Morality and Religion - Part 1

What is the relationship between morality and religion? For Christians, we have the Bible which outlines moral norms for Christians to follow. In modern times this has left Christianity on the wayside of cultural influences. Why listen to what Christians say when they have to follow what the Bible says and when the Bible says nothing concerning a topic they still have to figure out for themselves the appropriate path. 

The Bible may tell us to be monogamous, heterosexual, and abstinent, but it doesn't tell us how to pick a mate, or what moral qualities to look for in a partner. The Bible may tell us to submit to our government, but it doesn't tell us what kind of politics to follow. Christians in this vein have to live normal lives just like every other person. We have to make the same decisions as everyone else makes, but it seems in many ways Christians have the unfortunate disposition of multiplying what sources they go to, to make moral decisions.

For most Christians, I think it is harder to have moral integrity then it is for the unsaved, simply because Christians who (try to) follow the moral teachings of the Bible end up making their ethical point of view more complex then it might need to be. I say this only as a philosopher at this juncture, because it is mainly the task of ethics to reduce our moral influences down to a single principle. For Kant it was duty. For Aristotle it was happiness. Now, it is not my prerogative to state which ethical system is correct, but only to outline that the Christian who follows the moral teachings of the Bible seems to be at an ethical disadvantage.

I say this because the Bible, also, does not give us an ethical system to follow. There is no singular moral virtue that is systematically presented as the ethical core of human life. This can certainly be debated, for we do have in the Bible certain spiritual qualities, like love, grace, and humility. Now it may be true that these spiritual qualities can be ethical foundations, but the Bible certainly does not present this in an argumentative, or systematic approach whereby we may judge them to be the ethical foundations of our moral life. 

For all intents and purposes the Christian still has to find a moral system which is philosophically accurate as every other person in existence has to find. The Bible does not seem to give him any advantage for this, and it seems that no matter the outcome the Bible still has specific moral norms which need to be followed no matter the outcome of our personal search for a moral system to follow. It might just so happen that our moral system conflicts with the moral norms listed in the Bible. If this is the case then what is the appropriate course of action?

For a person to have moral integrity they should be allowed to remain consistent with their own moral system, until such a person can be reasonably sure that there is a flaw in such a system. Now, I suspect, that for most Christians the Bible is such a document that once it exposes a conflict of moral integrity that becomes sufficient evidence to suggest a flaw in the moral system rather then a flaw in the moral norms revealed in the Bible. At this point though we have to admit the reality that in this regard Christians are more likely to be amoral then virtuous.

Now this is not intended in any way to represent the entire spectrum of Evangelical Christianity. Just as I say that "most Christians" do this or that, I also fully understand that for most Christians this does not enter into everyday thought or experience, but this to me only represents a bigger problem. I see an essential conflict in the common everyday reality of Christianity and for those who call themselves Christians this is not even recognized. I suspect this is due to religious devotion. Christians like to assume that their faith protects them from such weaknesses, and maybe this is truly the case, but realize that this is not a resolution to the problem, but an assent. If Christians are to claim that their faith resolves this issue, then there is really no resolution at all. For them the answer may be given, but to the outside world Christians are still seen as amoral and without moral integrity.

If this problem is to be solved then some serious questions have to be asked. And to prevent isolationism on the Christian camp a serious attitude must be adopted toward the Bible and toward our ethical systems. Is it right for Biblical moral norms to have the trump card when it comes to ethical dilemmas? What are we even saved for if moral integrity is impossible in the Christian paradigm? If the moral norms presented in the Bible are to be relativized then what does that say for the sanctity of Scripture? 

I believe that there is a way to approach the teachings of the Bible that do not conflict with ethical systems. I believe the Bible is still holy and relevant for today. I believe it is the Christians responsibility to follow and adhere to the teaching of the Bible. None of these beliefs cause any conflict for me when it comes to my moral integrity or religious devotion. I have simply outlined a problem that I think exists in Christianity today, and like most problems it is unnecessary. At this point you can simply ignore the problem and say that it doesn't exist. You can add to the content of revealed Scripture and impose on it some underlying message that is the content of a systematic ethic, or you can take the Bible for what it is and not make any excuses for it. You can take the problem seriously. Now it just might happen that a solution which presents itself may include all of these options. I do not wish to exclude any possibility, but our attitude should be one that embraces the possibility that our preconceived beliefs might actually be wrong and if that is the case then we should honor God and direct ourselves and our minds toward him, no matter what that means.