Theme 1A
Discuss whether morality is what God commands [30]
The issue of morality is a debate that is commonly discussed among believers and
non-believers. In fact, some may argue that morality is simply a command from God
and that we have no absolute say on what is right and wrong because God has
determined this from the beginning of time. However, some might argue that morality
is not a commandment from God rather it is based on our individualistic human
experience and what we perceive as good or bad in our own eyes.
To begin with, it is arguable that some may agree that morality is what God
commands because DCT (divine command theorists) they would argue that God is
the originator and regulator of morality. This shows that morality is what God
commands because God’s laws are not relative to the preferences of culture they
are absolute. This is significant because God’s laws can be found within scripture
therefore they are beneficial and they allow for humans to better understand his will
and standard for morality. For example, because God is known to be omnipotent,
omniscient and transcendent his laws will reflect his nature which is why morality
stems from God. This is a persuasive argument because Descartes argues that God
is supremely perfect being therefore his moral laws will indeed be perfect and thus
beneficial for out lives here on earth. However, we may counter this argument and
perceive it to be weak, this is because we now reside in a postmodern secular
society therefore God including his laws are completely irrelevant and that we cannot
gain anything from them. This is a convincing argument because Kai Nielsen claims
in his ‘Ethics without God’ that morality is not dependent on God himself. This is
interesting, because although Kai Nielsen states that following God’s laws would be
prudent, he argues that we are not to be morally obliged to Gods laws on morality.
This therefore demonstrates that perhaps morality is not what God commands rather
in my opinion it is based on our free will and how we construct morality ourselves.
E.g. some may argue that taking drugs is beneficial because their grandparents did
drugs whereas some may deem it as immoral, therefore morality maybe based on
one’s interpretation not God! This is significant because due to pluralism objection,
there is a vast amount of conflicting ethical and religious systems in our world even
within God’s laws. For example, divorce is accepted in the OT but accepted in the
NT. Therefore, we might argue that morality stems from ourselves.
In addition, some may argue that morality is indeed what God commands because it
is consistent with major religious belief like Muslims and Christians because for them
following God’s moral laws will allow them to achieve moral goodness. This shows
that morality is what God commands because they are deontological [comes from
the Greek word ‘deon’ meaning duty or obligation] therefore, if they are followed it
will allow religious believers to enter heaven post mortem. Moreover, this is
significant because Aquians argues that the main purpose for humanity is to achieve
the highest good of ‘becoming more like God,’ therefore, God’s moral laws will allow
one to achieve this because they are for an essential purpose. For example, since
God has commanded stealing as bad it will always be wrong, this is purposeful
because stealing may make another person upset which ultimately causes a disrupt
Discuss whether morality is what God commands [30]
The issue of morality is a debate that is commonly discussed among believers and
non-believers. In fact, some may argue that morality is simply a command from God
and that we have no absolute say on what is right and wrong because God has
determined this from the beginning of time. However, some might argue that morality
is not a commandment from God rather it is based on our individualistic human
experience and what we perceive as good or bad in our own eyes.
To begin with, it is arguable that some may agree that morality is what God
commands because DCT (divine command theorists) they would argue that God is
the originator and regulator of morality. This shows that morality is what God
commands because God’s laws are not relative to the preferences of culture they
are absolute. This is significant because God’s laws can be found within scripture
therefore they are beneficial and they allow for humans to better understand his will
and standard for morality. For example, because God is known to be omnipotent,
omniscient and transcendent his laws will reflect his nature which is why morality
stems from God. This is a persuasive argument because Descartes argues that God
is supremely perfect being therefore his moral laws will indeed be perfect and thus
beneficial for out lives here on earth. However, we may counter this argument and
perceive it to be weak, this is because we now reside in a postmodern secular
society therefore God including his laws are completely irrelevant and that we cannot
gain anything from them. This is a convincing argument because Kai Nielsen claims
in his ‘Ethics without God’ that morality is not dependent on God himself. This is
interesting, because although Kai Nielsen states that following God’s laws would be
prudent, he argues that we are not to be morally obliged to Gods laws on morality.
This therefore demonstrates that perhaps morality is not what God commands rather
in my opinion it is based on our free will and how we construct morality ourselves.
E.g. some may argue that taking drugs is beneficial because their grandparents did
drugs whereas some may deem it as immoral, therefore morality maybe based on
one’s interpretation not God! This is significant because due to pluralism objection,
there is a vast amount of conflicting ethical and religious systems in our world even
within God’s laws. For example, divorce is accepted in the OT but accepted in the
NT. Therefore, we might argue that morality stems from ourselves.
In addition, some may argue that morality is indeed what God commands because it
is consistent with major religious belief like Muslims and Christians because for them
following God’s moral laws will allow them to achieve moral goodness. This shows
that morality is what God commands because they are deontological [comes from
the Greek word ‘deon’ meaning duty or obligation] therefore, if they are followed it
will allow religious believers to enter heaven post mortem. Moreover, this is
significant because Aquians argues that the main purpose for humanity is to achieve
the highest good of ‘becoming more like God,’ therefore, God’s moral laws will allow
one to achieve this because they are for an essential purpose. For example, since
God has commanded stealing as bad it will always be wrong, this is purposeful
because stealing may make another person upset which ultimately causes a disrupt
