Influences on Morality

Explain how authority and tradition could guide a person in deciding what is right and wrong in a situation

• Authority is the power of sacred texts and religious leaders to guide a person on moral issues
• People of faith believe that this authority comes from God
• When a person is deciding what is right or wrong in a situation, they can turn to their sacred text which are the words spoken directly from God or turn to religious leaders who act as official teachers of the faith
• Tradition is the teaching of the Church
• Tradition is religious beliefs and practises handed down from generation to generation
• The teaching in Church documents guides people in making moral decisions
• This is especially helpful when a person wants to know what Catholic teaching is on a particular issue

Outline how family and school influences a person's idea of what is right and wrong

• Family is a factor that could influence a person's conscience is their relationship with their family
• The family is the first place where a child learns to differentiate what is considered right and wrong
• Children are guided by their parents to make decisions correctly based on their moral values in the hope that this will continue in their child's adulthood life
• School rules teach students that there are consequences for choosing to do what is wrong
• There are also rewards for choosing what is right
• This is the first stage to grow towards moral maturity.

Name one influence other than religion on a person's view of what is right and wrong

School

Give one example of a situation where there could be conflict between a country's law and a religion