What is the origin of morality?

[trinko]

Does God define morality and if so could He define a different morality than He has or is morality something outside of God?

I’m debating with some atheists and I’m not clear on the Church’s teaching about the origin of morality.

I know that God is all good and hence the moral code He teaches is correct but did He create that morality?

In a related point we say that God can do all that is logically possible. Does God define what is logically possible or is that something that is inherent in existence?

These are technical points which aren’t really germane to my faith but i need to know what the Church teaches so that I can deal with certain atheist arguments and be sure I’m not contradicting the Church.

Thanks and God Bless!

 

[Edward_H]

The origin for Church law on morality comes from Revealed Law (Scripture) and Natural Law using the light of reason.

At the highest level there is divine law, or eternal law; the mind of God. For us this is not directly knowable.

But we have Divine Positive Law (that which has been handed to us through Revelation)
and we have Natural Law, that which has been transmitted to our nature, as a “brush off” by God creating us…His fingerprints on us, so to speak. Aspects of his divinity “rub off” on us, by virtue of His creating us.

Then we have canon law, civil law, etc.

These can never violate either divine positive law or natural law.

For instance…the Church can never make a dogma or canon law or a moral teaching that violates natural law or divine positive law (e.g. the Commandments). And divine positive law can never be at odds with natural law or vice versa. They self-calibrate.