Christian moral principles

Question 1

What is the name given to the approach that places God at the centre?

Answer 1

Theonomous christian ethics. These place God at the centre: God’s commandments are what is required for living morally. Humans are so sinful because of the Fall that they cannot make right decisions for themselves and so they must use the direct words of God, found in the Bible.

Question 2

What is the name given to the approach that states there is a variety of sources of authority for morals?

Answer 2

Heteronomuos Christian ethics. There is a variety of sources of authority for morals. The Bible remains important, but, perhaps because it was written so long ago, morality requires additional support to be understood. This support can come from the Church or from reason, or both.

Question 3

What is the name given to the approach where the authority is placed onto the individual?

Answer 3

Autonomous Christian ethics. The authority is placed onto the individual. The idea behind it is that Christian ethics are ethical decisions that happen to be made by Christians; here we look at those ethics that use love as the guiding force that helps Christians make moral decisions.

Question 4

What book does a theonomous approach focus on?

Answer 4

A theonomous approach to Christian ethics sees the Bible as containing all a person needs to live a good life.

Question 5

What quote from 2 Timothy 3:16 implies that the Bible should be taken with authority?

Answer 5

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

Question 6

What contradictions does the Bible contain?

Answer 6

Some suggest the Bible contains contradictions, such as a change in approach to revenge and violence between Old and New Testaments.

Question 7

What would a theonoumous thinker respond to the criticism of the Bible having contradictions?

Answer 7

H