Religion T2 Assessment two Chp. 1-3

Freedom

the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one's own responsibility. ability to love god and neighbour choose what is moraly right and in line with God’s will.

Explain why the desire for freedom is basic to all human yearnings

• “The desire for freedom is one of the most basic of all human yearnings.”

• From early life, people want to “discover and experience true freedom.”

• Humans naturally seek independence and the ability to make their own choices.

• As they grow, they realise limits (external and internal), but still desire freedom.

Two key questions for responsible decision-making

• “Have I sufficient personal freedom?”

• “Have I sufficient relevant knowledge?”

These ensure choices are:

• informed (knowledge)

• freely made (not pressured)

Internal and external pressures affecting decisions

Internal

• emotions (fear, anger, desire)

• habits (lying, jealousy, following the crowd)

• temptations (stealing, resentment)

External

• peer pressure

• social trends

• advertising

• expectations from others

pressures can:

• cloud judgement

• lead to immoral choices

• reduce personal freedom

Define Moral Relativism

• “What is right or wrong depends entirely on an individual’s point of view.”

• It ignores absolute moral truth and claims morality changes based on:

  • culture

  • circumstances

  • personal opinion

Dangers of Moral Relativism

• Ignores “universal principles of natural law”

• Allows harmful actions to be justified

• Leads to injustice

E.g

• “persecution of Jews’

• “apartheid in South Africa”

When truth is based only on opinion, powerful people decide what is “right,” leading to harm and inequality.

Responsible choices = moral choices (long-term happiness)

• “What everyone is really looking for- long-term happiness.”

• morally good choice:

  • “directed to what is good and conducive to long-term happiness”

• Moral choices lead to real happiness

• Immoral choices may give short-term pleasure but cause:

  • emotional hurt

  • broken relationships

  • regret

Situations that weaken responsible decision-making

• using drugs (impairs judgement)

• associating with negative influences

• entering situations where emotions overpower thinking

• strong peer pressure

• repeated bad habits

These reduce freedom and ability to choose what is right.

Why people need to learn moral principles

• People “can make mistakes”

• What seems good “can turn out to be a mistake”

• Moral principles help:

  • “work out right and wrong”

  • guide decisions

Without them:

• people become confused

• may choose harmful actions

Define Natural Law & Moral Law

Natural Law

natural to people

laws in harmony with the nature of every human being.

laws that a person with God-given reason can perceive will bring true happiness.

Moral Law

• Principles used to determine:

  • “whether a thought, word or action is right or wrong”

  • includes principles known through natural law and revealed laws

Why it’s difficult for people to grasp moral principles

• Original sin damaged human nature”

• People:

  • are “confused about less obvious principles”

  • are unsure how to apply them

• “Sometimes what is morally wrong, ‘feels right’”

• Influenced by emotions and pressures

Relationship between Natural Law and Divine Law

• Natural law:

  • discovered through human reason

  • helps people understand right and wrong

• Divine law:

  • revealed by God (Ten Commandments + Jesus’ teachings)

  • clarifies and strengthens this when people are confused

God’s Revealed Laws

• The Ten Commandments

• Jesus’ Two Great Commandments:

  • Love God

  • Love your neighbour

These guide people to live according to God’s will.

The Golden Rule

• Always treat others as you would like them to treat you.”

How human freedom was lost + consequences

• Humans “deliberately chose to disobey God”

• “destroyed their original relationship with God”

Consequences:

• “loss of harmony”

• weakness against temptation

• conflict between right and wrong

• selfishness, jealousy

• peer pressure struggles

• suffering (illness, injustice)

How and what people learn through God’s Creation

• Creation is a sign:

  • “I am here, present for you”

People learn:

• God exists

• God is present everywhere

• God calls them into relationship

They ask:

• “Who created this?”

• “How should I respond?”

How to build a relationship with God

People must:

• “acknowledge God’s presence”

• “communicate with God”

Also:

• worship and pray

• trust God

• seek guidance

• have faith

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Three things Israelites learned about God (Moses)

• God is “freeing and liberating”

• God “guides”

• God “provides”

Israelites’ experiences of God

They discovered:

• God is “the one true God”

• God communicates “personally and directly”

• God “promises blessings”

• God “keeps these promises”

learned to:

• pray

• trust God

• seek guidance

• have faith