This
theory of the origin of
ethics held by most all
deists states that all
moral principles originate in the commands of a creator
God.
Rules and
commandments are given to humans through
divine revelation. Basically, what is ethical matches the commandments; what is unethical fails to meet them. There are actually 2 ways of viewing this theory:
God's laws = Good. The commandments are the final word of God on the issue. There is no special logic to them; they are divine. Rules are both good and static.
God's laws are good because they were given for our own benefit. In this view God's rules have a logic to them: They are all good for humanity as a whole. Therefore, as the human condition changes, religious rules can change because God's basic principle of good for humanity must be maintained. Rules are dynamic but the concept of good is unchanging.