Cleanliness

shows that washing with soap and water makes people view unethical activities as more acceptable and reasonable than they would if they had not washed themselves.

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It was found that when feelings of disgust are instilled in people beforehand, people make decisions which are more ethical than would otherwise be expected.

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It is speculated that the reason for this is that feeling morally unclean (ie, disgusted) leads to feelings of moral wrongness and thus triggers increased ethical behaviour by instilling a desire to right the wrong.

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However, as the cleanliness and purification rituals found in many religions suggest, physical cleanliness, too, is linked to moral behaviour.

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Physical purification, in other words, produces a more relaxed attitude to morality.

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Perhaps it is no coincidence that Pontius Pilate is portrayed in the Bible as washing his hands of the decision to crucify Jesus.

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Something to think about for those who feel that purification rituals bring them closer to God.