Religious Conscience

Question 1

St. Augustine views on conscience (4)

Answer 1

1. It is innate.
2. It is God given.
3. It is the voice of God speaking to us.
4. It is God’s moral law written on our heart.

Question 2

Aquinas views on conscience (4)

Answer 2

1. Conscience is the power of reason.
2. Two parts to moral decisions: synderesis and consientia.
3. Thinks people tend towards good and away from evil.
4. Thinks evil is people make a mistake made by pursuing something that seemed good but wasn’t, so their conscience was mistaken.

Question 3

What is synderisis?

Answer 3

The awareness that it is moral to do good and avoid evil.

Question 4

What is consientia?

Answer 4

This distinguishes between right and wrong and makes the moral decision.

Question 5

Butler views on conscience (4)

Answer 5

1. Conscience drives us towards benevolence (loving others).
2. It is God given.
3. It is innate.
4. It should always be obeyed and is the final moral decision maker.

Question 6

Macquarrie views on conscience (3)

Answer 6

Thinks there are 3 types:

• Wresting with a particular decision.
• Synderesis (a general knowledge of right and wrong).
• Conscience as a special and fundamental self awareness of how things are.

Question 7

Freud views on conscience (3)

Answer 7

• Believes there is the ego, superego and the id.
• Thinks the super ego develops when young to try and please others and not face disapproval from others.
• The ego is more mature and rational and tries to help to deal with real world.