Implications For Interfaith Dialogue Theology Religion Essay Example

as the framework for most ethical statements. In addition, secular ethics is used as a foundation for making "moral judgments" as it evaluates existing customs and supports the establishment of "laws and policies". Secular ethics also serves as a measure to assess religious philosophies by applying a specific set of "moral principles".

Christian ethics are based on divine revelations.

The reason behind Christian ethical decisions

Evangelical Christians base their moral choices on "God's revelation," which can come from either nature (general revelation) or the Bible (special revelation). An example of a special revelation is the Ten Commandments mentioned in Exodus 21-23. Scholars of the Bible emphasize that natural law, originating from nature itself, exists within reality and can establish ethical principles even without biblical guidance.

The idea of human conscience in decision-making is mentioned in Romans 2:14-15, where Apostle Paul discusses it. Jesus Christ also reinforces this principle by stating that individuals should treat others as they wish to be treated (Matt 7:12). This perspective is supported by philosophers Immanuel Kant and Clive Lewis in their writings. The application of moral judgments on various ethical issues differs.

ETHICAL ISSUES:

These issues include abortion, divorce, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, war, money, marriage, gender, death, forgiveness, euthanasia, business etc.

The text explores the moral discussion surrounding abortion and divorce, examining different viewpoints including those of the general public, Christians, and interfaith dialogue.

Secular Perspectives on Abortion and Divorce

Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy using artificial methods. The typical duration of pregnancy is nine months. If a miscarriage occurs within the first 20 weeks, it is classified as such; however, if it happens after 20 weeks, it is considered a pre-term delivery. Nonetheless, abortion

involves both the mother's moral decision and the ethical rights of the unborn child.

Abortion is often necessary in situations such as rape, poverty, and fetal deformity. The official stance on abortion, however, is specific. According to the United Kingdom law (Abortions act 1967), abortion is permitted within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy under certain conditions. It must be conducted in an approved institution, considering the health of both the mother and the child, with consent from two medical doctors. [ Similarly, divorce in the UK follows guidelines outlined in the Family Law Act 1996. This allows for divorce if a marriage has irreparably broken down after a period of reflection and consideration.

It goes beyond previous legislation by imposing time restrictions on potential reconciliation.

The Christian Perspective on Abortion

The Liberal stance on abortion is one of acceptance, as long as it follows legal regulations and is carried out safely. When considering whether to have an abortion or not, women have complete autonomy over their own bodies. Unlike evangelical Christians who prioritize the sanctity of life and use biblical arguments against abortions, Liberals do not prioritize ethical concerns about the unborn fetus as a primary concern.

They also provide support for all social aspects of pregnancy care and acceptance issues. The Neo-Orthodox Christians have a contrasting perspective. Neo-Orthodoxy emerged from Germany following the First World War, when Karl Barth (a Protestant theologian) pioneered the "theology of crisis." This era was marked by widespread disillusionment with many beliefs.

Neo-Orthodoxy suggests that the Bible may contain human errors, but God's revelation is always present through personal experience. [18] On the topic of abortion, it is generally not permitted

unless it is necessary to protect the pregnant woman. Interestingly, Christian views on divorce vary.

CHRISTIAN ETHICS ON DIVORCE

Jesus responded to Moses' allowance of divorce for women by stating that divorce goes against God's plan for marriage and is a direct violation of the covenant (Matt 19:6 & Rom 7:2). In the dialogue with his disciples in Mark 10:1-11, Jesus condemns divorce. Some scholars interpret an exception clause in this context to mean that divorce is permissible in cases of sexual immorality committed by the wife during the betrothal period according to Jewish tradition.

Unfortunately, there is a wide range of interpretations when it comes to the scriptural divorce jurisprudence reading. Some scholars argue that the freedom clause in the scriptures refers to criminal conversation, which is a reason to seek divorce. On the other hand, there are adherents who believe that marrying someone is not beneficial and this invalidates the husband's power to divorce his wife, as forgiveness is expected from both parties. The ethical issue with the Old Testament measure of divorce allowed by Moses is that it intends to protect women from the whims of men, allowing them to remarry instead of being left as outcasts. Some Evangelicals justify divorce based on reasons such as abandonment (by either spouse) and physical abuse against the wife. Additionally, there is a Pauline privilege mentioned in 1st Corinthians 7:15, which grants a believing wife freedom from an atheist husband who desires a divorce.

There are different Christian ethical arguments regarding freedom and its implications on marriage, such as remarriage and staying single until death. On the other hand, Broad Christians view biblical teachings on divorce as specific to

the historical context of those times, thereby allowing divorce depending on the circumstances. If a marriage involves physical abuse, it is considered a violation of the marriage vow and divorce is permitted.

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The introduction of "no fault" divorce laws in the 1960s and 1970s in America weakened the institution of marriage, as individuals were able to obtain divorces without their spouse's consent. Despite their independence from secular laws, broad Christians were criticized for being pro-secular due to their approach of treating divorce as a contractual matter rather than a covenant responsibility, which was favored by other Christians.

The Neo-orthodox stance on divorce is intriguing as it allows for it. Neo-Orthodox Christians accept divorce because they believe that biblical principles should not be directly applied to our modern era, as they were only relevant to the times when they were given. Therefore, they do not have ethical reasons to oppose divorce.

THE ABRAHAMIC FAITHS AND INTERFAITH DIALOGUE

The term Abrahamic religion encompasses Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and other faiths that trace their religious heritage back to Abraham. The interfaith dialogue serves as a platform for exchanging perspectives between different religions and cultures where these faiths and cultures converge. In 1961, the World Council of Churches (WCC) initiated this dialogue to address social issues arising from the coexistence of new Asian Churches with various Asian religions.

The study and application of ethical approaches to interfaith dialogues have been driven by a range of societal issues, including cosmopolitan poverty. Ethical considerations in this context encompass various domains such as medical and economic ethics. The examination of medical ethics is relevant to a wide array of topics, including Euthanasia, Abortion,

Ecology, DNA research, among others. In this analysis, the focus will be on the Islamic perspective regarding abortion and divorce.

Islamic Faith's View on Abortion and Divorce

The principles guiding the Islamic faith are derived from the Quran and teachings of Prophet Mohammed. These principles revolve around five pillars of religion. Of particular significance are two pillars: "belief in one God" and "performing at least one pilgrimage to Mecca."

The text discusses various warnings and ethical considerations in Islam, including responsibilities towards orphans, captives, and the avoidance of activities such as adultery, unjust business practices, and unjustified killings. [26] Among Muslims, there is a debate regarding the ethical implications of abortion due to differing beliefs about when the soul enters a formed fetus. Some Muslims believe that "ensoulment" occurs at 16 weeks into pregnancy. However, if there are risks to the mother's health or potential mental or physical deformities in the baby, abortion before completing the 16th week is considered permissible. The well-being of the family may also be taken into account when making decisions about having a child. Islamic teachings view abortion as immoral because it violates the sanctity of life mentioned in Surah 17:31 with its emphasis on "killing them is a great sin."

According to Islamic belief, the mother is accountable for the aborted child on judgment day as stated in verses 7-14 from Surah 81. These verses are highly regarded within Islam. In situations of premarital pregnancy, abortion is allowed due to the belief that it is a lesser sin compared to having a child out of wedlock. With regards to divorce, Islam encourages the dissolution of irreconcilable marriages in good faith instead of maintaining

resentful partnerships. Mediation between spouses is mandated for resolving disputes.

However, when mediation fails to resolve the issues, divorce can be initiated (Quran 4:35). Divorce by mutual consent without court proceedings is referred to as "Mubarat." The procedures known as fasakh or Khula involve the wife initiating the divorce. On the other hand, "talaq" (meaning "to divide") is used to indicate divorce initiated by the husband.

This can be achieved without much bureaucratic procedures but should be communicated or documented.

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The traditional laws of the Jews have some similarities.

Judaism

regarding abortion and divorce

Judaism, practiced by the Jews before Christianity, became distinct in the first century when Apostle Paul and Peter had conflicts with the Jews. The book of Acts Chapter 15 in the Bible mentions the differences between the non-Jews and the Law of Moses. This led to a discussion about accepting uncircumcised Gentiles into the "community of believers".

The topic of the origins of Judaism is debated among scholars, with some suggesting it began during the biblical era of Abraham and others proposing it started during the time of Moses. However, two core beliefs in Judaism are: 1) God made a covenant with his people (the Hebrews) through Moses, which is represented by the Ten Commandments. 2) The descendants of Abraham have been chosen to be an example for all nations as they prepare for the future coming of the Messiah, who will establish a fair and peaceful world. There are different sects within Judaism like orthodox and reformed branches. Similar to Islam, Judaism highly values the sanctity

of life but prioritizes ensuring the safety of pregnant women. According to Jewish abortion law, fertilized eggs are not considered significant until after forty days gestation when they become part of the woman's body.

Abortion is permitted in Hebraism during the first 40 weeks of pregnancy, but prohibited thereafter due to the belief that the fetus is an integral part of the human body and should be protected. However, Judaism does allow for certain exceptions when abortion becomes necessary for the physical well-being of pregnant women. Moreover, if an advanced pregnancy poses a threat to the mother's life, abortion may be justified with explicit support. In such cases, where the baby actively endangers the mother's life, actions like dismembering the limbs of the fetus might be allowed in order to save the mother.

The Rabbis, who oversee the Judaism Torahs, view the life of both the baby and the mother as equally important during childbirth. The topic of divorce cannot be discussed without considering the marriage customs in Judaism. The sanctity and unity of marriage hold great significance in Judaism; even the holy texts state that separation of couples brings tears to the communion table. While there are no formal reasons for divorce, it is acknowledged that certain circumstances may make it unavoidable. Divorce is based on the couple's agreement and requires a document called the get, which serves as a certificate of divorce. Divorced couples face no obstacles if they wish to remarry each other.

However, priests are not allowed to marry a grass widow. The divorce certificate, known as the get, is typically written by a scribe in the presence of a justice and is traditionally

held by the woman. It must be presented if she wishes to remarry. Nowadays, the rabbinic tribunals store and issue a certification to the woman in place of the get. However, a significant ethical dilemma arises if there is no proof of her husband's death, as she is unable to remarry.

The state of affairs known as Agunah refers to when a married woman is bound to her husband. In the Jewish community, those who violate divorce conditions are typically not allowed to be part of it. Buddhism, on the other hand, has diverse perspectives.

Buddhism's Stance on Abortion and Divorce

Originating from India in the sixth century with Siddhartha Gautama (known as Buddha), Buddhism is more of a way of life than a religion. Beliefs within Buddhism range from the absence of a deity to the constant transformation of all things, leading to beliefs in reincarnation, morality, understanding, and meditation.

There are over 300 million Buddhists worldwide who do not have any official guidance on the topic of abortion. However, they generally believe in reincarnation and view abortion as ethically wrong because it goes against this belief. They do not strongly advocate for a complete ban on abortion by law. On the other hand, some Buddhists believe that the decision to have an abortion should solely be made by the pregnant woman. In Japan, abortion is prevalent and there is a Buddhist ceremony called Mizuko kuyo, performed by Buddhist priests, to help women recover from the emotional aftermath of having an abortion. In regards to divorce, Buddhism perceives it as a relatively straightforward matter, not considering marriage to be a deeply religious institution.

The text

explains that being unattached to ordinary family life is seen as a means to achieve higher levels of solitary Buddhist practice, rather than being a lesser option where one is free to start a family. The Buddha himself set an example at the age of 29 by leaving his family to live a celibate life until the end of his life. Buddhist teachings support remaining morally celibate while also recognizing the importance of keeping marriages intact for the sake of the children. Couples who have separated are encouraged to reunite. If a man chooses a celibate life, he must relinquish his wife so that she is free to remarry.

Decision

After analyzing Jesus' dialogue with his followers on divorce, I support the Evangelical viewpoint that encourages couples to forgive each other instead of seeking divorce. I also agree with the classification of the Ten Commandments as being implicitly present in both religious and secular laws. The variations in ethical principles are what create different branches within religions. Just as Christians have different perspectives, the application of certain doctrines in the Abrahamic religions as well as Buddhism varies in different countries such as India and Japan. I also support the current trend in interfaith dialogues where participants approach most topics within the framework of shared ethical concerns.

This has led to a decrease in conflict at interreligious forums and has raised awareness for the examination of ethics among those who are already knowledgeable about their respective religions.