HSC Cross Religion Study: Religion and Ethics
The focus of this study is religion and ethics.
Outcomes
A student:
H6 describes and analyses the ways in which two religious traditions express a significant aspect of religion
H8evaluates the role of a significant aspect of religion within the nature and function of religious traditions, with reference to their variants and to the everyday life of believers
H9applies appropriate language and terminology associated with Studies of Religion
H12 coherently and effectively communicates complex information, ideas and issues using appropriate written, oral and graphic forms.
Content
In the context of this study, ‘ethics’ is a justification for reasoning behind human moral behaviour, Ethics refers to a particular religion, school, or philosopher, it is a system of standards of conduct and practical judgements.
Moral is a description of actual human moral behaviour, refers to the rightness or wrongness of actions by an individual or group where as ethics usually refers to a system of thinking, morality focus’ on peoples actions.
- the nature, role and significance of ethics:
–Ethical systems within TWO religious traditions. Sources for investigation are:
-Christianity: the ten commandments and the ethical systems of the New Testament, the diversity in Christian ethics, eg biblical focus in Protestant ethics, the natural law and teaching authority in Catholic ethics, the Orthodox ethical system
-Islam: the law (Sharia) found principally in the Qur’an, the Sunna, and the obligations of the Five Pillars
Christianity: the ten commandments and the ethical systems of the New Testament, the diversity in Christian ethics
CHRISTIAN – Ethical System
Christian ethics is based on belief about God’s relationships with the world. The role of Christian ethics is to promote a guide for Christians in their daily living. There are five key sources of guidance.
- The Old Testament
TheOld Testament stresses that human beings have a duty to follow the comments of God. Rules and laws are provided for all aspects of life. Today, not all these rules and laws are binding for Christians. The reason according to Paul is that now faith in Christ’s life and death which saves. Never the less the ten commandments still have a significant influence on Christian ethics particularly
-You shall not kill
-You shall no steal
-You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour
Emphasises that to love God one must love ones neighbour.
- The New Testament
New Testament reflectionson the life and teachings of Jesus are the basis of Christian ethics, through the New Testamentthe message of Jesus is revealed. Key passages include:
-The Golden rule (Matthew 22:37-39)
“You shall love the lord your God, with all your heart, with all our soul, and with your entire mind
-Help carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ.
-“Love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Ethical principles promoted by the New Testament include justice, mercy, working for peace and the care for the needy.
Most Protestant churches rely on scripture for their ethical and moral systems; some believe the Bible is literally true. The Orthodox churches also stress reliance on scripture, but also places some emphasis on statements from religious authorities. The Catholic Church looks to scripture, but also tends to places more emphasis on the following sources then the other variants of Christianity;
- Natural Law
- Conscience
- Authority within religious structures
- Natural Law
-It is based on the view of Aristotle and developed by St Thomas Aquinas.
-There are absolutes in the world – actions are normally right and/ or good, or they are not.
-Aquinas believed that:
- There is a single human nature, therefore a definite human nature. A homosexual is ‘defective’ because he/she fails to follow the single human nature. As a result homosexuality is immoral
- There are natural purpose of life
To live
To learn
Have an ordered Society
To reproduce
To worship God
Consequently, euthanasia is wrong because it goes against the first precept. There is some room for compromise, e.g. lying to save a life is allowed because the main purpose (to live) follows Natural Law. Natural Law has significant impact on catholic ethics.
- Conscience
Conscience holds a special place in Christian ethics for two reasons
-It is an aspect of Christian decision making process
-It is a source of authority for Christians
Conscience is understood as the whole self trying to make judgements about what one ought to be and what one ought to do when faced with ethical dilemmas. The Catholic Churchteaches that God speaks through a person’s informed conscience because they reject an inner authority.
- Religious Authorities and Structure
The Catholic Church gives high authority to the Magisterium, the teaching Authority of the church. Catholics are expected to give their assent to this ethical teaching. Catholics are guided by the Pope and the Bishops of the world.
Catholicism / Protestantism / Eastern Orthodox-Certain actions are wrong, irrespective of intentions and circumstances
-Emphasis on Natural Law and Church Law as stated by the Magisterium
-The second Vatican council states that Catholic’s should act in accordance with an informed conscience / -Some Protestants argue that there is no natural Law
-What is right depends on the situation. This is called situation ethics
-The Bible is often seen as the sole authority for Christian living
-Some Protestants consider that have more direct experience with God and do not need church authority to direct their decisions / -Biblical authority is emphasised
-The Eastern Orthodox Church is a family of churches – Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox
-Consideration is given to relevant bishops and patriarchs.
Differences between Protestant
Groups, different beliefs
ISLAMIC – Ethical System
Muslim religious Law is called Sharia Law, it covers almost all area of human behaviour, telling believers in great detail which actions are permissible and which are forbidden. Muslims place particular emphasis on right action, their ethical system is influenced by three sources:
1)The Qur’an
This is written record of the revelation of Allah to Muhammad. Muslims revere this book, and consider it to be without error, it cannot be questioned. There is an emphasis on forgiveness and submission to Allah.
Life is to be considered holy.“A soul cannot die except by Allah’s permission the life span being fixed as if by written contract” (surah 3:145). There is no detailed code of morality similar ten commandments.
2)The Sunna
This gives detail to the broad principle outlined in the Qur’an. It is composed of stories of traditional actions Muhammad.
3)The Five Pillars
In their relationship to God Muslims have an obligation to fulfil the five pillars.
-Declaration of faith – there is no other God but Allah
-Prayers – pray five times a day
-Alms – giving to the needy
-Fasting – no food from dusk to dawn during the ninth month of the Muslim calendar.
-Pilgrimage to Mecca – at least once in a lifetime for those who can afford it.
The Nature of Christian ethics is to fulfil the requirements of the five key sources which are:
-Authority structures
-Natural Law
-New Testament
-Old Testament
-Conscience
Similarly, the Nature of Islamic ethics is to fulfil the requirements of key sources such as the
-Qur’an
-The Sunna
-The Five Pillars
The role of these ethical systems is to provide believers that only through following these guidelines can individual truly know God, and truly live a whole and holy life.
- religious ethics and their effect on the everyday lives of believers:
–The way in which TWO traditions give ethical guidance to ONE of the following areas:
-Bioethics, eg euthanasia
Euthanasia is the intentional taking of the life of another person, by act (lethal syringe) or omission (not feeding), for compassionate reasons. It can be
-Voluntary – when a person has requested it for him/herself
-Non-voluntary – when there has been no request or consent
-Involuntary – when it is carried out despite an expressed wish to the contrary
As well as this, euthanasia can be understood as active or passive. Passive involves “letting die”, such as when life support systems are turned off. Active involves events that contribute to the individual’s death (eg lethal injections).
Christianity and Euthanasia
Christians believe that the world is created by God. Therefore all things come from God in one form or another. Human beings have a responsibility to care for all life.
The Old Testament sets out clearly that human beings are different from other creatures. They have a special value a God likeness, which set them apart. Their lives are precious to God.
“I shall demand account for human life” (Gen 9:6), this is even more clearly set out in the commandment “thou shall not kill” (Ex 20:13)
The New Testament generally continues the themes; every person is called to faith in Jesus, the Christian tradition, as part of its central vision, hols the value of the person to be a universal truth. As with many other issues there is diversity in Christian responses to euthanasia.
Catholic view on Euthanasia
The Catholic Declaration on Euthanasia (1980) represents the moral position of the magisterim. Even though it is not an “infallible” teaching it is ‘normative’, there is a presumption of truth on part of the faithful who ought to attend to this teaching. It deserves respect, not unquestioning obedience. It is not the exclusive basis of a Catholic of a Catholic person’s conscientious judgement.
The value of human life
Life is a gift of God’s love. Consequently, there are three norms
-A prohibitation against attempts on the life of the innocent
-A person has a duty to live in accordance with God’s plan
-Prohibits suicide because it rejects God’s sovereignty and plan
With regard ti euthanasia it is not permissible and to plan this for oneself, even if this request comes from the experience of prolonged and barely tolerable pain.
The document holds that the pleas of the gravely ill for death should be seen as pleas for help and love not only for medical care, but also for spiritual support. Also the document states that “suffering has a special place in God’s plan”.
However, the document also states that it is “important to protect, at the moment of death, both the dignity of the human person and the Christian concept of life against a technological attitude that threatens to become an abuse”.
Consequently
1)It is permissible to do with the normal means that medicine can offer. Extraordinary means need not be explored. No one is obliged to use a technique if it is risky, experimental or burdensome, or if there a desire not to impose excessive expense on family or community.
2)Also, when death is imminent and individual may in good conscience refuse forms of treatment that would only secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life’.
Protestant view on Euthanasia
Protestants place less emphasis on the importance of religious structures. Many Protestants, particularly the more fundamentalists, follow a literal interpretation of the bible, particularly the commandment “thou shall not kill”. This was seen in recent case of Terri Schriver. Other Protestants, however, have been influenced by Joseph Fletcher, who advocates situationalist perspective. He rejects any absolute truths (eg “shall not kill”); rather, decisions about euthanasia should be based on the most loving thing to do in each specific circumstance.
Salvation Army
Since the Bible displays clearly that every person is important to God, the Salvation Army, like other Christian communities, place great value on the life of all people. For this reason Salvationalists oppose activity taking or shortening life through rational choice, with or without medical assistance”. (Salvation Army Position statement 1992)
The Uniting Church
Takes a more liberal view, the church has criticised opponents for “their simplistic and in accurate view of euthanasia”. Harry Hubert, the general secretary of the NSW board of social responsibility has said “we chose not to say that euthanasia was ethically right or wrong. We made it very clear that euthanasia is not a substitute for palliative care, but that there were certain occasions when we believe there should be room for some discussion of its use”.
Orthodox Churches
Archbishop Stylianos, primate of the Greek Orthodox church in Australia, “our church does not respond with a blind answer of yes or no. the first thing it says is stand well. This means be careful. When one is dealing with a question of life or death the one is in a position two weigh up the fear of God and the opinion of responsible science. I wish and pray that our faithful may see the tremendous decision with renewed responsibility and actin each specific case according to the sacredness of the problem.
ISLAM and Euthanasia
Muslims believe the Qur’an is the word of God, and it pronouncements are to be obeyed absolutely. It is the most important source of ethics in Islam. Muslim are opposed to euthanasia the Qur’an states that Allah has decide how long an individual is to live; the time of death is not a decision for the individual. The Qur’an provides specific teachings that prohibit euthanasia.
-“Allah fixes the time span for all things” (surah 53:42)
-“The knowledge of the final hour is with Allah; none but he can reveal when it will occur (surah 7:187)
-When you time expires, you will not be able to delay the reckoning for a single hour, just as you cannot bring it forward by a single hour. (surah 16: 61)
-It is important to note that there are two major groups in Islam, the Sunnis and the Shias. Sunni Muslims are less bound by formal religious hierarchy. Shias, in particular the Ayatollahs of the hanabali sect, have been most strident in their anti-euthanasia views.
Students learn to:
- compare and contrast how TWO religious traditions use TWO of the following areas in forming their ethical teachings:
–Sacred stories and texts
–Authority within religious structures
Sacred stories and texts
Christianity and Euthanasia
Many Protestant churches place particular emphasis on the bible. For Catholics, the teachings of the magisterium (i.e. see authority within religious structures) are often of greater prominence.
Old Testament
-the fifth commandment: “thou Shalt not kill” (genesis 20:13)
-God made man in his own image (Genesis 1:27) human life is a gift from God; it is sacred and has dignity.
-Humans have special value, a God likeness, which sets them apart (Genesis 1:26-27)
-I shall demand account for human life (Genesis 9:6)
New Testament
Jesus cured the sick and disabled and brought Lazarus back to life, shows the strongest commitment to life. Evangelical Christians interpret the Golden rule (Mark 12: 29), “love the lord your God. Love your neighbour” as an absolute commitment to helping the ill, handicapped and dying. This is particularly true given that human life has a special value (see above, in Old Testament). Galatians 6:2 help carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ. This is interpreted as a call to all Christians to offer the greatest possible assistance to others who may be contemplating euthanasia.
Islam and Euthanasia
Muslims believe the Qur’an is the word of God and its pronouncements are to be obeyed absolutely. It is the most important source of ethics. Because the Qur’an provides specific teachings which forbid euthanasia, euthanasia is not permitted in Islam. Specific pronouncement include:-
-“Allah fixes the time span for all things” (surah 53:42)
-“The knowledge of the final hour is with Allah; none but he can reveal when it will occur” (surah 7:187)
-“when your time expires you will not be able to delay the reckoning for a single hour, just as you cannot bring it forward by a single hour” (surah 16:61)
Human life is respected unconditionally, irrespective of the circumstances. The concept of a life not worth living does not exist in Islam.
Authority within religious structures
Christianity
Within Catholicism there is a presumption that believers should accept normative statements as truth. The Catholic Declaration on Euthanasia (1980) has this presumption although the role of an informed conscience is still significant.
The document states:
-A prohibitation against attempts on the life of the innocent
-A person has a duty to live in accordance with God’s plan
-Prohibits suicide because it rejects God’s sovereignty and plan
But
-It is permissible to do with the normal means that medicine can offer. Extraordinary means need not be explored.
-when death is imminent and individual may in good conscience refuse forms of treatment that would only secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life