Christian Ethics

The Nature of Ethical Judgement: what ethics studies

Ethics studies normative judgements about:

• Human actions

• Character

• Social arrangements

The Nature of Ethical Judgement: what does moral judgement involve

Moral judgement involves:

• Deciding actions as right or wrong

• Evaluating character as good or bad

The Nature of Ethical Judgement: Across cultures and history, and key features of ethical judgement

Across cultures and history:

• There are differences and conflicts in moral judgements

• There are also similarities and overlaps

Key features:

• Moral disagreements are often deeply held, not temporary

• Traditions may be intolerant of opposing views

Primary and additional sources of Christian ethics

Two primary (non-negotiable) sources:

• The Bible → ultimate authority

• Tradition → authority of the institutional church

Additional sources (in Western Christianity)

• Practical reasoning

• Experience (including emotions and desires)

• Human knowledge

Ethical reasoning in Christianity (what it involves and what it leads to)

Involves balancing multiple sources

• Leads to internal tensions and debates

Intramural questions (what it is and what it focuses on)

Concerned with life within the church

Assumes authority of Bible and tradition

Focuses on:

• Christian behaviour

• Discipleship

• Moral expectations for believers

Extramural questions (what it is, what it engages with, and the key issue)

Concerned with the wider social and political world

Engages with:

• Cultural systems

• Political institutions

• Ethical theories outside Christianity

Key issue → whether and how to incorporate moral insights

The Problem of Appropriateness: what Christians must decide

Christians must decide:

• When it is appropriate to apply internal teachings externally

• Whether to adopt moral insights from outside traditions

The Problem of Appropriateness: Core tension and an example

Core tension → maintaining Christian identity vs engaging with broader society

Example → Ethics of war and peace reflects internal conflicts and debates

Thick morality

Detailed, community-specific ethical systems

Associated with intramural ethics

Thin morality

Minimal, universal rules → e.g. avoid harm

Associated with extramural ethics

Christian distinction between thick and thin morality

Religious/spiritual community → thick morality

Civil/social community → thin morality

Doctrine of the “Two”: key implications

• Divided loyalties between church and society

• Limits on political authority

Doctrine of the “Two”: what it opposes and what supports it

Opposes “totalizing systems”:

• Theocracy

• Fascism

• Certain forms of Marxism

Supports:

• A distinct Christian moral community

• Coexistence with broader society

Views on External Moral Insights: rejection view

• No valid moral insight outside Christianity

• Strong divide between Christian and non-Christian ethics

Views on External Moral Insights: Selective integration view (what views may be and what it recognizes)

Outside ideas may be:

• Evaluated

• Modified

• Integrated

Recognizes → both continuity and discontinuity

Views on External Moral Insights: Continuity view

• Moral truth accessible through reason

• Christian ethics aligns with proper moral reasoning

• Disagreement = failure of reasoning or cultural distortion

Pacifism in Christian Ethics: General principle and the variants of pacifism

Principle → opposition to violence and war

Variants:

• Traditional pacifism

• Abolitionism

• Nonviolent resistance

Pacifism in Christian Ethics: traditional pacifism

Killing in war is always morally wrong

Pacifism in Christian Ethics: Abolitionism

War should eventually be eliminated

Pacifism in Christian Ethics: Nonviolent resistance

Active opposition to injustice without violence

Pacifism in Christian Ethics: Evangelical Anabaptists (what they believe)

• Strict discipleship model

• Same ethical standard for all times

• Reject violence in all contexts

Pacifism in Christian Ethics: Quakers (what they believe)

• Reject war but allow policing

• Support “peace through politics”

Just War Theory: what it is, origins, and core idea

Alternative to pacifism within Christianity

Origins:

• Rooted in Augustine

• Developed in medieval period

• Influenced by secular traditions

Core idea:

• war can be morally justified under strict conditions

Just War Theory: Key principles

Jus ad bellum (justice of going to war) → when war is justified

Jus in bello (justice in war) → how war must be conducted

Just War Theory: Moral reasoning (when violence is justified, and the distinctions)

Love and Justice must guide action

Violence may be justice to:

• Protect the innocent

• Restrain injustice

Distinction:

• policing vs soldiering

• Not identical, but not fully separate

Augustinian Ethical Framework: what it emphasizes

Emphasizes:

• Love of God and neighbour

• Justice and moral responsibility

Augustinian Ethical Framework: What it rejects and ethical considerations

Rejects pure pacifism because → it may abandon vulnerable people

Ethical considerations include:

• Human sinfulness

• Creation

• End-times (eschatology)

Intramural vs Extramural in War Ethics

Intramural → focus in discipleship and imitation of Christ

Extramural → engage real-world injustice, accept role of state in enforcing justice

Conclusion → use of force may be morally necessary in society

Alliance with Western Ethical Thought: Pacifist Alignment (universalist and particularist characteristics)

Sometimes universalist → appeals to all humans

Often particularist:

• Emphasizes tradition and context

• Critiques universal moral systems

Alliance with Western Ethical Thought: Just war alignment (what it addresses and the two approaches)

Addresses:

• Christian audience

• Wider public

Two approaches:

• Particularist → based on Christian beliefs

• Natural law → universal moral reasoning

Final Tension in Christian Ethics: what Christianity must balance and the key conclusion

Christianity must balance:

• Internal identity

• External engagement

Key conclusion → Christian ethics should retain its distinct identity, even when interacting with broader moral systems