What is the key difference between Christian moral theories and secular ethical systems?
Christian theories look at God + scripture for moral guidance- secular systems do not
What are the 3 Christian moral theories?
Divine Command Theory
Natural Law
Situation Etics
What are some general principles Christians may follow in moral decision making?
Love thy neighbour
Modelling God’s love
Truthfulness
Forgiveness
Conscience
Why might Christians moral action not always follow a fixed set of rules?
Jesus’ examples included virtue-based ethics + legal principles
Flexible approach
How does the Church function in promoting moral principles?
Provides + teaches moral principles
Encourages virtues
Promotes fellowship
What does Leviticus 19:34 teach us about in regards of loving your neighbour?
“You shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the and of Egypt”
- agape is greater than nationalism
- alien = foreigner, vulnerable due to no political support
What does Deuteronomy 6:5 teach us in regard to loving your neighbour?
“Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength”
- an aspect of loving God is loving His creation
—> this includes fellow human beings
What commandments are mentioned in the introduction of the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-28)?
“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”- expert in law
“What is written in the law”- Jesus’ response
The lawyer answers with :
-to love God
-to love their neighbours as themselves
What is the Parable of the Good Samaritan a direct answer to?
“And who is my neighbour?”
What is the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-28) about?
A man is robbed + attacked on road from Jerusalem to Jericho
Two Jewish leaders pass him but didn’t offer assistance
—> aiding a dying/ dead man was considered unclean
A Samaritan (considered an enemy to Jews) took care of the man
What did Jesus command the lawyer to do in Luke 10:37?
“Go and do likewise”
-emphasis on the pragmatic agape of God’s creation
—> loving your neighbour as yourself
What does the Sermon on the Mount teach us about loving your neighbour?
“‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-44)
-everyone is part of God’s creation- deserve equal love (regardless if they are a friend or enemy they are still your neighbour)
God’s Love as a potential model for Christian behaviour (Exodus 36:6-7) (OT)
Context: Moses on Mount Sinai, the Israelites have left Egypt + are the brink of entering the promised land
Key idea: God has a loving character, but does not prevent retributive justice
How does God describe His own character to Moses in Exodus 36:6-7
Merciful (does not punish)
Gracious (gives us what we don’t deserve)
slow to anger (long suffering, patient)
abounding in steadfast love + faithfulness (its unchanging)
forgiving (forgives all)
God of Justice (guilty don’t go unpunished; consequence of sin likely to be felt by the family of guilty for 3-4 generations- but for a limited time)
God’s love as a potential model for Christian behaviour (1 John 4:19-21) (NT)
“Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”
Context: the writer is referring to God’s divine initiative as the context for love
Key idea: you can’t love God and hate your fellow believers (they are part of His creation)
Further info about God’s love as a potential model for Christian behaviour (1 John 4:19-21) (NT)
NT teaches that God’s love is revealed in the life + death of Jesus
John insists that you can’t love God without loving others first
—> those who claim to love God but hate their brothers + sisters are liars
true love of God includes a love for humanity
What does 1 Samuel 12:24 teach us about Regard for truth?
‘But fear the Lord and serve him faith fully with your heart; consider what great things he has done for you’
Context: Israelites campaigning for a King to lead them against their enemies- instead of trusting God
Key idea: Israel should be faithful to God in their hearts
What does Ephesians 4:25-27 say about regard for truth?
“Speak then truth to our neighbours, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil.”
It’s ok to be angry
—> but anger must be directed at sin
—>it must not be allowed to fester in the heart as it opens the door for the devil
What is the ability of conscience?
Being able to view situations in a moral/ ethical light- able to judge right or wrong actions
—> through our innate sense of right + wrong
—> make in God’s image (Genesis)
What is the key idea of 2 Corinthians 1:12 in support of Role of Conscience?
the way to clear conscience is not dwelling on ones own accomplishments, but on the grave of God
context:
Paul criticises by the Church in Corinth after his visit for being sophisticated + worldly
What does 1 Timothy 1-5 (Paul’s letter to Timothy) say about Role of Conscience?
“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience, and sincere faith.”
Paul believed that the true goal of religious teaching is not merely right thinking- but also living a ‘right life’
How do Christians believe conscience is formed?
by Bible + work of Holy Spirit
when they violate the expected standards- they experience guilt
they confess sins + experience forgiveness (through Jesus on cross)
How does the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:14-15) emphasise the need for forgiveness?
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others for their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”
Context: Jesus is commenting on an aspect of the Lord’s prayer
—> ‘and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors’
Key idea: we cut ourselves off from God if we don’t forgive others
What does Matthew 18:21-22 highlight about the need for forgiveness?
“How often should I forgive him? As many as seven times?”- Peter’s question
“Not seven times, but I tell you seventy seven times”- Jesus’ response
Forgiveness isn’t easy- people who have wronged don’t naturally overflow with grace + mercy
emphasis on the idea of spending a lifetime forgiving
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2.1 | Arguments for the existence of God- Inductive26
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2.1| Arugments for the existence of God- Deductive7
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2.2 | Problem Of Evil24
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2.3 | Religious Experiences41
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3.1 | Ethical Thought0
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3.2 | Deontological Ethics12
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3.3 | Teleological Ethics0
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1.1 | Religious Figures And Sacred Texts54
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1.2 | Religious Concepts And Religious Life9
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Nature Of God14
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The Trinity30
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Atonement42
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Faith And Works37
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Community Of Believers29
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Key Moral Priciples25
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Baptism56
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Eucharist31
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Festivals63
