Ethical Theory

When I have to make a difficult moral decision, I typically look to the Bible and Christian Ethics. The Bible contains several lessons/books that can guide and prepare us for challenging situations. In the article, "Ethical Theory" by David B. Resnik, he explains to his audience that, "no ethical theory is perfect at guiding human actions"(53). Although this statement might have some truth to it, I find the Bible to be the most resourceful text for guidance in how one should morally behave/act. We may not be given exact instructions on what we should do, but by our own interpretations we are able figure out the path that was carved out for us by God. Similar to ethics, there is no perfect definition for the word 'religion'.  We get to choose what kind of people we become and what we believe in or follow. In my religion class we just finished reading, "Is the Bible True?" by William C. Placher. He stated, "We trust in the Bible in part because we find that it keeps making sense of the world"(Placher 925). For example, the book of Genesis explains how humans should be the caretakers of all God's beautiful creations, including the earth and animals. When given a situation like hunting whales, it becomes clear those who believe in God, that this act is completely immoral. 

Since I was a young child, I grew up learning about Christianity from my family members. Now that I have reached adulthood my faith in God has only grown stronger. Like I stated, the Bible can be interpreted in several different ways and when God's word is twisted into an unethical way, some christian ethics and viewpoints can become inconsistent with one another. Something that surprises in Christianity is when a person who claims to be a follower of God, walks through life with a hateful and judgmental attitude. How can one read ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:39 NIV) and behave the exact opposite? Resnik wrote, "Christian approaches hold that people can achieve salvation, enlightenment, spiritual growth, or connection with God by acting ethically"(52). These are a couple good reasons for why I look to the Bible, God, and Christian Ethics for guidance, but I also find that acting in a morally good way brings a meaningful life to myself.