Christian Moral Principles

What are the three terms describing an approach to where divine moral authority comes from?

Heteronomy - combination of Church, Bible, reason

Theonomy - sola sciptura. Bible is the only source of moral authority.

Autonomy - individual people have to decide for themselves what is right or wrong.

Explain how, within the heteronomous approach, the Church is a source of moral authority.

• a tradition. An understanding shared by the community, passed down over centuries

• the Magisterium. Teaching authority of the Catholic Church. Publishes documents, has conciliar meetings etc.

• Apostolic succession. The authority of apostles of Jesus have been passed down through an unbroken line of bishops.

• Papal infallability. The Pope is without error on matters of faith and morals - as he is assisted by the Holy Spirit as the successor of Peter.

Give some Biblical evidence to support the authority of the Pope and bishops.

Matthew 16:18 “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church”. Peter is the foundation and leader of the church.

Luke 10:16 “Whoever hears you hears me. Whoever rejects you rejects me.”

Which papal encyclical addresses importance of scripture and tradition? Explain its view.

Dei Verbum.

• it wouldn’t make theological or historical sense to isolate scripture from tradition

• to authentically interpret the word of God, the Bible needs to be set in the context of God revealing himself in the history of salvation and Christ

Why did the theonomy approach argue against the heteronomy>

• Catholic indulgences - sold in the late Middle Ages to fund St Peter’s Basilica. Invention of purgatory for money looks like the Church is abusing its power in contriving doctrines.

Explain how the Bible is a source of authority. How does the view of the Bible differ between Christians?

Catholic Bible: Old Testament is based on the Greek translation of Hebrew scriptures. Same New Testament as protestant.

Protestant Bible: Hebrew canon.

Catholic approach believes that the Church had the authority to determine which writings should be included. Protestants believed the Church recognised the canon which should be included. Scripture is the sole, infallible authority.

Richard Hays says: The Bible contains rules, principles, paradigms and a symbolic world.

Different denominations interpret the Bible differently. Some take it as literal truth. Depending on whether they believe in it being divinely inspired, influenced by context, or the literal word of God.

Explain the role of reason as moral authority (as part of heteronomy)

• natural theology - the view that humans can use their God-given faculty of reasoning to discover his precepts

• we use our conscience as an operation of the intellect - this grows stronger through education in the teachings of the Church

Who is a key proponent of autonomy approach. Explain their position.

Joseph Fletcher - agape as the guiding principle for Christian morality.

He refutes the claim that his theory isn’t Christian, arguing against traditional views of Biblical inspiration because:

• Bible needs interpretation - how to decide which interpretation is best?

• it is headache-y to take the Bible literally when trying to work out what it means. Bible should be thought of at most as giving us paradigms or suggestions

Explain the role of the Church in the theonomy view

To share the Biblical message. It may interpret the Bible, but is subject to corrections. Only the Bible as divinely-inspired has infallability.

What is hermeneutics, give an example?

• the practice of interpreting texts

Schleiermacherian hermeneutics: a discipline that should be applied equally to all subject areas.

• understand historical context before interpretation

• linguistic vs psychological interpretation. Psychological is important in providing holistic meaning. (e.g. detecting sarcasm).

Give examples of Biblical passages and apply schleiermacherian hermeneutics to them.

Leviticus 19. “do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material'“.

Theme of kiddush - translated as holy, but also means set apart.

After exodus, these laws were intended to set apart the Israelites as God’s chosen people (hence emphasis on monotheism, which other pagan cultures were not following).

Explain a modern view in favour of sola scriptura.

Karl Barth, rejects natural theology. The only way to “know” God is through special revelation. there is no knowledge without faith. God must initiate communication with us, as he did through Jesus. Bible is the key means through which we can access God.