Christian Moral Principles Flashcards
Sources of moral guidance for Christians
The Bible
The Church Tradition
Sacred Tradition
The Bible
Contains rules, principles, symbols, parables and a whole paradigm of the human condition and the nature of God
Sola Scriptura
Where the Bible alone is used as the main and sole source of ethical commands
The Church Tradition
the traditions of how Christian life in community works in worship, practical moral life and prayer of the Church handed down across time
Sacred Tradition
the idea that the revelation of Jesus Christ is communicated in two ways. In addition to scripture it is communicated through the apostolic and authoritative teaching of the Church councils and the Pope orally
Hermeneutical approach
an approach revolving around interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts
Richard B. Hays
In his writing “The Moral Vision of the New Testament” he says that when interpreting the Bible we should ask questions relating to the text and the context of the verses such as;
- What range of texts are used
- Are there particular focal images used
Richard B. Hays on hermeneutical questions
He then asks questions which draw out how the Christian has appealed to the text;
- Has there been focus on the principles of The Bible
- Has there been focus on the paradigms of the Bible stories or summary accounts
Propositional Knowledge
knowing or accepting that something is so
Non-propositional knowledge
knowing how to do something and gain skills through the procedures of experience
Propositional Approach to the Bible
accepts the truth that the words of the Bible are messages from God. God is revealed directly to the reader through the words on the page
Non-Propositional approach to the Bible
is when God revealed Himself in the form of Jesus. He didn’t write the book but came to life, died and resurrected in a series of ‘experiences’ as an experimental approach to the Bible
Theonomous Ethics
ethics governed by God’s commands or laws
2 Timothy 3:16
Heteronomous Ethics
Ethics is divided from several sources of authority such as Church tradition Bible and Sacred tradition
Autonomous Ethics
Ethics where authority is placed on the individual. Christian decisions are ethical choices made by a Christian
Why do some Christians take a sola scriptura approach to moral issues
Because some fundamentalists believe that the Bible is the literal word of God written and directed by God
Criticisms of sola scriptura
It is impossible to read the Bible straight without making any interpretation of it and apply our own context and experiences
Matthew 5 Sermon on the Mount contradicts previous Hebrew scripture. If God wrote every word why would He not be consistent and cause confusion?
Catholic Tradition and The Bible
Catholic Christians believe the Bible grew out of the Church on the grounds that the Church formed the canon scripture aka the Bible. Others believe that the Church stemmed from the Bible making Church tradition a living expression of the Good News
William Siphon and Richard Hays explain the approach that when we read the Bible we are influenced by prior traditions and prior ways of thinking
Anglican Approach
Anglican concept of Church tradition refers to both the early traditions of the first Christians and the current traditions of the Church. For Anglicans the Bible comes first but not the only source of understanding
Hays refers to this as the time-honoured practices of worship service and critical reflection
The Catholic Sacred Tradition
The canon of sacred scripture. The selection of texts considered by the Church. This stemmed from the first disciples and the early followers of Jesus. In the Catholic church sacred tradition and Church have equal authority as they both spanned from the teachings of Jesus.
Reason as a source of moral decision making
Reason can produce different interpretations of the Bible and result in different Church traditions and responses to ethical-decision making. For example the Just War theory was formulated through Reason of the Catholic Church. Similarly the pacifist tradition in the Christian church.
Criticisms to the Bible, Church and Reason approach
.Protestants see the traditions of Catholicism and Anglicanism separate from the rule of God. They see process of traditions as a distraction from moral commands in the Bible
.Jesus’ attitude to tradition- Phillip Turner notes that ‘paradosis’ are sometimes criticised by Jesus. Usually regarding the tradition of the Jewish elders
.Exclusion of women’s perspective
Agape
Friendly Christian Love
How is Agape presented in the Bible
Throughout the New Testament and is the root of all of Jesus’ teachings and actions
- The Greatest Commandment
- “love your enemies and do them good”
- “whoever does not love does not know God for God is love”
Orthodox Christian Approach to Agape
2 contrasting types of religion:
- One denies the relevance of love in ordinary moral matters
- Reduce moral behaviour to conformity of tradition and common sense of generations
Prophetic Christianity Approach to Agape
Insists on the relevance of the ideal of love to the moral experience of mankind on any conceivable level
Paul Tillich’s approach to moral principle of justice, love and wisdom
Tillich describes love as the continuous desire to break through the isolation which is connected to every person. In his “Ethical Principles of moral action” Tillich states love needs to act in the immediate. He sees the laws of religion, nations and society as a blockade between love and situation
