Secular Ethics And Secular Ethics

Secular ethics are thoughts and ideas based upon what people believe to be moral and right. Those with secular ethical beliefs do not believe that ethics or morality originate from a higher power or from God, but are discovered or invented by humans throughout the ages. Often people with secular make decisions based on his or her “gut instincts.” There are no absolute truths regarding morality within the realm of secular ethics, which leaves the interpretation of morality up to individual people (Ethics-A general Introduction). In contrast to secular ethics, Christian ethics stem from the Word of God. The conditions of right and wrong are not left up for debate among the human race, but are given to us through revealed and special revelation

For example, both try to define what is right and wrong; however, they look to different sources to determine the answers to life’s weighty questions. Secular ethics are largely based on philosophy and logic while Christian ethics derive from the Word of God. Those who practice secular ethics put much emphasis upon feelings and desires to define what is moral. This means that individuals define morality. What may be morally correct in one person’s opinion, may not be morally correct to another individual. Christian Ethics look to God to define what is morally correct and to determine how human beings should live. This means that there is an absolute truth that people can rely on and base their lives upon. Jesus addresses this issue in Matthew 7:24-27, where He states, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it”

Both say that they are concerned with the health and longevity of human life. “Part of the importance of medical ethics comes from the fact that members of the medical and health care professions are granted powers and privileges that are not granted to non-members. Surgeons and doctors have the right and duty to cut open the human body if they are convinced that by doing so they can improve or aid the health of the person being cut. Medical professionals get to determine or decide, at least sometimes, who is to live and who will die” (Cattermole). The difference between the two comes from the origin of their belief system. In secular ethics the decisions about who should live, receive treatment, or when life begins comes from purely a human opinion and perspective, while Christian medical ethics look to the Scripture and motive to determine the answers to these tough circumstances. When speaking of Christian medical ethics Giles Cattermole stated, “We are concerned with the end results, but the end result we are concerned with is God’s glory”