Society has largely believed that Morality stems from religion. This view has been soundly challenged based on studies of the relationship of morality to religion. Specifically, the point in history that moral values have abruptly shifted have been mostly been associated with technology change. During those shifts, religions have always acted to stop the change. As the value shifts because broadly accepted by society, the religions then changed their creeds and pronouncements in order not to lose so many people from their membership. The other response of religions has been for established denominations to split apart, forming new denominations that could claim to have supported the new “morality” from the beginning.
This summary is presented here only as an introduction to this discussion. The subtab will jump to the morality discussion in the Social Issues section.