14.1 Sources of ethical decision-making

Each religious culture has its own particular order. Each one proposes how our human actions should be regulated and each one has its own ways and structures to instruct its adherents to comply with its teachings and principles. And yet, there are a number of sources that the religious traditions of the world make use of in order to reach their processes of ethical decision–making. The contents of these sources are of course not the same in the various traditions, but most of the types of sources that we will identify below can be found in the majority of religious traditions.

Sacred stories

First, there are sacred stories. One of Judaism's creation stories about Adam and Eve tells of a rib being taken from Adam's side and fashioned into a woman, Eve. Eve is then brought to Adam who recognises her as a very part of himself. Adam then says: 'This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh'. The Hebrew text implies that the woman will co–operate with him in good times and support him in adversity. The story concludes that this is why men and women unite sexually in marriage and they become one body or person. The story justifies sexuality in marriage.

Case study

Sacred texts

Linked to sacred stories are the second source, sacred texts. Written texts, accepted as divinely guided writings, may prescribe or forbid a certain behaviour. In this regard there is the Torah or Jewish Law, the New Testament form Christian side, the Qur’an, the sacred text of Islam and Buddhists texts such the Dhammapada. In all of these writings the ethical demands to the followers of that particular tradition are clearly outlined.

Case study