good conduct and key moral principles Flashcards
What is the importance of good moral conduct in the Christian way of life?
Good moral conduct is considered important in the Christian way of life because: - it reflects the character and teachings of Jesus Christ
- fosters healthy relationships with others
- promotes justice and compassion
- leads to a closer relationship with God.
Christians believe that by following God’s commands and living a life of righteousness, they can …
- honour and glorify God
- demonstrate their faith
- contribute to the well-being of society.
What is justification by faith in the thinking of Martin Luther?
Martin Luther believed that humans are saved by faith alone as a gift of God’s grace, not by their own merit or good works
What is sola fide?
Sola fide, a Latin phrase meaning “by faith alone,” is a central doctrine of Protestant Christianity which asserts that salvation is attained through faith in Jesus Christ alone
What is justification by works?
The idea of justification by works is the belief that a person’s actions and good deeds play a crucial role in their salvation, and that they can earn God’s favor and eternal life through their own efforts and merit, rather than solely through faith in Jesus Christ
What is justification by faith and works?
This was the position taken by the Catholic Church at the Counter-Reformation, which was its response to the Protestant Reformation
The idea of justification by faith and works is the belief that salvation is attained through a combination of faith in Jesus Christ and the performance of good works or acts of obedience to God, with both aspects being necessary for a person’s justification and salvation.
What is predestination?
The idea of predestination is the belief that God has already determined or foreordained the eternal destiny of individuals, either for salvation or damnation, before they are born or have done anything good or bad, and that this decision is solely based on God’s sovereign will and grace, rather than on human merit or choice
What is predestination in the teaching of Paul?
Paul’s letter to the Romans seems to imply that God decided in advance who would be justified
Why do many Christian’s think that this is a distortion of Paul’s teaching?
- For Paul, God’s purposes could not be known or understood by humans
- Paul may have simply been trying to say that because he is omniscient, God knows what individuals will freely choose and so in that sense salvation is predestined
What is predestination in the teaching of Augustine?
Augustine believed that God infallibly knows who will be saved:
- Predestination is an act of grace; human goodness is the result and not the cause of election
- Humans cannot understand the will of God, i.e. why he chooses to save some and not others
What is double predestination?
Refers to the Calvinist belief that God both chose some humans for salvation and condemned others to eternal damnation, based on His sovereign will and grace, rather than on human merit or works
What is the concept of the sanctity of life?
The concept of the sanctity of life refers to the belief that all human life is inherently valuable and sacred
This belief is often grounded in religious or philosophical ideas that emphasize the inherent worth of human beings as creatures made in the image of God or possessing inherent dignity and rights
Which Christian denominations support the sanctity of life principle?
The principle of the sanctity of life is a central tenet of many Christian denominations including:
- the Roman Catholic Church
- the Orthodox Church
- various Protestant denominations
Sanctity of life quote
(CCC 2270)
“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from conception.”
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 2270
What is the weak sanctity of life principle?
The weak sanctity of life principle holds that human life is valuable, but it can be overridden in certain circumstances, such as self-defence or to prevent harm to others.
It recognizes the importance of life, but does not view it as an absolute and unalterable value that cannot be compromised under any circumstances.
This principle is often used in ethical discussions related to end-of-life issues, such as euthanasia or the withholding of life-sustaining treatment.
