Discussion of the Belief that Conscience is the Voice of God

Discussion of the Belief that Conscience is the Voice of God

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There is much controversy surrounding the origins of the human

conscience; some theologians maintain that it is the voice of God,

whilst others assert that it is affected by societal influences. It

has even been suggested that the conscience's existence is not

universal. Indeed, [1]'the notion of conscience as an internal organ

is not found outside Christianity.' Before attempting to identify

roots, it is firstly necessary to establish the meaning of

'conscience.' It is generally agreed that it is, in part, an

individual's capacity to decide on the moral appropriateness of a

particular course of action. As L. K. Rambo says, 'It serves as a

guide or monitor of life.' Indeed, both Christians and those from a

secular viewpoint adhere to this view. However, despite this

consensus, the views of Christians, such as Newman, stand in contrast

to those coming from a secular perspective.

Newman maintains that the conscience is God informing the individual

as to how they should behave and thus, in a sense, 'tells us about the

nature of God's existence.' Martin Luther also believes that wisdom is

revealed through the word of God. St. Thomas Aquinas offers an

alternative view, asserting that in 'the mind of man making moral

judgements' wisdom is revealed in nature. Such forms the basis of the

ethical theory Natural Law. However, Aquinas reflects Augustine's idea

of an epistemological handicap, holding that something is good if it

fits its purpose, but sin taints o...

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...authority. Freud maintains that our

sense of morality derives from our superego, which is shaped by

authority, but doesn't address this point. Nevertheless, Fromm

supports Freud, holding that people are trapped by the 'internalised

echo' of authority.

As for the origins of conscience, this remains unclear. If we are to

accept that the conscience is the voice of God, we must then question

as to why ideas of morality are relative, varying from one society to

another. It may be that it is necessary for the individual to have

faith in God for his conscience to be developed. Indeed, this would

account for the apparent lack of conscience of serial killers, for

example.

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[1] Michel Despland, writing in Mircea Eliade's Encyclopedia of

Religion