Morality & God

Morality & God

Introduction

Morality represents the code of conduct that forms the basis of the various ethical theories that govern the decision we make in our daily lives. Normatively speaking, morality provides a code of conduct that should be observed by anyone who has the ability to understand it and posses the power to observe it. In this case, no one would be spared for overriding the rules of morality and subjected to punishment (White 2008, p216-19). This paper discussed the question that is the center of debate between humanists and their proponents discussing whether a person can be moral if they do not believe in God.

Thesis Statement

A person can be moral even if they do not believe in God.

Discussion

The question whether a person can be moral even if he does not believe in God needs some clarification because it is utterly unclear. There are different ways through which this question can be interpreted and that is only going to yield a futile discussion. The secular humanistic is likely to interpret the question to be inquiring whether a person can be just, true, benevolent in his actions and deeds, while still not believing in the God that is maintained by Theists. These interpretations would result in a positive answer based on the argument that a large number of atheists have successfully shown such behavior.

However, a firm believer in God is likely to interrupt this question in a manner that a person does not need to believe in God to be moral. This means that the person does not need to follow the rule and principles put forth by God like the Ten Commandments. Such an interpretation is going to have a logical answer in negative. I believe that both interpretations are important to understand before presenting my own stand on the question. A secular might follow the commandments that are provided by God to Moses, on mount Sinai but still not believe in Theist God.

The secular person looks at life from an intellectual stand point by maintaining that a person need to have an independent code of conduct before he can interpret what God intends to convey in his commandments. However, the theist is likely to respond by asserting that people who maintain their independent morality are few in numbers. They are exceptions in the society and cannot represent the belief that is maintained by a large majority of people. The ordinary people cannot develop a code of conduct and act moral if they do not believe in God. The secular atheists are exceptions in the society and rules are never made by them.

If a secular person is able to live a moral life without believing in God that does not mean that all men can do the same. Not every person in the world can compete in the Olympics. To this argument, the secular might respond by asserting that it is the lack of education that hinders the development of an independent moral code among all ...