Y10T2 Test 3 - Religion

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Freedom

The power within people to do whatever they want, which calls people to love God, others and self, and grows in virtue. This is obstructed through sin

The Basic Human Yearning

Freedom, which can be seen from how even at our youngest years, we want, search, and attempt to experience it

The Two Key Questions to make a Responsible Decision

1. Do I have relevant knowledge?

2. Do I have sufficient personal freedom?

Relevant Knowledge

Learning, understanding, and weighing the pros and cons for each choice in a decision, in order to make the most ‘correct’ choice

Personal Freedom

Being in the state to make a choice in which you are not influenced by any internal or external pressures, allowing you to make a decision freely

Internal Pressures Examples

• Strong emotions (like anger, joy, fear)

• Personal habits (like lying, following the crowd)

• Strong temptations (like stealing, being resentful)

External Pressure Examples

• Social trends

• Advertising

• Peer pressure

• Peer expectations

Moral Relativism

The belief that what is okay, and not okay, is dependent on the beliefs and values of one person which is imposed on all of society, ignoring any ethical principles

Examples of Dangers of Moral Relativism

• The genocide of Jews in Nazi Germany

• The apartheid (racial segregation of non-white people) in South Africa

Key Requirement for a Choice to lead to Lifelong Happiness

Must be a morally good choice that is directed towards what is actually good, and help support long-term happiness

Immoral Choice

A choice which is not morally good

Why People can make Immoral Choices

Due to a person being fooled by the short-term benefits of the choice, wishing to take those instead of one that will give happiness long-term because of internal and external pressures. Another reason is the negative effects of this could not be or were not seen at the time

Factors that can Impact the Ability to make Responsible Choices

• Inadequate moral education

• Social Pressures

• Other Peer Pressure

Inadequate Moral Education

A factor that can impact your ability to make responsible choices, due to you not understanding what is good or right, and not understanding moral principles

Social Pressures

A factor that can affect one’s ability to make responsible choices, in which people try to conform to the expectations of others, instead of using their own independence to make a choice. Celebrities, peer pressure, and the media, are all examples of this

Other Personal Pressures

A factor that can affect one’s ability to make responsible choices, in which one is influenced by internal pressures within them, such as negative attitudes (selfishness, cynical), or habits (like always saying yes, or being overly critical)

How Media, Celebrities and Peer Pressure can affect Decision-Making

• The media can promote certain trends in fashion and other areas that are not life-giving, of which, people both accept and seek to replicate these

• Celebrities can cause people to seek to replicate them in their behaviours, outfits, and speech

• Negative peer pressures can push people to want to ‘go with the trend’ despite its effects on themselves or others

Why it is Important People Know Moral Principles

If people know these important principles, they are able to understand and apply them to situations in real life, in order to help them discover the correct choices in day-to-day situations

Natural Law

Laws which can lead people to life-long happiness, due to how they are natural to each person and in harmony with nature

Moral Law

The overall term for laws that are followed by humans, and can be created by either God or people

Why People can find it Difficult to Grasp Moral Principles

The original sin, due to how it damaged human nature. This meant that obvious moral principles could be easily followed, but less obvious ones can be hard to see and understand in day-to-day life, and even ignored for a choice that feels more right due to pressures

Relationship of Natural Law and Divine Law

Divine Laws refer to all laws created by God, whilst Natural Laws are a type of Divine Law, which are in harmony with nature and natural to people

God’s Revealed Laws

• The 10 Commandments/The Decalogue

• Jesus’ Two Great Commandments

The 2 Great Commandments

1. You shall love your God with all your heart, soul, and mind

2. Love thy neighbour as thyself

The ‘Golden Rule’

“Treat Others as you want To Be Treated”- Matthew 7:12

How human freedom can be lost

People’s freedom can be lost (and their growth obstructed) due to sin, which includes doing anything against the moral principles of God

3 Consequences of Losing Human Freedom

• The relationship with God is strained

• Lives are lead to unhappiness

• Relationships with others are strained, and/or broken

Why some choices are Immoral

As some choices go against the moral principles that God had given humanity

Why some people find it hard to make Responsible Choices

• Lack of sufficient understanding

• Habits of doing wrong

• Strong emotions

Why Moral Relativism Goes against the Catholic Church

Moral laws are highly valued by the Catholic Church, being seen as intrinsic and highly important to human nature, whilst moral relativism sees moral laws as trends and ignores ethical standards