The chosen case study deals with the problem of celibate for married couples. For this part of the discussion, the parties and the moral issues posed by a religious belief should be identified. The parties involved in the given case include a married couple of a man and a woman. The moral issue is whether celibate is ethically justifiable for a married person without one’s spouse consent. According to divine command theory, whatever God wills is regarded as good (Burnor and Raley 268). Thus, God is a superior being who is perfect and cannot wish something bad. Some researchers state that “we need an account in which God can love us for being who we are, beyond mere subjects of a divine promulgator of authoritative decrees” (Wilkinson 398). Moreover, it is stated that God created a man and made a wife for him providing them with a blessing to multiply the human race. Thus, celibate is not obligatory for the married couples by God’s will.
It is also significant for many couples to include some sacred qualities to their marriage. Still, it is stated that “one’s spiritual cognitions, particularly as they relate to marriage, are associated with the quality of the intimate relationship” (Sabey et al. 594). Thus, it is not appropriate to practice celibate without one’s spouse consent. It may lead to dissonance in marriage and cause divorce, especially if the spouse is still young or in their middle ages. Moreover, the theologians share the opinion that contemporary sexual ethics face many complexities and some researchers state that celibacy is impossible. (Brittain 145). Therefore, the case study discussed the problem of celibacy for married couples. It was identified that it is not appropriate to practice celibacy without one’s spouse consent.
2. Euthyphro Dilemma deals with the issue of whether something is holy because it is approved by God or something is approved by God because of its holiness. According to an alternate dependency account, it is noted that moral standards are defined by God. Still, people may establish their moral standards which might conform to God’s nature as well (Burnor and Raley 269). Thus, the moral norms proclaimed by God and people may be the same by content. Still, God is a perfect being and never acts against his nature, while people may misunderstand the notion of the good and the evil. According to some researchers, “the objectivity of our moral judgments can only be preserved if moral values are independent of our voluntary approval” (Bojanowski 1210). Thus, not every action regarded as holy by some society is truly holy, regardless of its nature and characteristics which may be accidental both for holy and unholy deeds.
It is generalized by some researchers that “because morality was made for man, not man for morality, we find it inconceivable that we might find the foundations of moral value floating in a distant corner of outer space” (Walden 613). Still, the examples of holy actions are more likely to include those that can be interpreted according to the Ten Commandments as they are regarded to be the moral knowledge gained from God. According to the Ten Commandments, the holy action is to stay faithful to one’s spouse, for example. Avoiding war and saving innocent people’s lives are examples of holy actions as well. Thus, any people’s speculations should be omitted from the notion of holy action. When identifying holy actions, one should follow the basic moral norms stated by God as God’s essential nature cannot be changed by any outer influence and remains perfect (Burnor and Raley 270). Therefore, the discussion dealt with the notion of the Euthyphro dilemma and the problem of identifying good and holy actions.
Works Cited
Bojanowski, Jochen. “Kant’s Solution to the Euthyphro Dilemma.” Philosophia, vol. 44, no. 4, 2016, pp. 1209-1228.
Brittain, Christopher Craig. “On the Demonisation and Fetishisation of Choice in Christian Sexual Ethics.” Studies in Christian Ethics, vol. 27, no. 2, 2014, pp. 144-166.
Burnor, Richard and Yvonne Raley. Ethical choices. Oxford University, 2011.
Sabey, Allen K., et al. “Compassionate Love as a Mechanism Linking Sacred Qualities of Marriage to Older Couples’ Marital Satisfaction.” Journal of Family Psychology, vol. 28, no. 5, 2014, p. 594.
Walden, Kenneth. “The Euthyphro Dilemma.” Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, vol. 90, no. 3, 2015, pp. 612-639.
Wilkinson, M. B. “God, Goodness, Fact and Value.” Síntese: Revista de Filosofia, vol. 42, no.134, 2016, pp. 397-422.