BIBLE, CHURCH & REASON Flashcards
What is the idea of the Bible, Church and reason as sources of ethical practices?
Christians ethics must be a combination of biblical teaching, Church teaching and human reason - Heteronomous.
How did the Roman Catholic Church receive its authority?
From Jesus - given to Peter and the apostles. Giving the Church the authority to put together the New Testament in the 2nd Century.
What is Sacred Tradition?
Authority given by Jesus handed down over time to Bishops and the Pope. In the form of the Magisterium.
What does 2032 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church state?
“To the Church belongs the right always and everywhere to announce moral principles.”
What are the main two forms of authority for the Catholic Church?
Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.
What are the main approaches by some Protestants to Biblical and Church teachings?
Churches = governed by councils or synods.
Over 2000 years of Church leaders interpreting the Bible.
Give two issues in using the Church as an authority/ accepting Church teaching as an important guide.
1) The relationship between people and authority has created problems (e.g. Reformation)
2) Can there be absolute right actions and wrong actions.
How can Catholics use reason as a source of ethical practice?
Reason can be used to identify what God has revealed. Understanding Natural Law.
What do Catholics give authority to in terms of reason? What did Aquinas state about this?
Conscience.
Aquinas stated that conscience was reason being used to make right decisions - “recta ratio”.
How do Protestants use reason as a source of ethical practice?
Believe that reason is required to help distinguish between correct and incorrect interpretations of the Bible.
Give two issues with Christian ethics as a combination of biblical teaching, Church teaching and human reason?
1) This approach would tend to see the Bible as a form of non-propositional revelation.
2) It is difficult to know for sure which are the correct sources of authority.
What would MacIntyre and Hays argue with regards to reason and Christian ethics?
That reason is not objective or neutral.
