ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to answer the question of how Christianity and Hinduism, with their conceptions of the transcendent and other-worldly human destiny, can insist on the necessity of leading a moral life in this world. The moral demand or duty has an authoritativeness that makes it an imperative. The natural moral law is the same law as applied to the conduct of human beings. The concept corresponding to the eternal law and the natural moral law in Hinduism is that of Dharma. An appeal primarily to the will of God would for a Christian be the only legitimate explanation of duty. One interesting theory of obligation seems to be implied in Ramanuja’s attempt to deduce the moral virtues from the supposed character of God, since God is regarded as the moral ideal. If Godhead is the highest end, it naturally follows that God’s will should be the final word and its own justification.
