Monday 13 Sept 2004: P.107-112;
119-123
Religion and Military Ethics (107)
- Morals
are influenced by religion in those who believe
- It
is dangerous to think morals are sent down directly from God
- This
makes it possible for morals to be changed or suspended by God
- Morality
seems like it should remain constant
- Some
believe God’s intelligence and goodness ensure his actions are moral
- Less
threatening because then God does not set and cannot change morals
- Others
argue (on the basis of Abraham) that morality has nothing to do with
religion
- The
Readings
- Discuss
the proper relationship between religious convictions and moral
obligations
- Cook:
argues religious beliefs help form and explain the basis of morality
- Rachels:
argues morality defined by religion is paradoxical based on Greek
scholars
- Eberle:
defends morality and religion by attacking Plato’s argument
- Religion
may not be the sole basis for actions by military personnel
Reality
Check: The Human and Spiritual Needs of Soldiers (Chaplain Brinsfield) (109)
- Soldiers
are reluctant to discuss religion because it is perceived to be very
personal
- Strong
observance of religion is perceived as being detrimental to the unit
- Most
religions worship a deity though some promote wisdom, etc.
- Religion
has become more diverse in the US:
45 to 2,000 specific religions in 60 years
- Most
important intangible assets: morale, élan, espirit de corps, the will to
combat, and the will to win
- Morale
most influenced by leading by example and unit cohesion
- Moral
is an “expendable commodity”
- Brits
in WWII noticed soldiers peak ability was the first 90 days of combat
- After
that, it declines until the soldier is useless (around 140 days)
- 10-15%
of casualties were psychiatric casualties
- Four
elements of support which help to cope with combat stress
- Rightness
of the war; unit cohesion from hard training, sports, and rewards;
selfless leadership; and a desire for religious fortification before
battle
- Manchester
on Okinawa (USMC): through prayer he realized he was there to fight for
his comrades and a greater purpose than himself
- A
soldier’s ability to draw on his religion is an “undeniable component of
readiness”
Does Morality Depend on Religion? (James Rachels) (119)
Connection
between morality and religion
- People
often associate religion with morality and therefore call on priests to
give ethical advice
- A
world without religion and a higher power lacks values according to Russel
in A Free Man’s Worship
The Divine Command Theory
(120)
- Commanded
by God means moral, and the reverse means immoral
- Pros:
solves the relativism / objectivism debate
- Right
and wrong is objective; those who don’t obey will be held accountable at
death
- Problems
- Cannot
apply to atheists
- Main
problem (Plato) – Is conduct right b/c the gods cmd it, or do the gods
cmd it b/c it is right? … both problematic:
- If
it is right because god commands it, then it is arbitrary because god
could have commanded the opposite – makes it impossible to label god as
good
- If
god commands it because it is right, then there exists a standard of
right and wrong, which means morals cannot be defined in term’s of god’s
will
- Many
religious people believe the latter because it would be impious to do
otherwise
- Some
theologians say the latter is impious as it doesn’t allow morals to be
defined by god’s will
- Some
theologians reject this however (see below)
The
Theory of Natural Law (122)
- Says
morals are decided by reason
- Argues
that god made natural law and us rational
- This
allows non-believers to use reason to determine morals just as easily as
believers
- Morality,
like science, is autonomous of religion with its own way of being
understood
- Religious
people believe the understandings of morality as being revealed by god
- Allows
non-believers and believers to participate in the same moral universe