Ethic and Morality in Religion - Essay Example

SOMETHING TO DO WITH EITHIC AND MORALITY IN RELIGION The aim of the present literary research is to find out whether or not there exists any relationship between religious teachings on the one hand, and moral values on the other. Part 7 of the book under the title “A World of Ideas” by Jacobus et al (2007) has been taken as the work for the present thesis. Jacobus et al has conducted a comparative study of different religious beliefs and faiths and concluded the very fact that almost all existing religions have direct relationship with moral values and lay stress on the same as the inevitable part of set of the belief. The following hypothesis was articulated for the present study: More vivid the teachings of a religion, more will be its relation with ethical laws and moral values Philosophy of ethics states ethics and morality as more essential and sublime factors in nature for human welfare and happiness in comparison with the religious sets of belief; for religious teachings are limited to one single community, while morality maintains universality in its theme. Thus, it strives for all humanity without discrimination. The philosophers and thinkers are of the opinion that the popularity and validity of a religion can be assessed, estimated and measured by the noble teachings of its pioneers in respect of betterment and welfare of the individuals. No religion allows exercise of any kind of butcheries, atrocities and cruelties in the name of faith and religion. On the contrary, the concept of religion has close association with humanity, sacrifice, ethics and moral values. The founders, preachers and pioneers of every religion have looked for the implication and observation of moral values as one of the most essential elements of the basic teachings of their faith. Though religious cults and practices vary among the followers of different religions, and there are some similarities too, yet the most common thing among all the faiths includes their emphasis on ethical principles and moral values. Ethics and morality refer to the rules and regulations, based on the principles of charity, kindness, love, respect and goodness, which everyone is bound to observe in his behavior. The basic motive behind every religion has always been the welfare of the people, which can be witnessed by analyzing the words, teachings and scriptures of the founders of the great religions. Like other religious beliefs, Christianity has also defined morality as the essence of their traditional faith. The Christians consider Holy Christ as the founder of Christianity. The famous “Sermon on the Mount” has been attributed to Holy Christ, who has preached kindness and care as the sources of ethics and morality in the sermon aforementioned. The remarkable sermon has been described in Chapters 5-7 of the Gospel of St. Matthew, and is considered as the word delivered by Christ. Sermon on the Mount, according to Jacobus, serves as the universal charter on ethics and morality for the people of all nations and areas at large, for it contains the gist of sharing the miseries and woes of others. In the Sermon abovementioned, Christ announces God’s blessings to the people who are humble and meek, and always display goodness and kindness to others. Christ assures glad tidings to the humble, submissive and modest people and declares them as the blessed ones who display humility and reverence while dealing with the people at large. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5: 3-5) Hence, Christ proclaims blissful tidings to those who are free from rudeness, arrogance and pride. Not only this, but he offers a respectable place and luxurious life to the modest and meek, in the world Hereinafter. By this, he aims to preach love and benevolence in the hearts of the people for one another. The Sermon not only refutes pride and envy among people, but also seriously condemns ostentation of the virtuous deeds in order to win applause and praise from others. It really contains imperative significance in its theme. Christ not only announces delightful news to the modest and preaches meekness, but also seriously censures those who offer prayers, keep fast and exercise other noble deeds just for their projection and flamboyance in the eyes of the people. In other words, such snobbish attitude has been taken as a direct threat to moral values, which do not allow at all any type of practices to hurt or harm the people by any means. The foundation of the morality has been laid on social values rather than a prescribed set of belief only. If a person harms and displeases others, but offers prayers regularly, he is indeed disloyal to his faith and its teachings. The sermon also describes the blessings from the Heavens on forgiving others on doing wrong. The moral values, according to the sermon, do not even allow the followers to take revenge of the misdeeds from the persons responsible for that all. The sermon is regarded as the continuity or interpretation of the Ten Commandments, the first and oldest of the Abrahamic Holy Scriptures and is also named as the Old Testament. Revealed in the House of Jacob upon the Prophet Moses, it was in Hebrew language in which complete code of moral and religious practices has been described in details to the Hebrew people i.e. Jews. Judaism also signifies the moral values and people’s rights and obligations to one another. The Book of Leviticus (Old Testament) defines almost the same codes of leading a modest life revealed upon Moses from God. It preaches the followers to observe virtue and chastity as well as always do well with neighbors and other fellow-beings. Helping the poor and the needy and always displaying justice is the aim behind those teachings as well. (Chapter 19: 13-16) The sermon afore-described is also declared as the predecessor of the third and the final religion among the Abrahamic faiths, is Islam. The holy verses of its Holy Scripture i.e. the Holy Quran undoubtedly appear as the continuation of the preaching attributed to Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Zachariah, John and Christ, and strive for the formation of individuals’ character on the one hand, and eradication of social evils on the other. Purity of heart and chastity of mind are the noble principles of ethical values and moral law of the Buddhist teachings too. Buddha also, Jacobus et al quote, preached moral values and stressed upon the acts performed for the benefits of the creatures of God. The spiritual leader of the Buddhism i.e. the present Dalai Lama (2004) emphasizes on generating compassion, sympathies, sacrifice and kindness in the hearts of the followers, for others. Altruistic and selfless efforts made for the cause of others is the theme behind the Buddhism that has been projected by Dalai Lama in his “The Ethics of Compassion.” Dalai Lama raised his voice for the uplift and protection of basic human rights including social justice, freedom of thought and action, eradication of discriminative laws on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity or religion. The love for mankind, according to him, is the true spirit of a just faith for which the holy prophets, saints and pious men tolerated every type of affliction, tortures, sufferings and pains. Thus, it becomes crystal clear that the foundations of every faith have been erected for the welfare of humanity. It is therefore, all the people belonging to divergent cults and faiths of the world, arranged demonstrations against the US invasion on Iraq in the name of so called holy crusade. Since no religion declares such acts as fair and just one, which may jeopardize the very existence of peace, harmony and stability of any community and nation of the globe. Observing the best possible sincerity and purity of heart and mind and awakening other humans from the sleep of ignorance, ignobility and impurity must remain as the best sources of serving the teachings of religion. Philosophers and thinkers regard ethics equal to religious set of belief, or even superior to it. Platonic morality defines ethics on the basis of wisdom, vigilance, knowledge and justice, without which there is no use of any cult. Iris Murdoch, the renowned philosopher, writer and reformist of twentieth century seeks morality in each and every object and action. She is of the opinion that moral values need no recognition from individuals. On the contrary, they are the spontaneous flowers of sophistication and sublimity that grow in highly imaginative minds, compassionate souls, clean conscience and pure hearts. Murdoch strives for the productivity, creativity and exhibition of the pieces of art and literature on the basis of Platonic moral values adopted and enforced by the Classical writers, poets, thinkers, artists, painter and novelists in their works in dogmatic clarity and puritan limpidness. Ancient philosophers preached moral values and stressed upon the utility of knowledge. They viewed such characteristics highly important for man and very near to human nature; thus beneficial for the whole mankind. Socrates is quoted to be stated that pure soul is necessary to make up a pure mind and heart, which consequently forms a neat, clean, sober and pure social set up. Plato and Aristotle displayed almost the same feelings regarding human dignity and welfare. Being the realistic moralist, Murdoch has acquaintance with the necessity as well as limitations of ethics. She regards ethics more sublime than religious practices. She refutes the very concept of a faith that has not included ethical principles as an essential part of their cult. She admires the idea of utilitarianism as one of the basic protector of human rights. Renowned political philosophers Immanuel Kant, Nietzsche, Marx, Engels, J. S. Mill, John Rawls and others unconditionally favor liberalism and its principles for the perpetuity of peace and prosperity in the world. Murdoch also looks for complete and unconditional freedom and liberty of the subjects to avoid conflicts, wars and hostilities among the nations. Influenced by the philosophical ideas of eminent philosopher Kant, Murdoch declares ethical values more imperative than religion even. Kant had recognized a challenge that went to the very foundations of his political philosophy. “He believed” Solomon (2003, p.106) submits, “that a social life under a rule of law was a prerequisite for the rational and moral capabilities and the achievement of maximum human autonomy and freedom.” Similarly English philosopher of seventeenth century Thomas Hobbes and American theorist John Locke of the same era have also advocated for the need of an authority on the principles of morality for the smooth running of a nation. In his wonderful “The Leviathan”, Hobbes has presented the concept of laws of nature as well as commonwealth, religious and political laws revealing the requirements necessary for the maintenance of peace and evasion from war. Defining peace, Hobbes means to state that nature always guides humanity to seek peace in the first hand, which rests in the concept of morality. On not complying with this moral law, disintegration and chaos are created in a society, which may cause civil war within the state. “The first moral law of nature”, according to him, “is to seek peace and follow it. But if the advice does not prove advantageous for mankind, the second law of nature says that by any means necessary, mankind must defend ourselves from the rest of the population through violence.” (Quoted in Esscort.com) Murdoch regards morality as universal and a source of reconciliation between different faiths of the world. Thus, it becomes evident that ethics and morality pave the way towards political, social, economic, cultural and religious co-operation and reconciliation between different groups, communities, nations and states of the world. The message of ethics is universal, broad, inspirational and beneficial for the human kind as a whole and could turn the world a more secure and peaceful place of living. The religions displaying morality can bring people closer under the banner of compassion, kindness, co-operation and compromise at large. REFERENCES Jacobus, Lee A., Kennedy, Dorothy M., Kennedy, X.J. & Maria, F. Muth. A World of Ideas. 7th Edition Bedfort/st Martins Publication 2007 Malikail, Joseph. Iris Murdoch on Good, God and Religion. 2000 (Retrieved in http://www.ul.ie/~philos/vol4/murdoch.html) Read More