Heteronomy

Question 1

heteronomy

Answer 1

• theres a variety of sources of authority for morals
• its come from a combo of church, bible and reason
• its more modern
• agape is important

Question 2

roman catcholic

Answer 2

• ‘law written on their hearts’ roman 2:15
• god as cretor gives purpose
• r purpose must be good
• eternal law/plan nof universe is for us to flourish
• aquinas natural law: we have ability to understand n know gods eternal law via reason
• the human experience of gods eternal law is natural law
• synderesis rule=human flourishing

Question 3

the magisterium

Answer 3

• morality is informed by wisdom of chruch n practices of its leaders
• this wisdom is collected together in papal encyclicides on contemporary moral issues
• the magisterium (teachings on the church) has authority
• best example: veritatis splednar

Question 4

pope john paul 2-1996

Answer 4

• moral law is knowable to all via reason n conscience but bc humans r weak n sinful the church should guide indivuals
• no matter what we all know that some acts=intrinsically wrong bc they contradict the moral order
• its the teaching authorty of catholic church (big meeting)
• theres ordinary priests in mass, insigntides

Question 4

liberation theology

Answer 4

• 1960s onwards
• places bible at centre of ethics
• questioned ‘top down’ structure of church
• inspired by biblical themes:
  1. liberation of moses
  1. role of jesus as liberator
• considered ‘ethics from below’ it focuses on takling the social, political n economic conditions of those who r marginalised
• promote marxism to question who has power n how they use it to benefit themselves
• but this is an atheist theory which acc blames religion a large amount

Question 4

protestant
bible, reason, conscience and church traditions

Answer 4

• started by martin luther n decide catholic church was doing things wrong so he protested n started own domination- luthus church
• protestant church egs: baptist, evangelic, church of england, sa, urc
• ethics comes from bible, reason, conscience and church traditions
• similar to roman catholics but w/out authority of magisterium
• some like hugo grotus n richard hooker promote natural law but most believe bible=primary source of authority

Question 5

modern anglicans
church of england

Answer 5

• bible isnt single document but has developed out of the refelections n needs of christian communities
• ethics should continue to develop in worshipping communities guided by reason, conscience n church tradition

Question 6

stanley hauerwas

Answer 6

• influential but contreversial modern theologian
• agued christain ethics can only be carried out in christian community
• biblical teachings shud be adapted by community for best outcome
• the sermon on the mount is aimed at communities, not indivuals, who must see it as a set of value for community to respond to: **siding w poor, comforting those who mourn, being generous w hungry, showing mercy to the merciful **
• community must adopt these value whne faced w issues such as legal disputes, sexual attitudes, marriage n divorce, promises n revenge/treatment of enemies
• shouldnt live in usa/uk nations but in christaian communities
• christian communities should question values by living n practicing these values in society
• should question western society over their emphaise on human language n autonomy

Question 7

problems

Answer 7

• what r legitimate sources for christian ethics?
• should christians promote ethics of non christian thinking?
• do some sources have greater authority than others?
• how do we determine the hierachy of the sources (bible,conscience, chruch tradtion, reason) significance?
• what happens if ur conscience n reason contradict church teachings?
• ‘he who acts against his conscience always sin‘-aquinas

Question 8

criticism of catholic church

The Catholic Church’s corrupt sale of indulgences

Answer 8

• theres been lots of crimes such as pedo priest scandals n allegiance w facism, especially hitler
• protestants suggest church=corrupt
• arguably dont act like they r guided by holy spirit
• sake of indulgences: policy of catholic church to accept money in return for forgiveness of sins. if gave priest money they would pray for yr dead relative n claim to get them out of purgatory fast
• luther- purgatory was ‘fabricated by goblins’ n wrote a 95 thesis critique of the practice of sale of indulgencies
• so invention of purgatory for use in SOI looks like church is abusing its power to invent false doctrines purely for sake of making money=corrupt

Question 9

catholics would respond

Answer 9

• ofc church can sin bc its populated by human beings christ knew this yet still wanted them to be source of moral authority
• we cant use human flaws as evidence that jesus didnt want humans to have this role

Question 10

protestants response

Answer 10

• the extent of their corruption is so great that they have betrayed n sacrificed their right to authority christ entrusted them with
• arguably crimes of church go beyond normal human flaws
• jesus entrusted flawed humans w role of forming a church but if church went beyond normal human flaws then theyre going beyond jesus’ expectations