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Ivan Howard
Mr. Mccleary
Religion 103
4/28/13
Elements of Religion:
Ethics is one thing that encompasses right conduct and good life. It is
significantly broader than the common conception of analyzing right and wrong. And
most religions have an ethical component, often derived from purported supernatural
revelation or guidance. In fact a guy by the name of Simon Blackburn stated “For many
people, ethics is not only tied up with religion, but is completely settled by it. Such
people do not need to think too much about ethics, because there is an authoritative
code of instructions, a handbook of how to live” (Wiki, 2012).
Christianity is one of the religions that stand out the most to me when it
comes to ethics. And it’s because biblical Christian ethics is inseparable from theology
because it is grounded in the character of God. The task of Christian ethics, then, is to
determine what conforms to God’s character and what does not. We, as in Christians,
know that God’s ethical order is the only true source of morality, and, in fact, the only
possible morality; there can be no other. Even in the bible, it states “For the Christian,
the moral order is as real as the physical order—some would say even more real. The
Apostle Paul says the physical order is temporary, but the order “not seen” is eternal (2
Corinthians 4:18).” (Bible). And that’s how god wants Christians to think. In the bible,
those are the patterns of moral actions he wants us to live by. “Every ethical system
contains some grain of the truth found in the Christian code, but no other system can
claim to be the whole truth, handed down as an absolute from God to humanity.”
(Allaboutworldview.org).
Buddhism is another religion that comes to mind when on the topic of
ethics and patterns of moral action. I mean the world today is in a state of turmoil;
valuable ethics are being upturned. Buddhist ethics are not arbitrary standards invented
by man for his own utilitarian purpose. Nor are they arbitrarily imposed from without.
“Buddhist ethics finds its foundation not on the changing social customs but rather on
the unchanging laws of nature. Buddhist ethical values are intrinsically a part of nature,
and the unchanging law of cause and effect (kamma).” (Budsas.org). The idea of
Buddhist ethics finds its practical expression in the various precepts. But these precepts
are nothing but general guides to show the direction in which the Buddhist ought to
turn to on his way to final salvation. Although many of these precepts are expressed in a
negative form, we must not think that Buddhist morality consists of abstaining from evil
minus the complement of doing good.
The term "Hinduism" encompasses an incredibly diverse array of beliefs
and practices, to the point that Hindus in one part of India might hold particular beliefs
and engage in particular practices that would be virtually unrecognizable in another part
of India. A word that basically means every possible thing that it could mean to the
religion of Hinduism is “Dharma”. Dharma fundamentally underlies conceptions of
morality and ethics in Hinduism. Dharma puts things in their proper place, creates and
maintains order and balance. For the religion Hinduism, “to act dharmically is, in
essence, to act appropriately; what is appropriate is determined by the context in which
the action is to be performed and who is performing it.” (Patheos.com). The Hindu also
has three documents; the Upanishads, Bhagavad-Gita and Brahma Sutra form the basis
of Vedanta (called Prasthana-traya). And these are scriptures that are drawn Hindu
ethics that help in guiding the Hindu through his daily as well as spiritual journey. A
Hindu is directed to contain and restrain all the emotions that may lead to a sinful
existence. So the moral codes of various texts repeatedly emphasize the importance of
being aware of these ordinary but strong human emotions that lead to the disruptions
of a harmonious society.
Islam as a comprehensive way of life encompasses a complete moral
system that is an important aspect of its world-view. Because we live in an age where
good and evil are often looked at as relative concepts. “The Islamic moral system stems
from its primary creed of belief in One God as the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.
Islam considers the human race to be a part of God’s creation, and as His subjects.”
(whyislam.org). To Islam’s, the purpose of human life is to worship God, by leading this
worldly life in harmony with the Divine Will, and thereby achieve peace in this world,
and everlasting success in the life of the hereafter. Some of the most primary character
traits expected of a Muslim are piety, humility and a profound sense of accountability to
God. Much like a Christian, a Muslim is expected to be humble before God and with
other people. Islam also enjoins upon every Muslim to exercise control of their passions
and desires.
All in all, there are many different religions and each one has slightly
different patterns of moral actions. The ethics for some religions are as strict or loose as
other religions. Christianity, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Islam all have strong patterns
of moral action and some type of text or document to live by. And that make its so
confusing when you don’t really have a religion or you’re not a religious person. I’m not
saying I’m not religious, because I am a religious person. But I am saying with all these
different religions and different documents and books that each religion has to live by, it
makes it difficult to know which religion is right, or which religion is wrong. It all comes
down to what you want to believe in the most.
Works Cited
Allaboutworldview.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from Christian ethics:
http://www.allaboutworldview.org/christian-ethics.htm
Bible. (n.d.).
Budsas.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from what buddhist believe:
http://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/145.htm
Patheos.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from Principles of Moral Thought and Action:
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism/Ethics-Morality-Community/Principles-of-MoralThought-and-Action.html
whyislam.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from Morality and ethics in islam: http://www.whyislam.org/socialvalues-in-islam/morality-ethics-in-islam/
Wiki. (2012, june). Wikipedia.com. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics_in_religion