.

To me, "sinning" (for lack of a better word at the moment) is part of religious/spiritual growth. We must learn and experience life through our misdeeds!