Today’s AssignmentReligion & Military Ethics (Divine Law)

Objectives from reading: Religion in the Military (Divine Law)

What are differences & similarities between ethics based on divine command and ethics based on natural law?

What are the possible tensions between divine command & legal rules and obligations? (Give an example of such)

Are these tensions resolvable?

If yes: How?If no: Why not?

• EMP (4 Pages)– Religion and Military Ethics (Lucas),

pp. 97-98; Religion and Morality: Exploring the Connections (Cook), pp. 99-103; Abraham’s Obedience Test, p. 135.

• CSME (9 Pages)– A Sailor’s Request for Abortion Case

(Rubel), pp. 167-169; Altering the Uniform (Gunther), pp. 171-176.

Patton

Religion & Ethics

I. Divine Command Theory - The Role of Religious Beliefs in Moral Reasoning

II. Religion in the Military

Hadithah, Iraq (Nov. 7, 2006) - U.S. Navy chaplains assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment (2/3) and Regimental Combat Team 5; the battalion commander and sergeant major of (2/3); and security teams from the Iraqi army visit South Dam Village in Haditha, to meet with its religious leader. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt Jason L. Jensen

Does God Fit In?

Your Personal

Morals

Your Official Obligation

ConstitutionMissionService

Ship/UnitShipmate

Self

HOW DO OUR OWN BELIEFS AFFECT OUR INTERACTION WITH OTHERS, AND OUR DECISIONS AS LEADERS?

HOW DO OUR OWN BELIEFS AFFECT OUR INTERACTION WITH OTHERS, AND OUR DECISIONS AS LEADERS?

???

The Importance of Religion in Ethics

• Isn’t ethics, after all, founded on religion?

• Don’t most individuals derive their moral convictions from religious sources Sociologically: – a great many (over 50%) of armed forces

personnel would describe themselves as religious

• Why not simply teach religious ethics?

• At very least, we must confront and explain the relationship

The Dilemma of Conflicting Duties

• Story of Abraham

• Conflicting religions, competing interpretations of “divine commands”

Practical Problems

• Socrates’s dilemma with Euthyphro: – Is the Law righteous (just) because

God ordains it, or does God ordain it because it is Just?

• Abraham’s problem: – Religion does not always command

what seems morally right

• Knowledge and faith: – How do we know with certainty what

God commands, and when (or whom) we are to obey?

Important Contributions of Religion to Morality (Cook)

• Religions powerfully influence the sort of person one tries to become (character)

• Religious belief offers a powerful incentive to be moral

• Religion is a powerful argument against relativism– although religious beliefs may be

consistent with moral pluralism

• Religious convictions heighten the moral sensibilities and interpretive powers of most individuals

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Jan. 25, 2002) -- U.S. Navy Lt. Abuhena Saif Ul Islam, a Muslim Chaplain, speaks with a congressional delegation touring Camp X-Ray. Islam leads prayers five times a day for al Qaida and Taliban detainees being held there during Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Independence of Ethics

• Regardless of your own, personal motivations (which may be religious), morality and the claims of moral obligation must be sufficient to stand on their own – Non-believers are as obligated as believers

• Your religion may provide your reasons for action, but moral actions must also be capable of being justified by reasons beyond religion

Is this really true?

The Dilemma of Naval Leadership

• As both a Naval Officer and a devout believer in one of the recognized religious faiths… – What happens when your devout religious beliefs

conflict with natural law, with UCMJ, or with lawfully issued orders in the chain of command?

• As a Naval Officer, when you have men & women under your command who themselves encounter the dilemma above… – What kind of counsel, leadership, advice, and example

do you set or give?

Case StudyA Sailor’s Request for Abortion

http://www-nehc.med.navy.mil/hp/sharp/pregnancy.htm

The Ethical Questions:1.Should the Commanding Officer approve

or disapprove the chit?2.What should be his considerations in this

reasoning process (primary consideration, second, 3rd, ..)

3.Should he take into account his own strong beliefs about abortion?

4.What would you do if you were the Captain of this ship?

5.Do your religious beliefs in this area in any way effect your decision?

6.What is wrong with allowing our religious beliefs to guide us in our decision making?

Don’t we want our leaders to be moral?

Case Study:The Christmas Party

“Sir, I feel awkward bringing this up, but for the past few years, I did not feel I could attend the Command Christmas party. I am not a Christian, and although you have nothing at the party that worships Christ, it is a Christmas party, and that is a problem with my faith. I have not attended the party for the past 5 years for this reason.”

“Well, I think I understand…

…But we have over 400 people attend each year and, frankly, its one of the highlights of year for us. It really raises the Command morale. CMC plays Santa, and hands out gag gifts.

Last year he gave the CO a 3-foot rubber cell phone to poke fun at his always being on the phone. Everyone enjoys singing carols at the end. It’s really a lot of fun and the entire command looks forward to it.

If we change the format or cancel the party I think everyone will be disappointed”

Case Study:The Christmas Party

1. What would you tell the C.O.? • Your Recommendations?

2. How do you deal with her religious beliefs?• Tell her to get over it; it’s one versus 400?• Change the format or cancel the party?

3. If you would not change or cancel the party:

• Is that fair to her to dismiss her religious beliefs and imply that she cannot attend her own command party?

• She is sincere in her beliefs…What if four people approached you with the same concern?

• What if 10, 25, 50 people approached you? At what point do you consider the problem?

4. If you believe that you would change the format, or cancel the party, remember; Over 400 people really enjoy this format each year

• Why change just for one person?

Dec. 10, 2006) - Southwest Asia 1st Class Petty Officer's Association's president, Master-at-Arms 1st Class Malika Derios hands out Christmas gifts to service members from Camp Lemonier and Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.

Sergeant York

Which approach was more effective?

We Were Soldiers

Altering the Uniform…

• What are the issues?• Was the Supreme Court right? WHY

or Why not?• Does our military oath limit our

religious freedom?• What if other (lesser known) religions

attempted to impose changes to military rules?

• How will you deal w/ similar issues?

What Are Your Concerns as a Junior Officer?

• Proselytizing• Discrimination• Command influence• Church and State• Imposition of “morals”

• Spiritual needs of military members

• Respect for beliefs• Freedom of Religion• Alignment with

military values

• How will you balance these concerns in the fleet?• Can you take an “Original Position Approach”?• Should you?

Reading & Homework for Next ClassNatural Law

• EMP (15 pages)– The Tradition of Natural

Law (Lucas), pp. 195-198; from “Summa Theologica (St. Thomas Aquinas), pp. 199-202; from The Ethics of Natural Law (Harris), pp. 203-209.

Objectives from reading:

Natural LawKnow difference between descriptive (scientific ), prescriptive (natural and divine), & human (civil, positive, statue) laws

Comprehend Aquinas’ features of a law, how natural law can be explained in terms of moral standards and the 4 natural inclinations of human beings.

Comprehend the concept of “the common good” vs. concept of “greatest good for the greatest number.”

Know & apply the Principle of Forfeiture and the Principe of Double Effect