My view on the Divine Command Theory

Divine Command Theory: the view that morality is based on God. It is a meta-ethical theory that states that morality itself is dependent upon God’s will and to be morally good then you must follow by his rules. “The specific content of these divine commands varies according to the particular region and the particular views of the individual divine command theorist, but all versions of the theory hold in common the claim that morality and moral obligations ultimately depend on God.” (1) While I can see the point of this theory, I also see issues with it. A person can fully believe in God and be the best that they can be by following the set rules and obligations that they have, or someone else has, set before them. But, then again… we have seen many times in history how someone can take the ‘Will of God’ and/or their obligations to said God to extremes. There have been several accounts of massacres, mass suicides, racism, unjust punishment, and religious intolerances that have occurred simply because the person or people doing them thought that their God wanted it to be done or that it is what He would have done Himself. So, while I do contend that moral obligations should be a priority for all people and that it is best for everyone to live by a certain set of rules, whether they be dictated by a God, set in place by government, or decided by the person themselves… I do not believe that causes such as these should be justified by the means of a higher power telling them to do so.                

                                                                                                                                Jessica Burnett

References:

(1)    Austin, M. (August 21, 2006). Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. In Divine Command Theory. Retrieved September 9, 2013, from http://www.iep.utm.edu/divine-c/.