A Consistency Challenge for Moral and Religious Beliefs

Teaching Philosophy, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp.127-151, June 2009

25 Pages Posted: 12 Aug 2013

See all articles by Brian Ribeiro

Brian Ribeiro

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - Department of Philosophy & Religion

Scott F. Aikin

Vanderbilt University - Philosophy Department

Date Written: 2009

Abstract

When a person’s firmly held moral beliefs are prima facie inconsistent with his or her religious beliefs, how should the person address that problem? In this paper we outline several ways of posing such consistency challenges and offer a detailed taxonomy of the various responses available to someone facing a consistency challenge of this sort. Throughout the paper, our concerns are primarily pedagogical — how best to pose consistency challenges in the classroom, how to stimulate discussion of the various responses to them, and how to relate such consistency challenges to larger issues, such as whether scripture is, in general, a reliable guide to truth.

Keywords: consistency, ethics, religious belief

Suggested Citation

Ribeiro, Brian and Aikin, Scott F., A Consistency Challenge for Moral and Religious Beliefs (2009). Teaching Philosophy, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp.127-151, June 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2308026

Brian Ribeiro (Contact Author)

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - Department of Philosophy & Religion ( email )

Department of Philosophy & Religion (#2753)
615 McCallie Ave.
Chattanooga, TN 37403
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.brian-ribeiro.com

Scott F. Aikin

Vanderbilt University - Philosophy Department ( email )

2301 Vanderbilt Place
Nashville, TN 37240
United States

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