Deck 5: Morality and Religion

Question 1

Is religion necessary in order for people to be motivated to behave morally? Why might someone believe that it is? What challenges does such a view face? Ultimately, what is your view? Explain and defend your response.

Answer 1

No Answer.

Question 2

Could morality exist in the absence of God? Why or why not? Clearly explain what you take to be the strongest objection to your view, and respond to it.

Answer 2

No Answer.

Question 3

State Socrates's question for Euthyphro, and explain how the first option is a problem for the Divine Command Theory. Is there a way for the Divine Command Theorist to solve this problem while still endorsing the first option? Explain and defend your response.

Answer 3

No Answer.

Question 4

State Socrates's question for Euthyphro, and explain how the second option is a problem for the Divine Command Theory. Is there a way for the Divine Command Theorist to solve this problem while still endorsing the second option? Explain and defend your response.

Question 5

Is religion a good source of moral guidance? Describe what you take to be the strongest arguments on both side of the issue, and then defend your own view.

Question 6

What is the relationship between religion and morality? Does morality depend on religion in any sense? Defend your answer.

Question 7

Many people believe that religion is necessary in order for

A) us to be motivated to act morally.
B) us to know the difference between right and wrong.
C) morality to exist at all.
D) All of the above

Question 8

Agnostics are people who

A) believe that God exists and gives commands.
B) believe that God exists and does not give commands.
C) believe that God does not exist.
D) are not sure whether God exists.

Question 9

Deists believe that

A) God does not exist.
B) God exists and gives us moral guidance.
C) God exists but does not give us moral guidance.
D) the very idea of God is incoherent.

Question 10

The fear of hell is often thought to

A) help people determine what is right or wrong.
B) motivate people to do what they believe is right.
C) scare people into behaving immorally.
D) All of the above

Question 11

According to the text, those who act morally out of fear of God are

A) doing the right thing for the right reasons.
B) doing the right thing for the wrong reasons.
C) much more likely to do the right thing than atheists.
D) much less likely to do the right thing than atheists.

Question 12

If fear of God is the most effective way to get people to act morally, then

A) God exists.
B) atheists are unlikely to act morally.
C) Divine Command Theory is true.
D) None of the above

Question 13

According to the argument for God's creation of morality

A) the moral law requires a lawmaker.
B) if God is the author of the moral law, then humans cannot be.
C) humans author some laws.
D) All of the above

Question 14

The Divine Command Theory states that

A) God's commands are always based on good reasons.
B) God did not create morality but always accurately reports it.
C) acts are morally required just because they are commanded by God.
D) All of the above

Question 15

In Plato's Euthyphro, Socrates asks

A) "What reasons do we have for believing in the gods?"
B) "Do the gods love actions because they are pious, or are actions pious because the gods love them?"
C) "How do we determine what the gods command us to do?"
D) "Why would someone who does not believe in the gods act justly?"

Question 16

If God's commands make actions right or wrong, then

A) God always has reasons for his commands.
B) God is morally perfect.
C) God lacks reasons for his commands.
D) Both a and b

Question 17

If God has reasons for his commands, then

A) actions are not right because God commands them.
B) God is imperfect.
C) God's commands are arbitrary.
D) All of the above

Question 18

Omniscience is the property of being

A) all-knowing.
B) all-powerful.
C) all-good.
D) All of the above

Question 19

If one has selected a religious text to rely on, then

A) one must read the text literally in order to determine what is right or wrong.
B) it is easy to determine what is right or wrong.
C) one must interpret the text in order to determine what it implies about morality.
D) it is impossible to determine what the text says about morality.

Question 20

According to the text, extracting reliable moral knowledge from religious scriptures is

A) difficult.
B) relatively straightforward and simple.
C) impossible.
D) possible but not at all worthwhile.

Question 21

According to the text, one can succeed in seeking divine guidance to lead a moral life only if

A) God exists.
B) belief in God can be justified.
C) God offers moral advice.
D) All of the above

Question 22

Which of the following assumptions was not examined in this chapter?

A) All religions teach basically the same moral message.
B) Religious belief is required to get us to do our duty.
C) God is the creator of morality.
D) Religion is an essential source of moral guidance.

Question 23

Which of the following claims would the deist accept?

A) God does not exist.
B) God exists but does not give us commands.
C) God exists and gives commands but did not create morality.
D) God exists and is the creator of morality.

Question 24

According to the text, what does good moral character involve?

A) Doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do
B) Doing the right thing out of fear of punishment
C) Doing the right thing out of love of God
D) Any of the above would constitute good moral character.

Question 25

What is the relationship between religion and moral motivation?

A) Religion is required to motivate us to do the right thing.
B) Religion often motivates people to do the right thing.
C) Religion is not required to motivate us to do the right thing.
D) Both b and c

Question 26

What is the Divine Command Theory?

A) The view that God's commands do not create morality but reliably track it
B) The view that God's commands create morality
C) The view that God created the universe simply by issuing a command
D) The view that God's commands are the only thing that motivates us to act morally

Question 27

Which of the following is a premise in the argument for God's creation of morality?

A) Every law requires a lawmaker.
B) If theism is true, then the Divine Command Theory is true.
C) If God did not create morality, we have no reason to be moral.
D) All of the above

Question 28

What problem does Socrates's question in the Euthyphro raise for the Divine Command Theory?

A) If God does not exist, the Divine Command Theory must be false.
B) Many people don't believe in God but still behave morally.
C) If the Divine Command Theory is true, then God's commands are arbitrary.
D) If the Divine Command Theory is true, then it is impossible to know what is right or wrong.

Question 29

Which of the following is required if we are to be justified in relying on religion for moral guidance?

A) We must have good reason to believe in God.
B) We must have a way of selecting which religious text is the correct one.
C) We must have a way of accurately interpreting our chosen religious text.
D) All of the above

Question 30

Why is a literal reading of religious texts problematic?

A) Such texts sometimes contradict themselves.
B) A literal reading would often challenge our ordinary assumptions.
C) It is impossible to determine what a "literal" reading would consist of.
D) If we read the texts literally, we are not permitted to do many things we'd like to do.