in a dramatically changing world it is necessary to reassess our conceptions of ethical standards. with increased attention being paid to corporate scandals such as enron, the reality of pre-emptive wars, the complexities of cloning, and the debate over gay marriage, many introductions to ethics have been made prematurely obsolete. do morals matter? is an accessible and informed guide to contemporary ethical issues. this book discusses comparative religious ethics, moral philosophy, and applied ethics, asking difficult but relevant questions, and reflecting upon the intersection of religion and morality. it weaves the religious dimension into the book in a way that challenges both the unthinking christian and the secular humanist.