The Functions of Religion in Ethics

The theory of the functions of religion in ethics is the opposite of secularism which denies the independence of the domain of religion and the domain of ethics. According to religious ethics, ethic is a part of religion and their relationship is absolute generality and peculiarity. It is for this reason that religion has many functions in ethics and this is the subject of this research.The most important functions of religion in ethics are as follows: religion supports ethics, religion guarantees fulfillment of ethics, it obligates ethical statements and provides its background, provides the main and subsidiary concepts for it, provides ethical concepts for the natural, sentimental, affective and instinctive tendencies, it pays attention to ‘good actor’ along with ‘good action’, explains and determines ethical vices and virtues, methods for ethical education, and the origin of ethical values, determines the goal of ethics, and is a source for understanding and inferring ethical commands.