Christian moral principles

Question 1

Theonomous Christian ethics

Answer 1

The bible contains all a person needs to live a good life.
God should be placed at the centre.

Question 2

Heteronomous christian ethics

Answer 2

The bible is important but it should be used alongside the church and reason.

Question 3

Autonomous christian ethics

Answer 3

Authority is placed on the individual - love as the guiding force for ethics.

Question 4

How does the story of David and Goliath create issues for the bible?

Answer 4

David kills Goliath by cutting off his head and God rewards him fro this violence.
The 10 commandments state that you should not murder.
This makes the bible inconsistent.

Question 5

What bible verse on sexual relations becomes incoherent and why?

Answer 5

‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable’.
Needs to be considered in the context in which it was in.

Question 6

Why are Psalms challenging to follow?

Answer 6

They are poems and can therefore be interpreted in more than one way.
This means it cannot be a good moral guide.

Question 7

What does sola scriptura mean?

Answer 7

The bible is the only supreme authority that matters.

Question 8

What are the advantages of taking the bible literally?

Answer 8

It gives guidance on how to organise family and religious life with ethical guidance.

Question 9

Why does Richard Mouw believe that the bible should be taken from a sola scriptura stance?

Answer 9

He argues that just because there is a command on love, it does not mean we should rule out the possibility of other biblical commands.
The bible should not be read as a list of commands, much of the bible is not a command.

Question 10

Criticisms of sola scriptura?

Answer 10

We are likely to make our own interpretations of the bible and read it subjectively.

If God dictated the whole bible then why is it written in so many different writing styles? E.g. the letters of Paul to different churches.

The bible contains many contradictions (David and Goliath)

Question 11

Catholic model for making ethical choices

Answer 11

They take an absolutist stance and view tradition as being the most important.
They believe that the bible grew out of the church and that tradition came before the bible.

Question 12

Protestant model for making ethical choices

Answer 12

The bible is the principle source of authority.
They believe that reason is the process of making sense of the bible and church reason.

Question 13

Anglican model for making ethical choices

Answer 13

They believe in prima scriptura (bible is important but not the only source).
Tradition is not fixed but allows for healthy debate with current affairs.

Question 14

What do protestants believe about church authority?

Answer 14

The church has interpreted the bible for over 2000 years and this should guide people’s moral lives.

Question 15

What do roman Catholics believe about the authority of the church?

Answer 15

They argue that the authority of the church was given to Peter and the Apostles which existed before the bible was put together.

Question 16

What is the general difference between Protestants and Roman Catholics?

Answer 16

Protestants see main authority in the bible whereas Catholics see main authority in the church tradition.

Question 17

How does the catholic church make choices?

Answer 17

Ethics are not confined to the bible but can be accessed through the natural world, reason and conscience - natural law.

Question 18

Why do Hays and Spohn both reject sola scriptura?

Answer 18

They argue that you cannot examine scripture without reference to the church community and tradition in which is functions.
Interpretations should be part of a living Christian community.

Question 19

How does Allen Verhay challenge sola scripture views?

Answer 19

He believes that the bible contains teachings that are specific to the certain contexts of the time.
eg. teachings on same sex marriage

Question 20

Bible teachings on love

Answer 20

‘Love your neighbor as yourself’
‘Love your enemies’
‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy’

Question 21

What is Tillich’s view on love as the guiding principle?

Answer 21

He is critical of following fixed rules in decision making.
He claims that agape is a person-centered moral principle, just like Jesus.
He believed that we should grow out of wisdom of the past.

Question 22

What do people believe Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount showed?

Answer 22

A set of illustrations of how to put love into practice.

Question 23

Strengths of Fletchers situation ethics

Answer 23

Some situations were not taken into account when rules were formed.

It acknowledges people affected beyond the immediate situation - it is a flexible ethic.

It is person-centered and therefore allows for the decision to be make situationally.

Question 24

Weaknesses of Fletcher’s situation ethics

Answer 24

Can be difficult as there are no simple or easy answers.

Responsibility has to be taken which is hard considering humans can be corrupted and not able to use reason properly.

Fletcher is subjective with his interpretations of Jesus.

Question 25

Why may Christian ethics be distinctive and what can counteract this?

Answer 25

Christianity is underpinned by belief in the incarnation and resurrection of Jesus - distinctive from other religions. BUT, there are other religions that place emphasis on certain similar principles - eg. Islam also emphasizes love.

Question 26

What are arguments towards Christian ethics being personal?

Answer 26

The bible and church offer individuals a way to live life according to their own needs. Jesus spoke to individual circumstances - eg. healing/ healing on the Sabbath day. Emphasis on reason and conscience is personal. Community focus is on worship and prayer whereas ethics are individualized. Situation ethics places emphasis on personal decision making.

Question 27

What are arguments towards Christian ethics being communal.

Answer 27

The bible needs to be read as an expression of how a community lives. Jesus spoke to groups more than individuals - sermon on the mount ('love your enemies') The bible, for some, should be studied in group situations - eg. Sunday Service. Rules found in the bible are for the community, communities work by these rules. Any interpretation of the bible is done so in a context and this varies - eg. some allow female priests. The church is a group of Christians who are united by their beliefs and values - eg. Toronto Blessing.

Question 28

What did Luther's protestant reformation aim to critique?

Answer 28

Luther stamped his 95 thesis's about problems with the Catholics to the Catholic church's door. This is due to the corrupt nature of the church eg. sale of indulgences. Luther would therefore agree with a theonomous approach as this avoids corruption.

Question 29

What is a quote from St Paul that supports theonomous ethics?

Answer 29

'all scripture is God-breathed'

Question 30

What is propositional revelation ad what ethic does this relate to?

Answer 30

Truth revealed by God. This follows a theonomous approach to ethics.

Question 31

What is an example of where the Catholic church is corrupt?

Answer 31

Sale of indulgences - individuals could pay to reduce their time in purgatory/ punishment for their sins.

Question 32

What are four strengths of theonomous ethics?

Answer 32

Provides clear and fixed guidelines - eg. 10 commandments. Sets a clear and consistent standard - it cannot be changed. Emphasizes the importance of the bible as the infallible word of God. Ensures that no human authority is given more importance over God's work - avoids exploitation eg. sale of indulgences.

Question 33

What are four weaknesses of theonomous ethics?

Answer 33

The bible cannot answer every contemporary ethical question - may need other sources. The bible was written in a particular context eg. patriarchal. The bible contains contradictions. The bible itself never says it is the only source a Christian needs - St Paul (appointed by Jesus) said he was 'the rock on which I will build my church'.

Question 34

What is apostolic succession and where did it start/ where is it seen?

Answer 34

The transmission of spiritual authority from the Apostles through successive popes and bishops, taught by the Roman Catholic Church. This began when Jesus said 'go and make disciples of all nations'. St Paul was then appointed by Jesus and claimed he was 'the rock on which I will build my church'.

Question 35

How does apostolic succession influence Christian ethics?

Answer 35

Jesus gave his apostles—and their successors—the mission and authority to teach moral principles before the Bible existed. The Catholic church uses this to justify its authority to define Christian morals beyond the Bible.

Question 36

What is an example of where the bible was written in a particular context?

Answer 36

Patriarchal context. Timothy - 'I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet'

Question 37

Why does the Catholic church take a heteronomous stance to Christian ethics?

Answer 37

Believes the bible and the church have equal authority. Emphasized reason alongside the use of the church and the bible. Seen in Aquinas' Natural Law.

Question 38

What quote from Catechisms of the Catholic church shows they believe the church and bible have equal authority?

Answer 38

It claims tradition and scripture are 'bound closely together'.

Question 39

What is an example from the Pope that shows the Catholic church uses reason in its teachings?

Answer 39

The Pope delivered teachings on contemporary moral issues, such as contraception. This shows they do not strictly follow the bible but also use reason to apply to other contexts.

Question 40

How does Aquinas' Natural Law apply to a heteronomous approach to ethics?

Answer 40

Aquinas believed ethics was studied through 'right reason in accordance to the nature'. This applies we should use reason to derive secondary precepts from the primary precepts.

Question 41

How does Aquinas' beliefs on the conscience link to moral authority?

Answer 41

Aquinas believed the conscience was an important source of authority. Conscience is the reason being used.

Question 42

What did John Henry Newman claim about the conscience and authority?

Answer 42

He said the conscience has more authority than the church.

Question 43

What are two strengths of heteronomous ethics?

Answer 43

It means that Christian teachings will remain relevant in the modern world - eg. Pope on contraception. It means scripture can be understood and interpreted in light of modern developments - eg. Big Bang and Evolution (links to Polkinghorne).

Question 44

What are two weaknesses of heteronomous ethics?

Answer 44

Luther criticized the power of the Catholic church and how it is exploitive (sale of indulgences) - shown in his protestant reformation. There may be conflict between different sources of authority - difficult to know whether to follow bible, church or reason.

Question 45

What did Fletcher see the conscience as?

Answer 45

A verb rather than a noun. This emphasizes that autonomous ethics are about thinking and deciding for ourselves.

Question 46

What was Fletcher's situation ethics based on?

Answer 46

Jesus avocation of agape in the bible.

Question 47

What are three strengths of autonomous ethics?

Answer 47

Gives the individual autonomy - they are trusted to make a decision on a situational basis. Provides flexibility - 'loves decisions are made situationally' - avoids becoming outdated. Consistent with Jesus' teachings on agape - appealing to Christians as Jesus is the son of God.

Question 48

What are four weaknesses of autonomous ethics?

Answer 48

Fletcher was subjective in choosing Jesus' teachings - he did not just teach love. William Barclay - claims situation ethics gives people too much freedom - society needs more rules than just 'love'. It is over-simplistic as the bible contains more teachings - 10 commandments. it is too exploitative - human beings are fallible.

Question 49

How may Augustine's view on human nature critique autonomous ethics?

Answer 49

Human are tainted with original sin therefore they are fallible and cannot be free to make their own decisions.

Question 50

What is William Barclays critiques of situation ethics?

Answer 50

He claims that it gives people too much freedom.

Question 51

How does the argument that Christian ethics are communal link to Wittgenstein's language games?

Answer 51

Wittgenstein claimed words get their meaning by connecting to the social reality, not the physical reality. This links to Christina ethics being understood in a group context.