God’s Role in Morality is…
the authority that establishes the rules…
0 How do we know there is a God?
0 How do we know this being has created
rules?
0 What are the consequences in regards to
morality if there is no God or there is a
God?
The Consequences
0 If there is no God then what is the purpose of life?
0 If there is no God is all authority just human
authority?
0 If there is a God should we not try and find out
what the correct rules are?
0 Should we not try to ensure our rules match God’s
rules?
Morality
“Freedom makes humans moral subjects”
0 Morality: the sinfulness or goodness of an act
0 Humans have inherited the wisdom and goodness of
the Creator who gave humans mastery over their
acts and the ability to govern themselves with a view
to the TRUE and the GOOD.
0 In order to believe this you must believe that there is
such a thing as objective truth and good
Two Truths
0 Subjective: based on somebody’s
opinions or feelings rather than
on facts or evidence OR existing
only in the mind and not
independently of it.
 Ex. I think The Simpsons is better
than Family Guy
0 Objective: based on facts rather
than thoughts or opinions OR
existing independently of the
individual mind or perception.
 Ex. Math: 1+1=2
So based on our understanding of
Morality and Objective Truth…
Is Murder Wrong?
What would Michael Corleone or Tony Soprano say?
The Godfather
• Part II
• Fredo’s betrayal of brother Michael
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeZ5GpcG4sc&featu
re=related
• Part III
• Michael’s guilt
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2QvuZpxmeo
Objective Truth: Murder is Wrong!
Religion
0 People’s beliefs and opinions
concerning the existence, nature, and
worship of a God or Gods &Goddesses,
and divine involvement in the
universe and human life.
a particular institutionalized
system of beliefs and practices
If there is no God then, by logic, no
absolute or ultimate goodness would exist
in the world and therefore all morality
becomes relative and subjective
If all morality is subjective and relative
then individuals and by extension
individual societies become the sole
determiners of right and wrong
If there is no God then all is material;
there is no divine spirit
If this is the case then one would have
to question why killing is wrong, where
moral outrage could exist, and how
exactly Hitler is evil or any act be
considered evil as there is no absolute
or universal good