10.1 Religious ethics

We can, in general, define ethics as the concern for what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is evil. Although we are presently dealing with religion and with religious ethics, we need to say, that of course one does not need to be religious in order to behave in a responsible way.

To put it differently, religion does not have a monopoly on moral behaviour. People who do not adhere to a particular religion or who do not believe in a Supreme Being or in the Divine are quite capable of leading responsible lives. Their motivation to do so, may differ from those whose moral conduct is inspired by their particular religious beliefs, but their concern to be morally responsible people may in no way be less serious or well–intended.

We can therefore say that there is indeed something like secular ethics alongside religious ethics. However, here we are occupying ourselves with ethics as a dimension of religion.

Religious ethics are the moral principles that guide the followers of the different religions and that set the standard for what is and is not acceptable behaviour in accordance with their respective beliefs. Particular features of religious ethics may be the concern over the causes or origin of evil and the concern over the consequences of evil behaviour.

The ethical dimensions of religion refer then to the so–called religious laws that are to be found in the different religions. For instance in Judaism, there are, besides the ten commandments , more than six hundred rules ( mitzvot ) that its followers should follow in obedience to the Almighty.

Fact file: a few of the 613 Mitzvot

• 27. Not to stand by idly when a human life is in danger

• 37. To relieve a neighbour of his burden and help to unload his beast

• 275. To restore that which one took by robbery

• 321. Not to hearken to one who prophesies in the name of an idol

• 482. To offer a sacrifice of varying value in accordance with one's means

• 584. That the King shall not acquire an excessive number of horses

• 603. Not to destroy fruit trees (wantonly or in warfare)

The Five Precepts serve as the basic ground rules for Buddhists.

Fact File: The Five Precepts of Buddhism

• I undertake the precept to refrain from harming living creatures (killing).

• I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not freely given (stealing).

• I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.

• I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech (lying, harsh language, slander, idle chit–chat).

• I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness.

These five rules apply to lay Buddhists. For Buddhist monks and nuns, there are many more rules to follow, hundreds of them, in fact.

In the case of Muslims, the Shari'a or Islamic Law, control their religious, moral and political behaviour. Islamic Law is quite comprehensive: it covers what Muslims are allowed to eat, how they should dress, and so forth. In some Islamic countries, this system of law serves also as the civil law of the land. But in countries where Muslims are in the minority, they have to obey both the secular civil law and the Islamic system.