People have always questioned whether or not there is any evidence of there being any connections between religion and morality, and whether or not morality is actually independent of religion. There is evidence to support both theories, but which is the strongest view of the two is a question which will require the examination of both.

The theory that morality depends upon religion is referred to as moral heteronomy, and this proposes that without religion people would not behave morally. It is hard to present an ethical issue or viewpoint that is free from any religious influences as our society and rules are based on religious views. For example we consider killing to be wrong, and this is likely to have come from the Ten Commandments like many of our laws. We try to obey these laws even if we aren't strictly religious, surely suggesting that our morals...