Fletcher - Situation Ethics and its relationship to Idolatry In 1991, when Joseph F. Fletcher passed away at the ripe old age of 86 (ref 1) there were very few present to observe his passing. There are not many people who even recognize his name. This was a man who probably influenced modern society as much as Charles Darwin or Sigmund Freud.Certain books and teachers can have a great impact on society. Charles Darwin wrote " The Origin of the Species" and started a whole religion. Yes, evolution is a religion, and requires more faith to believe in it than almost any other religion; with its belief of one species changing into another species and fish becoming land animals.Sigmund Freud's writings continue to influence people even though most psychology philosophy discredits a lot of his ideas.Joseph F. Fletcher was a teacher at an Episcopal seminary in the 1960's. While still teaching, he renounced his belief in God and declared himself a secular humanist. He neither resigned nor was asked to resign but continued to use his pulpit and classrooms to promote his idea system (ref 1). In 1966, he published a book called Situation Ethics. This book and the ideas Fletcher taught, has brought dramatic changes to the American culture.His basic idea was this: In any given situation, a person should do what he called "the loving thing" rather than follow rigid rules derived from Divine revelation--or for that matter, any set of rigid rules, even those coming from simple reasoning. This idea is based on the worship of the person! That humankind, in its natural state, is "fundamentally, decent, enlightened, reasonable, and eager to do the right thing".In his book Situation Ethics, Fletcher captures the attention of the readers about a German woman separated from her husband during the Battle of the Bulge, and imprisoned in the Ukraine. While in prison she learned that her husband, who was a prisoner of war, had been released from another camp a...
