Divine Law in Major Religions

Divine Law

• Divine law is a set of moral and ethical standards believed to be given by God.
• It's immutable and eternal, with universal application.
• Divine law is expressed through sacred texts.
• Moral absolutism is a characteristic of divine law.

Divine Law in Major Religions

• Christianity: The "Golden Rule" – treat others as you want to be treated.
• Islam: Sharia, derived from the Quran and Hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet). The Sharia contains 613 commandments for Muslims.
• Judaism: Jewish law (Halakha) contains 613 commandments for Jews.
• Hinduism: Dharma represents the moral order of the universe and one's duty within it.

Role of Divine Law in Society

• Divine law has influenced legal systems, ethics, and moral codes throughout history.
• In some societies, religious law continues to be central to legal systems, such as in Islamic countries where Sharia is part of the legal code.

Egoism

• Egoism is the theory that one's self is, or should be, the motivation and goal of one's own actions.

Variants of Egoism

• Descriptive egoism: Describes how people actually behave, as self-interested.
• Normative egoism: Suggests that people should be motivated by self-interest, regardless of the reasons for their current motivation.

Psychological Egoism

• Psychological egoism describes human nature as wholly self-centered and self-motivated.
• Desire-based: Humans always act to satisfy their desires.
• Objective: Humans always act to pursue certain objectives.

Rational Egoism

• Rational egoism claims that promoting one's own interests is always in accordance with reason.

Ayn Rand and Egoism

• Ayn Rand, a proponent of rational egoism, argues that properly defined selfishness rejects the sacrificial ethics of Western religions.
• She argues that self-interest/selfishness is a virtue

Ethical Egoism

• Ethical egoism supports the promotion of one's own good in accordance with morality.

Conditional Egoism

• Conditional egoism suggests that acting in one's self-interest is morally acceptable only under certain conditions, if it leads to morally acceptable outcomes.

Explore the foundational concepts and applications of divine law across major religions including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism. This quiz delves into moral absolutism, sacred texts, and the societal roles of divine law throughout history. Test your knowledge on how these principles shape ethical standards and legal systems.