Rocky L.

Ho

Chapter 2

Title: John Arthur: Religion, Morality, and Conscience.

Quote: “Whatever implies contradiction does not come within the scope of divine
omnipotence, because it cannot have the aspect of possibility. Hence it is more appropriate to
say that such things cannot be done that that God cannot do them.”

Expectations: I expect to understand the concept in finding how morality is connected with
religion. To be able to gain more experience out of this topic. I expect to know how morality
and religion differs from each other.

Book Review:
Chapter 2 talks about religion, moral, and conscience. John Arthur, the author for this article has
differentiate these topic. God was mentioned, where I think it was the main purpose of the chapter, God is related.
Example: God has created everything which makes us possible for us to be living in this world. For what I
understand, morality is something which we can learn for others.

` John Arthur has been arguing between religion, he said that the religion is necessary to provide guidance
and moral motivation, which I think is correct.

About the Divine Command Theory, God was still the center of the topic in this article. God made
everything possible, the main issue is that, what if there is no God? Who created the world, and everything else?
This issue has made me realized how it really happened.

Things I have learned: I learned that

Integrity Questions:
1.) Who is Dewey?
2.) What is Religious Motivation?
3.) Examples for Religion.
4.) Examples for Morality.
5.) Examples for Conscience.

Continue

Review Questions:
1.) According to Arthur, how are morality and religion different?
- Morality is something which we may not realize. When the time come, you will
automatically know what it means.
2.) Why religious is necessary for moral motivation?
- Religion is not necessarily important to us. Religion has nothing to do with moral
motivation, in the future, we will realize what is important and which is not.
3.) Why religious is necessary as a source of moral knowledge?
- Religion basically explains how we use actions and belief.
4.) What is the divine command theory? Why does Arthur reject this theory?
- Divine Command Theory talks about God, where everything is related to God.
5.) According to Arthur, how are morality and religion connected?
- Morality and religion has some parts that connect with each other.
6.) Dewey says that morality is social. What does this mean according to Arthur?
- John Arthur said that morality and religion are independent itself.

Discussion Questions:
1.) Has Arthur refuted the divine command theory? If not, how can it be defended?
- Yes, Arthur was most likely disapprove the theory itself
2.) If morality is social, as Dewey says, then how can we have any obligation to non-human
animals?
- We should understand what Dewey has said, because it makes sense.
3.) What does Dewey mean by moral education? Does a college ethics class count as moral
education?
- Moral education means that they have to apply the moral education anywhere and
anytime.