Christian moral principles.

What are the 3 main sources of Christian moral guidance + how do they differ in their approach to determining right + wrong?

-Christian moral principles guide how Christians should live. Different traditions understand the source of these principles in 3 main ways:

-Bible only (Sola Scriptura): The Bible alone provides all moral guidance. Common in many Protestant traditions.

-Bible, Church + Reason: Moral guidance comes from Scripture, the Church’s teaching + human reason working together. Seen in Catholicism + some Anglican traditions.

-Love (agape) as the guide: The most important principle is to act with love in every situation, rather than following fixed rules. Associated with modern liberal Protestants like Joseph Fletcher.

How does the concept of Sola Scriptura use the 10 Commandments to guide moral behaviour + why is the historical Jewish context important for understanding them?

-Sola Scriptura teaches the Bible alone provides moral guidance.

-Key examples include the 10 Commandments, which instruct people not to kill, steal, or lie + to honour parents. These rules aim to create a well-ordered society.

-Understanding them fully requires knowledge of the Jewish context: the Israelites saw themselves as in a covenant with God, meaning their duties + obligations were shaped by this special relationship.

How does the first commandment + the Shema prayer together emphasise the importance of placing God at the centre of a believer’s life?

-The first of the Ten Commandments - “You shall have no other Gods before me” - emphasises God must be the believer’s primary focus.

-This idea is reinforced in the Jewish Shema prayer (Deuteronomy), which commands loving God with all one’s heart, soul + might.

-Both stress a believer’s ultimate duty is to God above all else.

Why do supporters of sola scriptura believe human reason cannot be relied upon for moral guidance?

-The principle of sola scriptura - the idea the Bible alone is the source of moral guidance - is based on 2 key beliefs:

-Pessimistic view of human reason - Because of the Fall, human reason is corrupted by sin + cannot be fully trusted to guide morality.

-Biblicist view of scripture - The Bible is seen as God’s direct, infallible word, containing perfect moral instruction that cannot be in error.

Why does Catholic teaching argue that we need Tradition + Reason alongside the Bible for moral guidance?

-Catholic teaching holds moral guidance comes from Bible, Tradition + Reason. The Bible is central but not sufficient on its own because it can be difficult to interpret.

-For example, while the 10 Commandments forbid killing, other passages depict God commanding mass violence.

-Christians therefore need guidance from Church tradition + reason to understand how to apply biblical teachings morally.

How does St Peter’s vision about non-kosher animals challenge the idea of fixed moral laws in Christianity?

-Some Old Testament laws, like not eating a goat cooked in milk, are no longer followed by Christians because the New Testament permits previously forbidden actions.

-This shows moral principles can adapt over time, contrasting with the Biblicist view all moral laws are fixed + directly dictated by God.

Why does the Catholic Church insist Scripture must be interpreted with tradition + reasoning rather than read alone?

-The Catholic view is the Bible cannot be understood in isolation because it’s complex + sometimes revises earlier teachings.

-Moral guidance comes from interpreting Scripture through prayerful reasoning + the Church’s tradition passed down through generations.

How does the Catholic concept of Natural Law show humans can know right from wrong even without Scripture?

-The Catholic Church teaches humans aren’t totally depraved; even without knowing the Bible or Church teachings, people have a natural moral sense.

-Conscience allows humans to distinguish right from wrong, as supported by Romans 2:15, which says God’s law is written in everyone’s heart.

What are Thomas Aquinas’ Primary Precepts + how do they demonstrate humans can know basic moral principles through reason?

-Thomas Aquinas, a key figure in Natural Law, argued certain Primary Precepts are universally known through reason, regardless of religion. These are:

-Worship God, Live in an Orderly society, Reproduce to continue the species, Learn through education + Defend innocent life.

-Aquinas believed human reason is still reliable enough to recognise these basic moral truths.

Why does the Catholic Church believe the Magisterium is necessary for understanding moral law + how is this authority expressed?

-While human reason can grasp basic moral principles, the Church teaches it’s not enough to know all moral rules.

-The Magisterium - the teaching authority of the Church - guides Christians by interpreting Scripture + completing the natural moral law.

-Official teachings are issued through Papal Encyclicals, which carry authority for all members of the Church, believed to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

How do natural law, Scripture + the Magisterium work together to guide Christians in moral living?

-The Catholic Church teaches all people have a basic moral sense (natural law), but this isn’t enough to live fully in accordance with God’s will.

-To guide proper living, revelation (Scripture) + the teaching authority of the Church (Magisterium and tradition) are necessary.

-For example, observing the Sabbath isn’t naturally known but is commanded through Scripture + interpreted by the Church.

What is Situation Ethics + how does it use Jesus’ teaching on love to guide moral decisions?

-Some Christians believe love (agape) is the only guide to ethical behaviour.

-Instead of following fixed rules from the Bible, Church, or reason, we should aim to do the most loving thing in each situation.

-This approach is inspired by Jesus’ teaching to “love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12-13).

-Joseph Fletcher calls this Situation Ethics, emphasising flexibility + moral reasoning to achieve love in context.

How does Joseph Fletcher use the example of Jesus’ actions to justify Situation Ethics + the principle of agape?

-Joseph Fletcher argues agape (love) is the only universal moral principle. Love is active - it’s about what we do, not just a feeling.

-Everyone can recognise what’s truly loving, so acting out of love makes an action morally right.

-Fletcher grounds his ethics in the Christian Gospel, showing Jesus modelled love through his actions, such as breaking Sabbath laws to heal or care for others, prioritising love over rigid rules.

What is agape + how does Joseph Fletcher explain its connection to reason and self-sacrifice?

-Agape is pure, unconditional Christian love that seeks only the good of the other person, not personal gain or preference.

-Fletcher explains it as “goodwill at work in partnership with reason,” showing true love acts, even when we don’t “like” the person.

-Its essence is self-sacrifice, reflecting God’s nature + perfectly exemplified in Jesus’ death, which was a loving action for humanity.

Christian ethics are distinctive.

-Both the Biblicist + Catholic views see Christian ethics as distinctive, because humans cannot determine right from wrong by reason alone. Both rely on divine revelation to guide ethical living. Biblicists focus solely on the Bible as the source of moral guidance, while Catholics use the Bible, interpreted through the Church and its tradition, to understand how to live morally.

-The Biblicist view holds human reason is corrupt due to original sin + cannot reliably determine right from wrong. Only the Bible provides guidance for ethical behaviour. The influence of the Bible explains why people recognize basic moral rules, such as the 10 Commandments, rather than adopting immoral practices. Moral understanding comes from Scripture, not human reasoning.

-The Catholic Church’s faith ethic view holds Christian ethics provides a distinct moral framework that cannot be discovered by human reason alone. People outside the Church may reach different conclusions on issues like abortion or euthanasia. The purpose of Christian ethics isn’t to conform to worldly views but to offer a challenge with its own set of values + practices.

-Aquinas believes human reason can discover basic moral truths, but it’s insufficient to know all moral rules. Christians also need revelation + the Church’s teaching to avoid errors. The Church completes natural moral law by interpreting scripture + issuing Papal Encyclicals to make teachings official.

Christian ethics aren’t distinctive.

-Aquinas argued humans have a universal sense of right + wrong - a basic recognition of morality, known as Natural Law. This means some moral truths are accessible to all rational people, not just Christians, so in this sense, ethics isn’t distinctive to Christianity.

-Joseph Fletcher’s Situation Ethics argues Christian ethics isn’t distinctive, because morality isn’t about fixed rules or commands. The central principle is agape (love), which all humans can understand + apply. Cultural or religious practices, like observing a special day, aren’t moral imperatives - they’re traditions. Ethics should be guided by doing the most loving thing in each situation.

-Human laws show morality isn’t uniquely Christian, because societies independently develop rules based on a shared sense of right + wrong. This suggests basic moral principles are universally recognizable, even outside Christianity.

-Jeremy Bentham argues morality doesn’t need to be uniquely Christian. Using the principle of utility, he says we can determine right + wrong by choosing actions that produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number. This ethical method is universally available because all humans are motivated by pain + pleasure.

Christian ethics are personal/individual.

-The Biblicist view encourages a personal, individual approach to Christian ethics. Each person reads the Bible for themselves, guided by the Holy Spirit + understands God’s commands in their own situation. E.g. reading the Good Samaritan story might lead someone to help people far away. This emphasizes a direct, personal relationship with scripture rather than relying on the Church’s interpretation.

-Joseph Fletcher’s approach to Christian ethics emphasizes personalism. The Bible is a guide, not a rule book + individuals must consider their own circumstances to judge what the most loving action is. Ethics is therefore personal and situational, not fixed.

Christian ethics aren’t personal/individual.

-The Catholic Church teaches understanding + applying the Bible requires community + tradition. Individuals need the support of the Church, which passes down beliefs + practices through generations, so ethics is collective rather than purely personal.

-Thomas Aquinas argues Christian ethics are universal, not personal. Humans have an innate sense of right + wrong + we can act correctly by following 4 forms of law: Eternal Law, Divine Law, Natural Law + Human Law.

The principle of love is sufficient to live a good life.

The principle of love isn’t sufficient to live a good life.

The Bible is a comprehensive moral guide.

The Bible isn’t a comprehensive moral guide.