AGAPE Flashcards
What is the main idea of love as the only Christian ethical principle which governs Christian practices?
Jesus’ only command was to love that human reason must decide how best to apply this - ethics are self-governed.
What does the Bible clarify the idea of agape as being?
- Sacrificial love for others
- Making yourself a servant
- Directed towards everyone
- Eternal
Which dimensions of love does Tillich argue that agape includes?
- Eros: love of goodness and beauty.
- Philia: love of friendship and trust.
- Libido: sexual love.
What does J.A.T Robinson describe love as having?
a “built in moral compass.”
Give three reasons why love is not sufficient to live a good life.
1) Over-simplistic.
2) Too subjective.
3) Agape love is not achievable for most humans.
Give two reasons why love is sufficient to live a good life.
1) Fully recognises the ever-changing moral situations we find ourselves in.
2) Fundamental and extreme human emotion.
Give two reasons why Christian ethics are distinctive.
1) Christianity is underpinned by the incarnation and resurrection.
2) The focus on love and forgiveness seems to break Christianity away from its more authoritarian Abrahamic routes.
Give two reasons why Christian ethics are not distinctive.
1) So much of Christian ethics is taken from the Old Testament so it is essentially Jewish ethics.
2) The Golden Rule is found in many cultures.
Give two reasons why Christian ethics is communal.
1) The Bible is about communities - Christian ethics is about a community expressing moral beliefs.
2) Jesus spoke to groups more than individuals e.g. Sermon on the Mount.
Give two reasons why Christian ethics is personal.
1) Conscience.
2) Salvation is personal.
Give two reasons why the principle of love is sufficient to live a good life.
1) Jesus states that love must replace and fulfil the law of Moses.
2) Love was the motive and intention of all other laws in the Bible anyway.
Give two reasons why the principle of love is not sufficient to live a good life.
1) Do we need greater guidelines? In the OT we can only be trusted to follow rules.
2) It’s very easy to allow any action based on subjective understanding of love.
Give a reason why the bible is a comprehensive moral guide.
1) It contains over 1000 years’ worth of culture and influence within it.
Give two reasons why the bible is not a comprehensive moral guide.
1) It is outdated, there are so many issues we grapple with today that are not addressed.
2) Contradicts itself.
