Abstract
The dynamic of religion can supply resources for moral cohesion, for endurance and for reconciliation in situations where, even if we do not find ourselves saying in Auden’s words ‘We must love one another or die’, at least the ability to live and work together may be the price of survival. Yet if religion is not only the drive for social cohesion (as those trying to create civic religions have found to their cost) its relation to social morality is not a necessary one. Nor can morality fertilised from a religious source adequately be reduced to morality symbolised in religious terms. One may go further: there is the possibility that some forms of religion can only reach their goal by leaving morality behind. Not only are they not within the bounds of social morality, but they need to break with them as bonds. Social morality is a stage to be left behind; and in some cases social morality can be seen as society’s defence against such forms of religion.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
