Murdoch discusses the topics of virtue, or morality, and religion. She points out that these ideas are interrelated yet different. Morality and religion are both associated with leading a virtuous life and are significant factors of society but they are separate so that an individual may harbor either or both. Murdoch reasons that religion is the stronger motivator of the two for good conduct of an individual and that religion is higher than morality because it is organized. To finish this segment of Morality and Religion, Murdoch shows an important similarity between religion and morality; both means of having goodness are dependant on the existence of an opposing evil.
I found this piece to be fairly difficult to walk through because of some of the vocabulary and writing style but mostly because Murdoch makes very few points and sometimes focuses on contrasting conclusions. For example paragraph five ends with the conclusion that everything exists and is sustained by God and the beginning of paragraph six concludes that God must exist so man may explain his world and the existence of guilt.
One topic that I find interesting, that Murdoch points towards, is the explanation of why nonreligious people do act moral or sometimes feel compelled to be moral. She guesses at the fact that moral conscience cultivated in childhood can affect an individual the rest of her life. Of course a nonreligious person is not bound by the laws and consequences of religion and so may choose not to act morally. So the final question is why should a nonreligious person be limited by morals. I do feel that religious exposure plays a large role in imposing morals for secular society but this may not be the only answer that exists
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In my philosophy class, we are discussing virtues right now and we always bring in moral beliefs. No matter what religion a person is, even if they are not religious at all, they have some type of moral positions. Almost all people will see killing as wrong along with lying. There are certain morals people follow in all societies. Certain rules are laid out not in print but just in general. When it comes to religion and morality, it is very hard to answer questions like why one believes in this while another person believes in that. Each person's view should be respected, but they must respect opposing views as well.
I am a firm believer in the view that one's childhood plays a very significant role in one's beliefs later in life, whether the beliefs deal with morality or not. Murdoch argues that religion is higher than morality because it is organized, along with stating that it [religion] is the stronger motivator for good conduct. I differ with my opinions on these cases. In my personal experience with being raised in a Catholic school setting, one's inside/personal morality seems to be the only true/good/natural motivator for "good conduct." Religion seemed to be in place because it scared people into avoidng trouble, not necessarily trying to be moral. One must have a personal moral standing before they claim that their actions coincide with their particular "faith." Once again, morality, in my opinion, is the basis of all religions and faiths and is the rock upon which an ideal society would stand.
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