A Religious Argument Against Relying on Religious Arguments in Ethics Addressed to a Pluralistic Community

The point is to show that we can construct a religious argument, plausible within the broad framework of the Western monotheistic tradition, against relying on religious arguments in ethics for the public sphere. What makes this a religious argument is that it depends on at least one religious premises, one regarding the will of God. There is no further argument for this religious premise--like all such premises, it must ultimately be taken on authority or faith.

The argument will have no force for atheists or for theists who believe that reason is of no or little use in the promotion of social harmony and justice. (The latter view is not immune to criticism, however: We could inquire as to whether there is evidence that reason is useful in promoting harmony and justice.)

1. Human beings have a capacity for reason.

2. The rational capacity, properly used, can help us live well, in harmony with our fellow human beings; it can also lead us to make just and fair decisions. (partly based on 1)

3. Justice and social harmony are important values.

4. Therefore, the rational capacity is an important capacity. (2,3)

5. God, understood as a wise and benevolent creator, wishes us to develop and use this important capacity He gave us to promote justice and social harmony.

This is the main religious premise. (In small part it is based on 4, but since it makes claims not included in 4, it should be treated as a basic premise.)

6. We ought to do as God wishes.

This too is a religious premise unless it can be defended by reasoning that makes no further appeal to religious premises. 6 is sometimes claimed to be a theory about morality, and as such is called "the Divine Command Theory of Morality."

7. Therefore, we ought to develop and use our rational capacities. (5,6)

8. God knows that human societies are religiously diverse and different faith positions have different and strongly held views about God's will or preferences.

Conclusion based on the premise that God is wise. (Contained in 5)

9. God knows further that intransigent reliance on such divergent premises in the public sphere leads to "debates" in which there is more heat than light and sometimes to violence and war. (5,8)

10. Reason, including the rational use of experience (collective and individual), by itself provides us with premises about good and evil, justice and injustice, virtue and vice. (Reason and experience are available to all, regardless of one's particular religious upbringing.)

11. God wishes us to rely primarily on reason in developing an ethics for the public domain. (5,9,10)

12. Therefore, we ought to rely primarily on reason in developing an ethics for the public domain. (6,11)