Issues of good and evil Flashcards
What makes something wrong?
- if it breaks rules/laws
- goes against the will of god
- if it doesn’t bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people
- if it goes against purposes revealed in nature
- if it does not develop virtues but gives into vices
- if it goes against your conscience
What is relative morality?
the idea that what makes an act wrong or right will change according to situation, time or culture
What are some examples of relative morality?
- utilitarianism
- situation ethics
- to practice the virtues
- follow your conscience
What is utilitarianism?
greatest happiness for the greatest number of people
what is situation ethics?
to do the most loving thing
What is absolute morality?
where an act is either right or wrong regardless of the situation, culture or time.
What are some examples of absolute morality?
- divine command
- natural moral law
- conscience
What are the pros and cons of absolute morality?
PROS:
- People don’t have to think what to do in a situation
- god has revealed rules in bible- so are following god’s word
CONS:
- can lead to a lack of compassion
- doesn’t consider consequences of an action
What are the pros and cons of relative morality?
PROS:
- considers situation and what might be the best consequences in any situation
- could bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people
CONS:
- minority may suffer
- people may find it hard to think for themselves in some situations
What are the seven deadly sins?
- pride
- greed
- lust
- envy
- gluttony
- wrath
- sloth
What are some causes of crime?
- poor parenting
- poor education
- poverty
- drug or alcohol addiction
- poor mental health
- peer pressure
- unemployment
- media
What are the aims of punishment and what do they mean?
- vindication- to uphold the law
- justice- to ensure fairness
- retribution- to ensure revenge
- deterrence- deter people from committing the crime
- reformation- change the criminal for the better
- protection- to protect society from criminals
What do traditional Christians think the cause of crime is?
the original sin of Adam and Eve, passed down from generation to generation- the fall.
What do Liberal Protestant Christians think the cause of crime is?
When people turn away from god and give in to temptation
What do Buddhist think the cause of crime is?
tanha (craving) and they are driven by the three poisions
What are traditional evangelical christian views on aims of punishment?
aim of punishment is to bring about justice because in the bible it says:
- an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
- “but let justice role on like a river, righteousness like a never ending stream”
What are Liberal Protestant christian views on aims of punishment?
aim of punishment is to reform an offender and show forgiveness- support restorative justice and community service because:
- Jesus forgave the adulterous women, telling her “Go and sin no more”- stopped her from being stoned to death
- in the lords prayer- “forgive us of our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us”
What are the Buddhist views on aims of punishment?
people are punished by the law of karma- should deter people from committing crimes
- anatta- criminal can change and society must not give up on criminal
- Buddha said “we are not punished for our anger but by our anger”- criminal suffers most
Who was John Howard and what did he do?
a protestant christian prison reformer at the end of the 19th century who asked the parliament to ensure there was:
- clean running water
- men and women separate
- more prison officers
- all prisoners had access to a doctor
Who was Elizabeth Fry and what did she do?
a quaker in the 19th century who emphasised the need to educate and reform prisoners so she:
- taught them how to read and held bible readings
- taught them to knit and sew to make a living
- got them clean clothes
What are the pros and cons of modern prisons?
PROS:
- they are offered education, drug rehabilitation, training for work, counselling and chaplains
- assured human rights
CONS:
- overcrowding, poor treatment and lack of access to services
- rise in assault, self-harm and suicide
What do prison chaplains do?
- care for spiritual concerns of the inmate
- counsel inmates on other concerns
- help inmates to continue practising their religion
- help inmates to re-join a community
- care for spiritual needs of family members
- can go with prisoner to death if on death row
Why do prison chaplains help prisoners?
- Jesus taught to love thy neighbour
- Jesus taught to love the sinner and hate the sin
- Jesus showed the virtues of compassion, love, patience and kindness
- “I was thirsty and you gave me water”- help those in need
Why conservative Christians support the use of the death penalty?
- there are 36 capital offences in the old testament
- St Paul said the authorities have been put there by god
- breaking then commandments deserves the death penalty
Why do Liberal Christians not support the use of the death penalty?
- They believe only god can end life- “these days allotted to me are recorded in your book”
- no one else can end life- ten commandments
- Jesus stopped an adulterous women from being stoned to death and said “go and sin no more”
What is the Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor?
Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven”
How do Catholics believe they can be forgiven?
forgiveness comes through confession and performing religious acts which achieve atonement- God’s forgiveness is granted through the priests pardon after confession.
How do Evangelical Christians believe they can be forgiven?
the forgiveness of sins is granted directly by god and reliant upon faith
What is moral evil?
suffering caused by humans
What is natural evil?
suffering caused by nature
Where do Christians believe goodness came from?
god made earth and “saw that it was good”
How do Christians know what goodness is?
- god revealed the ten commandments to Moses
- Being moral is acting on Jesus’s teachings
Why do Christians believe there is evil in the world?
- the first sin (the fall)
- the devil
- free choices of humans
Where do Buddhists believe goodness and evil came from?
- good acts are ones that are driven by metta and karuna
- evil acts are ones driven by tanha which leads to the three poisons
Do Buddhists believe evil can be overcome?
- if you can overcome the three poisons and reach nirvana you can achieve parinirvana which is a life without evil and suffering
How do Buddhists know what goodness is?
- from the dharma and life of the Buddha
i.e. follow the 8 fold path and your actions won’t be led by the three poisons
What does ‘omnipotent’ mean?
all powerful
Why do Christians believe god is omnipotent?
- god sent the ten plagues to the Egyptians
- parted the red sea to let Moses and the Israelites escape
- Jesus was able to walk on water and rose from the dead
What is omnibenevolent?
all loving
Why do Christians believe that god is omnibenevolent?
- in the psalms it says that god is compassionate and gracious
- “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son to that whoever believes in him will not die but have eternal life”
What Epicurus’ inconsistent triad?
- if god is all powerful then he has the power to stop evil
- if god is benevolent he would want to stop evil
- evil still exists
What does Epicurus’ inconsistent triad conclude?
that god does not exist
What do Buddhists believe is the origin of evil?
the 3 poisons which caused by tanha leads to moral evil and bad karma
What is free will?
the ability to make choice voluntarily and independently
What are the Christian views on free will?
- Adam and Eve were created with free will and abused it- the natural tendency to abuse free will has been passed on down generations (the fall)
- can also use their free will to atone for their sins
- Liberals believe god gave humans free will to grow their love for god
What are the Buddhist views on free will?
- humans are free only in samsara so they can achieve enlightenment
- we are influenced by karma and pratitya
- anatta- no fixed self humans can break out of conditioning via meditation
What are the Christian beliefs on human suffering?
- suffering is a test to see how loyal we are to god
- suffering is a punishment for sins
- without suffering people wouldn’t be able to do good things and show bravery
What are the Buddhist beliefs on human suffering?
- all life is suffering (dukkha) because the world of samsara is permanent
- caused by tanha which leads to the three poisons
- suffering CAN end
