Good And Evil Flashcards
Incarnation
“Made flesh”
The Christian belief that God became man in Jesus
Evil
The absence of good
This is at the expense of the good of others so often results in suffering
“But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat” Genesis
Privation
The loss of quality or something that is normally present
St Augustine said that evil is a privation of good
“For what is that which we call evil but the absence of good” St Augustine
Suffering
Pain or loss which harms humans
Some suffering is caused by humans (moral evil) some is not (natural evil)
“The more we share in God’s love, the more we rediscover ourselves more and more fully in suffering” Pope John Paul in his letter Salvific Doloris
“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God” Matthew
Goodness
The quality of being like God
Seeking the well-being of others selflessly
“No one is good but God alone” Mark
Freewill
The decision making part of a person is called the will
Freewill is when a person is able to choose right from wrong without being controlled by other forces
“The less God allows men to bring about large scale horrors, the less the freedom and responsibility he gives them” Richard Swinburne on the free-will defense
Natural Moral Law
The laws of right and wrong are the same for all people at all times in all places
Every human can discover the natural law
Conscience
Human reason making moral decisions
The knowledge we have of what is right and wrong given by God
“God created mankind in his image” Genesis
“The natural law which is inscribed by the Creator on the heart of every person” Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
