Contemporary Moral Problems

Book Review Chapter 1: Ethical Theories:

John Arthur: Religion, Morality and Conscience

Library Reference: N/A

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233793391&sr=8-1

Quote:  “Without religion or religious motivation, people could not be expected to do the right thing; that religion is necessary to provide people guidance in their search for the correct course of action; and that religion is essential for there even to be a right or wrong”

    Although this is not all agreed by other people, this is basically somehow true. Religion is our guidance and it lets us know whether our actions are either right or wrong. In my experience, religion is my guidance in my life. And I could say honestly that without religion, I could be lost forever. I think that a person like me can’t live without a religion and so does other people, regardless of what religion they believe in.

Learning Expectation:

    From the title of the chapter, obviously, this chapter will be talking about religion, morality and conscience. Although I may already have an idea of what these three things mean, I want to further increase my knowledge about these three things. Specifically on morality and conscience, since I am very comfortable already with religion.

Review:

    As I have said in my learning expectation, this chapter I all about religion, morality and conscience. It is interesting to know that if morality needs religion. This question was actually raised in the beginning of the chapter. It is also very very interesting to take note in this chapter is when Arthur mentioned or stated that without religion or religious motivation, people could not be expected to do the right thing; that religion is necessary to provide people guidance in their search for the correct course of action; and that religion is essential for there even to be a right or wrong. With that said, Arthur claims that Morality is actually social. Although morality is like our instinct, it would also depend on our own morality and judgment.

What I’ve learned:

    I have learned that morality is social. Although it is social, religion plays a great role in morality. In relation to that, I have also learned that without religion people would not survive. Not physically though but rather more on the inside of a person. Religion is everyone’s guide and if ever religion were not to be present, everyone would be lost. Chaos could break through and we could have endless war against our own race.

Questions:

1.    Can morality exist without religion?

2.    Can religion exist without morality?

3.    Can religion not vanish?

4.    Is there a person without any religion?

5.    Could there be peace when there is no religion.

Citation: (James E. White, St. Cloud State University, 2003)