Is what is holy  -   holy because the gods approve it, or do they approve it because it is holy?
Plato( 428---348 B.C.)  records that Socrates (470-399B.C.  Euthyphro) asks the above question.

Divine Command Ethics contends morals come from God, and it is within God that meaning and justification is found for moral values.  All is reducible to God's commandments. To say that an act is morally obligatory means that God commands it.

Divine Command

• Moral precepts are reasonable, being grounded in reason

• Moral precepts reflect reflect the culture and promote a culture

• If a supreme being(s) created mankind, it/he should best know which rules  should be followed. God  is the best authority, being all-knowing, knows all facts and laws.

• Divine Command provides us with more freedom as it equips us with guidelines and tools to self-mastery and fulfillment (Do not COVET - guiding internal acts)

•  The precepts guide our well-being, that we may eventually be united with God m  heaven and experience the beatific vision. - And if God doesn't exist, as Pascal asks, "What have we lost?"

• It relieves people the burden of guessing consequences (See Horse Story)

• It generally keeps one out of trouble

• Can we prove the existence of God?

• An atheist would not agree that rules are sent from God. He may, however, think the rules are good, just,  and reasonable and therefore  subscribe to them.

• Can we really know God's will when there are so many diverse explanations of the Bible?

•  Is God's will but an opiate of the believing masses?
  Can it be used to subjugate the masses (into castes...)

• Does divine command undermine human autonomy? (Hinman)

• Alfred North Whitehead, Modes of Thought, Page 15, "The simple minded use of the notions 'right or wrong' is one of the chief obstacles to the progress of understanding."

• Paul Tillich Systematic Theology Vol 1, p. 151: "The law of love is the ultimate law because it is the negation of law; it is absolute because it concerns everything concrete."  Have we evolved beyond this?

• It is difficult to see the rational foundation and explain some of the precepts.