Good moral conduct Flashcards
What is justification?
To be deemed righteous before God, and therefore worthy of salvation.
Why do some Christians believe we need salvation?
Due to the fall, the world is in a postlapsarian state, with the disconnect between the earth and heaven putting it in a state of sin.
We were presents in the “loins of Adam” and therefore inherited this sinful state.
Outline justification through faith
The belief that through faith alone, is how we will be justified. Due to our state of sin we cannot develop a relationship with God through good works.
St Paul tried to develop a relationship with God through upholding the Jewish Laws, but was continually unable to do so.
Sola fides - Martin Luther
“believed and was so deemed righteous”
“if justification could be gained through the law, then Jesus died for nothing”
AO2 justification through faith
Contradicts Jesus’ teachings eg: Parable of Sheep and Goats.
Epistle of James:
“faith without works is dead” “even demons believe”
Andrew Linsey argues this minimises the importance of Jesus’ example.
Outline justification through works
Faith alone is not sufficient, Jesus’ example of performing good needs also are required.
In the Parable of the Sheep and Goats, Jesus thanks those who performed good works. “for you fed me when I was hungry”
“Those who do the will of my father”
AO2 justification through works
Outline and evaluate pre-destination
Single: Augustine argues God knows who will be saved and go to heaven.
Double: Calvin - God knows both who will be receive salvation and who will be sent to damnation.
“Some go onto eternal life, others eternal damnation.”
Pelagius rejected the idea of predestination and argued that it would mean God is undermining our free will.
The Catholic Church rejected double pre-destination, arguing that God predestines nobody to hell, “this is a wilful turning away from God.”
Outline weapons of mass destruction and the just war theory.
Just war theory - was a set of criteria that would deem the reasons for war being justifiable in the eyes of God.
Jus ad bellum - reasons for going to war:
- last resort
- declared by legitimate authority
- reasonable chance of success
Jus in bello - how war should be conducted
-use of proportionate force
- no innocent civilians targeted.
nuclear, chemical or biological.
- 9 nuclear superpowers
- UK - trident submarine programme
- The United Nations described them to be the “deadliest weapons on earth”
Just war theory - was a set of criteria first developed by Augustine and later by Aquinas, that would deem the reasons for war being justifiable in the eyes of God.
Jus ad bellum - reasons for going to war:
- last resort
- declared by legitimate authority
- reasonable chance of success
Jus in bello - how war should be conducted
-use of proportionate force
- no innocent civilians targeted
Outline arguments against weapons of mass destruction
WoMD cause widespread, indiscriminate damage, therefore immediately violating the jus in bello criteria.
Pope Benedict XVI argued that in the case of the use of weapons of mass destruction “there are no victors only victims”
WoMD cause destruction to the planet that God created for us to protect. “look after my garden”
Contradicts Jesus’ pacifist approach as the “prince of peace” who taught “those who live by the sword die by the sword”
Outline arguments for WoMD
Can be seen as a deterrent, stopping other superpowers invading less powerful countries.
Jesus has used violence. In the temples he was described to turn over the tables due to the holy temple being turned into a “den of robbers.” However, Jesus only displayed aggression rather than directly inflicting harm on someone. Moreover, this act was done as a result of sin and what Jesus deemed to be an injustice. Therefore, weapons of mass destruction may only be acceptable in the face of injustice.
Outline dominion
“dominion over all the living things”
Dominion meaning control and power.
In Summa Theologica, Aquinas wrote in they are subject to us in matters of life and death.
Outline Stewardship
In Laudato Si, the Pope outlined how “dominion does not mean complete denomination, this is a misinterpretation of scripture”
Similarly, “the world has existed a long time before and will continue to live a long time after us.” Outlining how it is a Christian’s duty to protect God’s creation.
“God put man in his garden to look after it”
Linzey says Christianity should take an ethocentric approach.
