Religion Unit 3

Chastity

only having sex in marriage with one’s spouse; sexual self control

Solicitude

anxious concern for another

Temperance

balance in life, moderation, self control in all aspects

Virtue

habits we develop to help make good decisions

Common good

the general wellbeing of all within

Law

promote and protect common good

Maxim

a general truth or rule of conduct

Norm

guides for actions

Rule

prescribed guide for conduct or action

Moral principle

basic truths used to determine rules of conduct

Natural law

the original moral sense which enables people to discern by reasoning what is good and what is evil, what is true and what is a lie

Vocation

calling from God

Why we need rules for a functioning society

• protect our freedom

• ensure safety

• ensure human rights

Plato

• said the good is in all things

• good/happiness comes from contemplation

• wrote “The Republic”

Aristotle

• good can only be found in God

• highest happiness comes from living an ethical life

St Thomas Aquinas

• blessedness comes from loving God

• people live a good life using intelligence and capabilities

• gave us the virtues

• canonized in 1323

Sophists

• anti philosophy

• said there could be no truth

Cardinal virtues

• Prudence-opposite of being impulsive, thinking before you act

• Justice- loving your neighbour, thinking of others before yourself

• Temperance- balance in life, self control

• Fortitude- helps us overcome obstacles to living morally, over come temptation

Theological Virtues

• Faith- belief in God as a gift and a response

• Hope- enables us to live for the kingdom of God and eternal life

• Love/Charity- greatest virtue, gives us ability to love all things, love makes all things possible

Sin and Contrary virtue- how do they balance

Pride-Humility

• desire to be more important is competitive

Envy-Love

• love seeks the good of others

Gluttony-Temperance

• temperance accepts natural limits

Lust- Self control

• self control prevents pleasure from killing the soul through suffocation

Anger- Kindness

• anger is the first reaction but kindness involves patience

Greed- Generosity

• generosity means letting others get credit of praise

Sloth-Zeal

• zeal is an energetic response to God’s command

Original sin

• Pride is the original sin

• Adam and Eve took the apple even though they had everything

• All sins relate back to pride except anger

  • they all center around the self but anger is uncontrollable

Moral Principles of Catholic Church

IVF

• Respect for human life and human dignity

  • embryo is a human so if they are disposed then they die which is a person dying

• A child is a gift

  • should not be reduced to a possession

• The integrity of pro creation

  • Church honours the act of reproduction since it is an intimate experience

• Concern for the most vulnerable

  • human life at its most vulnerable need protection

• The common good

  • general wellbeing of all must be considered

Moral Principles of Catholic Church

Suicide

• Human life is relational

  • life is a gift from others we must preserve

• We are mutually responsible for life

  • suicide is a failure to protect the other

• Our care for the other must be governed by compassion, not pity

  • suffering challenges us and Catholics support things that reduce suffering

4 fundamentals of Natural Law

1. do good avoid evil

2. protecting/ preserving life

3. tendency towards procreation and education- order of nature

4. tendency towards truth and cooperation in a social existence- order of reason

3 religious vocations

1. married life

2. single life

3. religious life-priest, nun deacon

Reasons for annulment

1. Lack of Canonical form for catholics

   1. if marriage has not been consummated

2. Impediments

   1. non age

   2. previous bond

   3. sacred orders

   4. close blood relatives

3. consent

   1. force or grave fear

   2. conditions regarding future

Factors of marriage

1. Marriage- why? In church?

2. family planning- want kids? #?

3. child rearing- religion? school?

4. family income- both work? separate bank accounts?

5. Place of residence- where?

6. Household tasks- how will they be divided?

7. lifestyle choices- what is important? divorce?

Fundamentals of happiness

1. setting standards for a good life

   1. the more you repeat the action the more the action defines you

2. the role of the other

   1. company of others

3. institutions

   1. stable sets or systems of meanings, beliefs, and values

5 parts of law

1. law maker

   1. God’s law

   2. natural law

   3. human law

2. specific direction of action

   1. civil laws- govern all areas of human life

   2. cannon law- covers all aspects of church life

3. the common good

   1. protect rights, well being, and interests of all

4. specific groups of people

   1. help groups realize the good life

5. obligation

   1. obligated to protect common good

Civil vs canon law

Civil Law- law of land applying to individual

• Marriage- legal agreement between 2 people

• marriage license- given by city hall

• city hall- requires 2 witnesses

• judge or justice of peace- signs contract

• the service- exchange vows

• legal agreement- marriage is a legal agreement

• contract- requires responsibilities to be met

• divorce- legal separation of 2 married people

Canon Law- law of church

• Marriage- sacrament bonding 2 people

• marriage license- given by priest, civil and church license

• Church- in front of family and friends

• priest- signs canon law

• the mass- Eucharistic celebration and vows

• covenant- scared promise between couple and God

• Sacrament- marriage is a sacrament

• Annulment- not divorce, necessary to be married in church again

3 levels of priest

1. deacon’

2. priest

3. bishop

3 roles of priest

1. to teach- preach gospel

2. lead catholic community in the celebration of divine worship

3. provide pastoral guidance