Religion and Ethics
Week 2 Assignment: Religion and Ethics
Cecily Rodgers
Chamberlain University
ETHC445N: Principle Ethics
July 2020
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Religion and Ethics
Topic Selections: Jane Doe/ Joe & Mary
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What is the relation between ethics and religion? Formulate and investigate the
relation.
For each case, would a natural law ethicist agree with what you say is the ethical
form of conduct? Why or why not?
Much of what people decide to do in life is either based on what they morally or
ethically want to do concerning any religious beliefs. Religion is based on the idea that
God, or higher-being, reveal insights about life and its true meaning (Donahue, 2006).
Ethics strictly comes from a humanistic perspective and is derived from the individual or
group of individuals to carry out personal beliefs or social standards. From this
perspective, ethical principles need not derive their authority from religious doctrine.
In the scenario of Jane Doe, she is considered a legal adult. Despite, her
religious or sexual beliefs, she can make choices that make her feel comfortable.
Ethically, she has rights as a legal adult to live her life as a lesbian. About religion
opposing the idea of same-sex relationships, a natural law ethicist would consider this a
violation of something natural. However, who, or what entity, is to say what is
considered natural for Jane Doe? According to Aristotle, everything in nature has
purpose and nothing lacks purpose. The morality of this situation would stem primarily
from Jane having to confront her parents.
In the scenario of Joe and Mary, they originally conceived a child under natural
conditions. With IVF being a plausible option for them to have another child, we must
first consider their ethical reasons behind it. Ethically, the couple wants to love a child,
which originally brought them joy. However, in the land of natural law ethics, one may
argue that the death of their first child may have served a purpose to not having kids
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overall. Not to mention the couple has become sterile and can no longer naturally have
a child. Violating the purpose of something is immoral. Unfortunately, this idea
contradicts the idea of other ethical concepts. Many people who are dying, and in need
of blood, are given blood transfusions from other donors to help save their lives. A
person who is “pro-life” with regards to saving humans would contradict the idea of a
mother receiving IVF to produce an embryo.
The Theory of Natural Law does is not considered an ethical form of conduct
because there is also a disorder in the world. Just because something is natural, does
not make it good. Some foods are naturally grown, such as potatoes, but are high in
saturated fat. Natural disasters occur every year in various parts of the world, killing
thousands of people along with the natural occurrence. However, because there is a
natural disaster, does it mean those lives that have died are justified and accepted? If
the answer is “no,” then this premise contradicts the ethical form of conduct.
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Religion and Ethics
References
Donahue, J. A. (2006, March 1). Does Ethics Require Religion? Greater Good Magazine.
Rachels, J. (2018). The Elements of Moral Philosophy, 9th Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf 9.2.1].
Retrieved from vbk://9781260213003
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