Sources of moral behaviour

Sources of moral behaviour

1. Scriptures

   • Christians will look to the bible for answers to dilemmas and follow what the bible says to do.
   • There are parts in the bible that say how to live your life, Christians will follow these to make sure that they live according to God and how He wants them to live.

2. Religious leaders and official teaching of their religion

   • This might mean that you follow what a pastor say's you need to do or what you shouldn't do.
   • What the higher person in the religion says to do.

3. Personal conscience

   • This is what your inner feeling says you should do.
   • This is often altered by the other sources as you may think that what you should do is what your parents would say to do, or what the religion says to do.
   • Doesn't always pick the right option as the body is greedy meaning you may want to do what the bible or what ever religion you follow says is wrong.

4. Reason

   • This is what you decide is right after weighing up the possible actions and thinking which is more logical, safe, or best for the situation.
   • Some people will look at the logical side whereas others will look at the safe side, and others yet again at the quickest plan of action. All these are the reasoning source.

5. Absolute Vs. Relative morality

   • If you have absolute morality about somthing then you would stay away from that or stick to it with no excpetion
     • E.g. Absolute morality towards the commandment "do no kill" would mean that in any circumstance you won't kill anyone. Even if your life was at risk.
     • E.g. Relative morality towards the commandment "do not kill" means you would try to avoid it and agree that it it wrong but in some cases a necessary (if your life was at risk from someone trying to kill you.)