morality: Unit 1 Moral Theology Quizlet - Human Dignity

Moral Theology

The part of theology that focuses on how one is to live as a disciple of Christ under the guidance of the Church. It uses reason and divine revelation.

Importance of Moral Theology

Moral theology is essential to the Catholic faith because God desires a loving relationship with us and only a moral agent can love. It allows us to properly love God, neighbor, and self and thus be truly happy.

Objective Truth

Truth claims that are factual. Four properties of such truth is that it is 1) discovered, not invented, 2) based on facts, not feelings, 3) is universal, 4) unchanging.

Subjective Truth

Truth claims based off a person's feeling/opinion.

Moral Relativism

The belief that there is no truth in morality. It contradicts itself by claiming that the only truth is that there is no truth.

Judging Others and Legislating Morality

The Church judges actions, not people. Only God can judge people. All institutions legislate morality since any moral rule is an act of "legislating" morality.

The Moral Argument

If God doesn't exist, objective morality doesn't exist. Yet objective morality does exist. Therefore, God exists.

Limited explanations of objective morality

1) Evolution is a natural, finite process that can't explain our ability to think of an infinite, supernatural moral law giver. 2) Reason/conscience alone makes morality subjective. 3) Society cannot change the moral law through a majority vote.

Justification

The process by which we are made holy and receive God's sanctifying grace. It begins with God's grace, our free will response in faith working through charity, and ends in our ultimate salvation with God.

Human Desire/Beatitude

A life of holiness and discipleship leads us to our ultimate end: eternal life w/ God (i.e. heaven). Created goods lead to only imperfect happiness that is limited by the difficulty of maintaining them, lack of satisfaction and death.

Sources of Moral Theology

Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, the Magisterium (interpreter of revelation and can speak infallibly), and reason

Church as Moral Guide

The Church's teaching is trustworthy and this can be seen through its clear unity, many saints and miracles, it has many members spread across the globe, it was founded by Christ and is guided by the Holy Spirit to not fail in its teachings (cf. Mt. 16:18-20), and has had long duration.

Christian Anthropology

Views the human person as an embodied soul. With the animals we share a physical body and with the angels an immortal soul capable of free will.

Human Dignity

Stems from being created in God's image and likeness.

Universal Call to Holiness

Sanctity and salvation are for all since God desires all to be saved

The Three Parts of the Human Soul

1) Reason (ability to know), 2) Will (ability to make choices), 3) Bodily Passions/Instincts (also includes emotions)

The Well-Ordered Soul

Reason guides the will to channel the bodily passions/instincts toward the good.

The Chariot Analogy and the Well-Ordered Soul

The intellect (i.e the chariot driver) channels the horses (i.e. the passions) to properly operate chariot (i.e. the will) toward the good.

Catholicism, Dualism, Materialism

Catholicism affirms the goodness of body and soul while dualism downplays the body and materialism downplays the soul.

Original Sin

The first sin of Adam and Eve contracted, not committed by all. It represents a lack of grace that ought to be. Its effects include 1) lack of grace that inclines one to sin (concupiscence), 2) ignorance, and 3) bodily death/pain.

Grace

The free gift given by God in which human beings share in the life of God and grow in holiness. Actual grace is given to all while sanctifying grace, is the grace that saves and is lost due to mortal sin.

Freedom and Responsibility

The ability to make choices on one's own (i.e. freedom). Freedom is a power in which one is responsible to use it for the good in order to avoid undue attachment.

Conscience

A judgment of reason which at the appropriate moment enjoins people to do good and to avoid evil. Since the human person is imperfect, their conscience can err.

Formation of Conscience

This comes through education in the Catholic faith, living the sacramental life, and frequent prayer/examination of conscience.

Norms for conscience to follow

1) Avoid committing evil in order for good to come of it. 2) Golden Rule: do unto others as you want them to do unto you.

Vincible Ignorance

Lack of knowledge for which a person is morally responsible due to lack of diligence

Invincible Ignorance

Ignorance that cannot be overcome by ordinary diligence and is therefore not faultworthy. This can lead to a reduction in moral culpability along with fear, duress, habit, etc.