1. Moral Arguments for the existence and non-existence of God
The Relationship between Religion & Morality
Moral Arguments for the existence and non-existence of God

2. Simple moral argument for God
There are some moral laws (principles such as ‘murder is wrong’)
Laws come into existence by a lawmaker (ie. Governments or monarchs)
So, there must be a lawmaker to explain the existence of moral laws
So, there must be a God
Are there really moral laws?
Could they exist without a God? Where would they come from? How come nearly all societies seem to have the same basic moral principles?

3. Kant Is the universe unjust?
Does the existence of God resolve this injustice?
Uses a similar line of argument, saying that moral principles “must be regarded as commands of the Supreme Being” because they could only come “from a morally perfect (holy and good) and at the same time all-powerful will”.
He has several ways of arguing for this. One example is this:
The universe is inherently good and just – otherwise morality would not exist.
Our experience is that good people often suffer and evildoers go unpunished.
So, there must be an afterlife where goodness is rewarded.
If there is an afterlife, there must be a God.

4. What examples have we looked at?
R. A. Sharpe
What examples have we looked at?
Sharpe draws a distinction between morality and religion, and aims to show that religious leaders are “often badly wrong about moral questions as a result of their religious commitment.”
He gives various examples of religious people who have tortured and killed other people in the name of their religious belief.
In these cases, it seems that people’s religious beliefs make them less moral.
If their religious beliefs point them away from morality, instead of towards it, then religious belief must be wrong.

5. Sharpe
Suppose one helps someone who obviously needs help: a passing stranger who has been injured. Compare this to one who stops to help, not because one feels compassion, or because it seems like the moral thing to do, but rather because s/he hopes for some reward, not from the stranger, but from God. This is a different motivation, less to do with morality and more to do with self-interest.
Is it more moral to help someone because you feel sorry for them, or because you want to please God?

6. What is he trying to say here? Explain in your own words
Sharpe
What is he trying to say here? Explain in your own words
But, primarily, Sharpe wants to draw a line in the sand, with morality on one side and religion on the other. Many people are of the opinion that religion and morality are essentially linked, and that without religion, morality is without foundation. These people fear that without God, moral values lack justification. Sharpe is not of this opinion: he believes that morality is separate and autonomous from religion.
‘Most religious people are conventionally devout. Religion does not play a huge part in their everyday lives and their moral life is not continuously under its gaze. I regard this as a thoroughly good thing.... My suspicion is that the more intense the religious devotion the more the morality is in danger.’

8. The Problem of Evil
If God is all-loving, and also all-powerful, then why is there so much evil in the world?

9. Summary Questions – Morality & Religion
Is there more evidence of goodness or of evil in the world?
Could either of these ever be enough to prove that God exists/ doesn’t exist?
List all the scholars we’ve done in this topic and what they said.