Religion, Ethics and Law

Tuesday, October 11, 2011,10.00–11.30, Žofín Palace, Forum Hall

 

Moderator:

Jiří Pehe,Director, New York University in Prague, Czech Republic

 

Panel Discussion:

Vartan Gregorian,President, Carnegie Corporation of New York, USA

Günter Virt,Professor of Theology, University of Vienna, Austria

Mark L. Movsesian,Director, Center for Law and Religion, St. John’s University, USA
Tomáš Halík,Sociologist, President, Czech Christian Academy, Czech Republic

William Cook,Professor of History and Religion, State University of New York, USA

 

 

The moderator Jiří Pehe opened the panel by stating how the question of ethics originates in a variety of religious systems. He quoted Lord Alfred Denning’s theory on morality, ethics and religion, stating that, “Although religion, law and morals can be separated, they are nevertheless still very much dependent on each other.”

 

Tomáš Halík started the discussion by highlighting that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have much in common and how each of them has a relationship to ethics and law. He also stated that Judaism and Islam were originally systems of law and that Christianity transferred law into the area of belief. Mark L. Movsesian continued the discussion by expanding on how the origins of law within the United States has transitioned from encouraging religious morality into focusing more on individualism. He stated that currently within the American justice system: “People make their own ethical choices within the legal system.”

 

William Cook talked about the promotion of democracy and civil society through intermediary organizations that are not involved in the government. Günter Virt expanded on how ethics is the response to the crisis of morality, and how we perceive ethics on a variety of levels ranging from bio-ethics to religion, while also presenting his model of ethical reasoning. Vartan Gregorian ended the panel by highlighting the history of the relationship and tension between faith and reason. He concluded the discussion panel by stating: “All religions evolve and they have to cope with reason.”