CH8 PCM honors ethcis and morality

Define mortal

Deadly, utterly destructive, producing annihilation

Define venial

pardonable, light, ordinary

How do we view sin?

as being something wrong with our world

Sin in terms of our relationship with God causes the following questions to arise:

Is it hopeless and dead? Is it wounded and in need of attention?

Sin in terms of our actions causes the following questions to arise:

Are they deadly in their effects? Are they simply ordinary?

Sin in terms of a life direction causes the following questions to arise:

Do they indicate a person who has lost hope? Do they define a person who continues to seek the kingdom?

Was it a mortal sin?

Was this act or series of acts hopelessly destructive? If so, the agent can do nothing to restore the previous state of things.

What makes a mortal sin "mortal?"

its intrinsic destructiveness

A mortal sin is destructive to whom?

the person who performs it

Why are mortal sins called that?

because they are death dealing to the person who does them.

According to Thomas Aquinas, only \____________ sins can truly be called sins.

mortal sins

When does sin as a direction occur?

Only when we live our humanity to the fullest

What does it mean to be an adult?

to have a fundamental direction (stance)

What does it mean to become an adult?

to have to assume that direction by means of a fundamental option

What does it mean to remain an adult?

to review or change that direction by means of additional fundamental options

What is another name for fundamental option?

mortal sin

A mortal sin is an act by which we what?

substantially reject God and assume instead posture apart from, and in alienation from, God

What is mortal sin the act of?

the act by which we take on ourselves the state of sin

Mortal sin is a \_________.

transcendental act

Mortal sin is not precisely the doing of any one \__________.

categorical act

True or false: mortal sin occurs in connection with the doing of specific deeds

true

True or false: Mortal sin is relatively rare.

true

What is the most serious act that we can perform?

mortal sin

What must be the peak moment of human experience?

mortal sin

True or false: we have clear reflex knowledge of our moral state

false

True or false: we cannot know clearly whether any one act was a mortal act

true

True or false: we can know clearly how we ultimately stand with God (fundamental stance)

false

According to Saint Paul, who will ultimately reveal our stance to others and ourselves?

the Lord

Why should we not pass judgement, according to Saint Paul and Philosopher Dutton?

only the Lord knows one's fundamental stance

As Christians, what must we do?

trust God

What kind of people do we need to be?

we need to be people of hope, not presuming on the goodness of God nor despairing because of our own sinfulness

What can fundamental options, or mortal acts, do?

they can either reverse the direction in which one is moving or ratify and reaffirm that direction

Why are some human acts not "fully human" acts?

They lack the knowledge or freedom necessary and are impeded in some way.

Why isn't every human act a fundamental option?

because of impediments

What is there a disunity between in human beings?

between the categorical and transcendental levels of human beings

Why doesn't everything we do conform to our fundamental stance?

because of the disunity/inconsistency between the categorical and transcendental levels of human beings

If such disunity wasn't present, what would happen?

good people would always do good acts and bad people would always do only evil acts

What does some of our behavior not coincide with?

our basic self-identity that we have assumed

What are some of our actions?

symbols and sacraments of that fundamental direction while others hide that direction from others and ourselves

What is present within ourselves?

an inherent disunity

How did God create us?

integrated, whole, and consistent

What is the goal of human existence and divine intention?

for us to be integrated, whole, and consistent

In reality, we are actually what?

untogether, in spite of our intentions to be otherwise

What is our disunity a result of?

original sin

Traditionally, what were seen as the effects of original sin?

darkening of the intellect and concupiscence (lust)

The effects of original sin are seen as what?

impediments

Because of impediments, it is difficult to perform what?

a genuinely human act even on a categorical level

In contemporary theology, even though sin has been forgiven, what remains the same?

the effects

What might it be more true to speak of?

our dominant fundamental direction

What is venial sin?

a human act that is not a fully human act, that does not come from the core of the human person, that is not a fundamental option

What is the difference between mortal and venial sin?

the degree of personhood

Every act of venial sin contains what?

an inner contradiction

What would be impossible if not for impediments?

venial sin

The traditional distinction between mortal and venial sin was what?

the gravity of the matter

True or false: we do seriously wrong acts without making a personal decision

true

What may serve a useful function?

lists of objectively grave matter; however, they are not an infallible guide as to whether an action is a mortal or venial sin

What is a second approach to differentiating a mortal or venial sin?

reflect on one's motivation; however, we do not have clarity about ourselves and our identity

true or false: we can be certain about our fundamental direction

false

true or false: we lack certainty about the significance of our individual acts

true

True or false: the line between mortal and venial sin is a mystery, just as are we and just as is God

true

true or false: both types of sin are real, as shown by human experience.

true as both may have occurred in our own experience and we lack certainty that any one act was either a mortal or venial sin

The fonts of morality

traditional way of determining the morality of an act

A moral act has three elements or fonts:

the act itself (most important), the circumstances, the motive

What is the only determinant of morality?

motive

Morality is a reflection of what?

personhood

Consideration of the act is what?

objective morality

Consideration of motive is what?

subjective morality

Traditionally, what distinguishes mortal from venial sin?

the gravity of the matter

For any sin, there had to be what (traditionally)?

knowledge and freedom

For mortal sin, there had to be what (traditionally)?

knowledge, freedom, and grave matter

What makes a sin mortal?

the degree of personal involvement

True or false: In many cases, a person can commit a venial sin in doing something that is objectively, gravely wrong.

true

What is it appropriate to develop?

lists of grave and light matter as they provide guidance as to what is in the best interests of our neighbor, help in evaluation of past actions, and help in the sacrament of Penance

lists of grave and light matter help in what?

moral catechesis

concupiscence

lust

catachesis

religious instruction

There is not certitude, bu there is what?

likelihood

true or false: a person is much more likely to exercise his transcendental freedom, to perform a fundamental option, and to affect his fundamental stance in an action that is, in or of itself, grave matter

true

How is there a certain ambiguity in Penance?

the penitent is uncertain whether his acts were fundamental options

In receiving Penance, there has been what?

a conversion, a turning to God, a positive fundamental option.

If you have a good fundamental option, you are in a state of what?

grace

If you have a bad fundamental option, you are in a state of what?

sin

Traditionally, the idea of sin has always been focused on what?

original sin

Penintentials

books with sins and corresponding penances used by Priests

Who promoted the idea that the importance of the action is based on the motive of the action?

Immanuel Kant

True or false: I can determine if my action was a mortal sin

false

We do not have \____ knowledge about our relationship with God.

reflex

true or false: the individual himself is the only person who can be certain whether an sin can be venial and mortal sin

false, only God

True or false: The redemption of the sacrament of reconciliation may by itself be a fundamental option

true

In deciding to do a mortal act, we are also choosing to be a certain person

true

Suicide was once considered the most serious sin because it lacks what?

hope

True or false: a mortal sin can occur unintentionally

false

true or false: Ultimately, the concept of sin is a mystery because it involves the deepest levels of who we are as a person

true

true or false: We are more likely to use our transcendental freedom in grave situations

true