Many political systems have, in fact, claimed to be based on religious values.
Marxism was the first political system that clearly set out the view that the state should be atheist.
In the 19th Century, the churches were the major provider of schools in Britain. Today there are 4700 Anglican (Church of England and Church in Wales) schools and 2,50 Roman Catholic schools.
Religious values can often form the basis of political and social value while many people do not hold any religious believes views themselves, however much of human beings essential moral beings they are likely to values that would support and promote effective communities- ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ is not only a God given law but also reflects a positive way of living. Since most people looked to deity to provide an explanation for things in a pre scientific age, such social values were actually assigned to a divine origin.
Social values- a belief in ‘providing for the needy’ – ca also be said to be based on the teachings found not only in the Bible, but also in other holy books.
Many people claim there has been a decline in social values will ascribe this to a decline in doing what is ‘right’ as defined by a religious tradition.
One problem for those who support the idea that religious values lie at the heart of all other value systems is that there is no set of religious values, even within the same religion. Some Christians are radical and some are socialist, other traditional conservatives, but all will claim they follow religious values in their particular life style.
Religious values are usually claimed to be the universal truth by adherents of that faith. Should it change from age to age to reflect contemporary opinion, for some people talk as though religious values do not change, but a glance at contemporary Christian church for example divorce Henry lll’s decision to of the Church of England fron Roman Catholic influence in 1534 with himself (rather than
the pope) as its head, was made largely for personal and political reason. (He wanted to divorce his wife and remarry, but divorce was not permitted by the Roman Catholic Church).In Britain today many divorced people re-marry in religious ceremonies and
there are homosexuals and lesbian activists every among the clergy campaigning in the church. Many religious couples no longer rule out abortion. Capital punishment, The Ten commandments of Christianity and Judaism clearly state ‘thou shalt not kill’, and Jesus was clear about taking ‘an eye for an eye’ is not acceptable- but many Christians over the centuries right up to the present day have supported the death penalty. Is the use of force to overcome evil justified? Who defines evil –in world war ll the battle ships of both England and Germany were launched with Christian prayers. A Muslim ‘fatwah’ –a death imposed by a senor Muslim cleric that any follower of Islam will be blessed for carrying out. People though out all ages have used the name of God to justify all kinds of evil. However many would argue that this represents an abuse of religion- which is, in its self God-given, and which followers believe will lead to eternal life. The role of women in the church today has changed women are now allowed to become priests in the church of England. The Roman Catholic church is still opposed to women priests. St Paul (an early Christian writer who wrote a collection of books telling the young church in the first century AD) speciiffically says that women do not have an active role in the church, that Jesus chose only men to be his followers.
The powers attributed to God to have a influence every individual in the UK the laws of the land Ten commandments every citizen has to abide by the law failure to do so may result to a penalty or imprisonment. When a person (who believes in God) goes to court they must testify on the oath of the Holy Bible any body found guilty of lying will be charged with perjury. For example Geoffrey Archer lied under oath and was sent to prision for five years. If you killed someone you could go to jail, however if there was a war and people contested to fight in the war, they would then go to prison for not going to fight. The law is somewhat hypocritical. The power that is conferred by religious the faith, is in the people the religion have power over its followers and the people are the power. For example if a very high majority of the nation decided that they wanted to abolish abortions because of their religion the government would have no choice but to make abortions against the law, however does this imply that religion is a force to be not to be reckoned with an example of this is if a Muslim wanted to follow the teachings of some of their leader ‘kill all those who are not Muslim’ that type of behaviour would not be tolerated in this country. However when the Roman catholic church decided to kill people who where not Roman Catholic they could to so at that time because they were in power. There are non-religious beliefs that commsuratrate power such as green party. The green party campaign to stop polluting the environment. The vegetarians campaign about cruelty to animals if the nation decided that these issues where a cause for concern something would be done about it. For example when there was a lot of speculation about polluting and the damage to the earth that it was causing. The green party at he time of the elections got a higher vote than normal and if they would have gotten enough votes they would have implemented their opinions. Religion can be dangerous the Muslims for example are offering themselves in the name of ‘Allah’ to be suicide boomers to cause devastation and destruction September the 11th. Are the people really aware for the religious books and teachings are by man written and spoken by man we do not know what the motive of that person is? But without religion would we be lost? How would society be? Does religion repress people? Some people are not religious believers by choice.
Therefore I believe that treat thy neighbour as you would treat yourself. Who then is my neighbour persons who are directly or indirectly affected by my act that I ought reasonably to have them in contemplation as being affected when I am directing my mind to the acts or omissions which are called in question.. Morals are directly concerned with how we behave, while ‘values’ are more of a philology about what is right and wrong. Sometimes we might make judgements, or act in a certain way that what we are told by someone in higher authority. Our parents and close families are another means though which a sense of right and wrong are installed in us (we are told off for doing something’s and praised for others). We come to conform to what is expected of u, but there is more than merely the kind of training you would give a pet dog. As humans we are expected to be given reasons for acting or behaving in a certain way among young children you will frequently the question ‘why?. As children get older their parents often say in relation t a action considered to be wrong ‘ what if everybody did that?’, suggesting that this would be a bad thing. Later on they might say to a teenager with increasing sophistication of thought, ‘How would you feel if somebody did that to you?’ This is a more complicated question because you have to consider both whether you would like to be treated like that, and also whether this in itself contestant as a reason for not doing it to somebody else.
When we are confronted with a moral dilemma, and , for example, have to discriminate good from bad, we should be able to give reasons for our decisions. Just because we like something it is not in itself enough for saying it is good- that is merely a statement of personal preference. Moral judgement affect the way we think and act in the world that and act in the world we live in today. Different people will come to different conclusions – often deeply held. Peoples views reflect their background, both in your immediate family and in the predominant culture in which you have been brought up. If everybody is taught this wisdom then maybe the life would be much better.
