Christian moral principles

Question 1

Theonomous

Answer 1

Using the direct words of God found in the Bible (commandments) to live morally

Question 2

Heteronomous

Answer 2

Ethics must be a combination of biblical teaching, church teaching and human reason

Question 3

Autonomous

Answer 3

Ethics are governed by the individual - with the guiding principle of agape being applied using human reason

Question 4

Propositional revelation

Answer 4

The idea that God has given Christians the Bible and this is all they need to make choices

Question 5

Non-propositional revelation

Answer 5

Faith found in personal encounters - gaining knowledge of God through experience (could be revealed through nature)

Question 6

What is a propositional approach to the Bible?

Answer 6

Accepts that the words of the Bible are messages from God - he is revealed through the Bible

Question 7

What is a non-propositional approach to the Bible?

Answer 7

Instead of revealing himself through the Bible (which depicts life experiences), God lived a human life through Jesus

Question 8

Example of contradictions in the Bible

Answer 8

David and Goliath vs 10 commandments

David is rewarded by God for killing Goliath, but the 10 commandments states “do not kill”

Question 9

Issue with taking the psalms literally

Answer 9

They are a set of poems which poses issues as they are therefore somebody’s feelings about an event which is no longer relevant. But poetry is also up to interpretation - it is never a moral guide.

Question 10

Issue with taking corinthians literally

Answer 10

They are letters in which we do not know are in response to - we don’t have full context despite positive messages being portrayed.

Question 11

Psalms quote

Answer 11

“The work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place”

Question 12

Corinthians quote

Answer 12

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast”

Question 13

Sola scripture

Answer 13

By scripture alone, using the Bible as the supreme authority in all matters as it is the literal word of God

Question 14

Advantages of reading the Bible literally

Answer 14

It makes the bible a trustworthy and valid source of information. It gives answers to ethical dilemmas with no errors or mistakes.

Question 15

Richard Mouw on reading scripture

Answer 15

Sola Scripture stance.

Just because there is one biblical commandment on love doesn’t mean the whole Bible is focused on love (criticising autonomous christians)

Question 16

Criticisms of sola scripture

Answer 16

We will naturally make our own interpretations even if we try not to.

If God dictated every word in the Bible, why does it include so many writing styles?

The Bible has contradictions - if God wrote every word surely he would be consistent?

Question 17

How does the Catholic Church make decisions?

Answer 17

Choices aren’t confined to the Bible, but are accessible to the natural world/reason/conscience/church teachings.

The Catechism is a summary of the combination of scripture and tradition.

Question 18

Hays and Spohn on sola scripture

Answer 18

When someone reads the Bible they are influenced by interpretations.

When interpreting scripture you shouldn’t interpret as an individual but instead consider the Church traditions/communities.

Question 19

Hays and Spohn quote

Answer 19

“the interpretation of scripture can never occur in a vacuum”

Question 20

Allen Very’s approach to biblical ethics

Answer 20

The bible contains teachings which are specific to the social/cultural contexts at the time.

Eg verses about same sex relationships can’t be applied to modern day contexts

Question 21

Protestant vs Catholic models

Answer 21

Protestants prioritise the Bible as they believe that tradition comes from the Bible. However, Catholics prioritise tradition and is not open to changing this view, because tradition became before the Bible