<P> For many religious people, morality and religion are the same or inseparable; for them either morality is part of religion or their religion is their morality . For others, especially for nonreligious people, morality and religion are distinct and separable; religion may be immoral or nonmoral, and morality may or should be nonreligious . Even for some religious people the two are different and separable; they may hold that religion should be moral and morality should be, but they agree that they may not be . </P> <P> Richard Paula and Linda Elder of the Foundation for Critical Thinking assert that, "Most people confuse ethics with behaving in accordance with social conventions, religious beliefs, and the law ." They separate the concept of ethics from these topics, stating: </P> <P> The proper role of ethical reasoning is to highlight acts of two kinds: those which enhance the well - being of others--that warrant our praise--and those that harm or diminish the well - being of others--and thus warrant our criticism . </P> <P> They note problems that could arise if religions defined ethics, such as: </P>

Difference between a religious and a moral person