Christian Ethics Exam 2

who believed God’s laws can be learned in part through human reason (not *only* through Scripture); God created humans with natural inclination to certain ends

Thomas Aquinas

what are the biblical bases of natural law?

Romans 1:18-20; Romans 2:12-15

what requires more specific things of us and imposes obligations that are not universal

covenant rules

what type of ethics is different from divine command in the relationship of lasting commitment in which rules are part of faithfulness to the covenant?

covenant ethics

what type of ethics is different from natural law in that it’s not just locating moral laws in an order that is part of reality, but it locates the moral rules in a relationship of faithfulness between people or between individuals and God?

covenant ethics

from a deontological perspective, how many ways does Christian ethics have to understand moral rules?

3

what three ways in Christian ethics are there to understand moral rules?

divine command, natural law, and covenant

what Christian ethic emphasizes God’s authority distinguishing between right and wrong, and God’s revelation telling us which is which?

divine command

which Christian ethics emphasizes the connection between how we live as reasonable humans and the natural order in which God placed us?

natural law

which Christian ethic emphasizes the calling of attention to how the rules shape our identity as persons in community?

covenant

what do divine command, natural law, and covenant have in common?

moral rules are objective (more than teleological approaches)

who wrote about virtues?

plato

who was virtue more significant with?

aristotle

who is one of the most influential examples of the incorporation of Greek ideas of virtue in Christian moral theology?

Thomas Aquinas

when did virtue ethics begin to gain popularity?

1950’s

what has been the focus of class in terms of ethics?

decision making, actions, and the principles that guide them

what is the emphasis of virtue ethics?

the character of the person who *makes* the decisions and acts

what is a desirable character trait that hides individual devisions over a period of time?

virtue

what should cultivate virtues that ultimately influence decisions and actions as well as make decisions based on the virtues they cultivate?

moral life

how is virtue learned?

through practice and repetition, through forming a habit

what is the primary obstacle to living a moral life?

sin

how are virtues attainable to Christians?

God offered grace to humans through Christ and the Holy Spirit

how many of the moral virtues are called *cardinal virtues*?

4

what, in terms of virtue, means a hinge, that on which a thing turns, its principal point

cardinal

what are the four cardinal virtues?

prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance

what virtue is the practice of sound judgement and the process of deliberation and execution?

prudence

what virtue is giving to all what is due to them as well as the foundation of perfect love?

justice

what are the two aspects of justice?

abstaining from evil towards others and doing good to others

what virtue requires doing good despite obstacles, even at the risk of one’s life and is related to patience and perseverance?

fortitude

what virtue is the restraining of natural desires and appetites and allows the experience of pleasure within reasonable limits?

temperance

what does Christian moral theology add to moral virtues?

theological virtues

from a Christian perspective, what are the basis of moral virtues?

theological virtues

what are the three theological virtues?

faith, hope, love

what theological virtue strengthens the basics of belief by studying Christian teaching and avoiding anti-christian ideas as a beginner?

faith .

what theological virtue allows one to evaluate all things in life in light of Christian values and belief at the advanced stage of practice?

faith ..

what theological virtue allows the expereince of special gifts from the Holy Spirit affecting knowledge, understanding, and insight when in the perfect stage of practice?

faith …

what theological virtue places confidence in God by shifting attention from earthly things to external things; this brings consolation in adversity when in the beginner stage of practice?

hope .

what theological virtue is no longer preoccupied with anxiety about the future when in the advanced stage of practice?

hope ..

what theological virtue brings unshakable peace and serenity; does not fear even death, only the Lord when in the perfect stage of practice?

hope …

what theological virtue says that since charity is the love with which we love God, one performs basic acts of worship when in the beginner stage of practice?

love .

what theological virtue says that one loves others “in God;” that is, loves everyone, without exception when in the advanced stage of practice?

love ..

what theological virtue demonstrates the love of even enemies results in perfect forgiveness when in the perfect stage of practice?

love …

what do people expect of virtue ethics even though it does not do this?

to be told exactly what to do

what are the advantages of virtue ethics?

emphasizes character traits and the importance of developing virtues in our own lives,

encouraging one to consider the larger scope of the moral life rather than just isolate decisions,

and reminding one of the importance of community and early training

what is the main objection to virtue ethics?

cultural relativism

what are the three responses to cultural relativism being the objection of virtue ethics?

cultural relativism *is* a challenge, but is also a problem for the other two approaches,

though local *understanding* of the virtues may cary, the virtues *themselves* are not relative to culture,

and so be it! any account of the virtues must derive from the community in which those virtues are to be practiced

Paul declares that this, rather than the law, gives life

the Spirit

Christian ethics is based primarily on this

Scripture

Paul saw this as the new moral dynamic that Christians enjoy

cross and resurrection

in the early church (especially Paul) this is the basis of the moral life

salvation

Jesus replaced the ethic of his contemporaries with an ethic associated with this

God’s promise and love, ethics of kingdom

instead of searching for the good life and cultivating virtues, the Hebrews were concerned with this

righteousness

this is the basic theme of the ethical life in the Hebrew scriptures

God in covenant

Paul saw this as the goal of the moral life

Christlikeness

the context of Jesus’ ethical teaching is his conflict with these people

Jewish religious leaders

list the four ethical issues over which Jesus disagreed with his contemporaries

1. foundation of ethical life
2. human merit and divine rewards
3. who actually are the people of God
4. the intent of the law