Religion and Morality: Ethics and Decision Making — CSEC Religious Education

This topic looks at how religion guides ideas of right and wrong and helps people make moral decisions.

Morality and conscience

• Morality is concerned with ideas of right and wrong, good and bad.
• The conscience is a person's inner sense of right and wrong that guides moral judgement.

Sources of moral guidance in religion

Religions provide moral guidance through:

• Sacred writings (e.g. the Ten Commandments, the teachings of Jesus, the Qur'an).
• The teachings and example of religious leaders.
• Religious rules and traditions.

The Golden Rule

Many religions share the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. Religions widely teach values such as honesty, compassion, justice, respect and forgiveness, and condemn greed, cruelty and dishonesty.

Making moral decisions

A moral dilemma is a difficult choice between options that each have moral weight. Careful ethical decision-making involves:

1. Identify the moral problem.
2. Consider the relevant religious/moral teachings.
3. Weigh the consequences for those involved.
4. Make and act on the decision.

Exam tips

• Morality = right and wrong; conscience = the inner moral guide.
• The Golden Rule = treat others as you wish to be treated.
• Know the steps of moral decision-making.
• Be able to apply religious teachings to a given moral situation.