RE 26 Assessment 4 Validation T3

Define conscience

at the core or heart of every person. person’s “secret core and sanctuary” where they can recognise echoes of the voice of God.

God does not speak with a human voice, stirs inner thoughts and feelings such as love, joy, peace, patience and kindness. Through conscience, God calls ppl towards goodness and ultimately towards God.

Challenges that may make it difficult to recognise the voice of conscience

• Social trends — Ppl may follow society without questioning whether it is right or wrong.

• Peer pressure — bc they fear rejection.

• Strong emotions

• Habits — virtues and vices

• Inadequate moral formation — not properly developed moral conscience.

• Guilt and rationalisation — try to justify their wrong behaviour

• Neglect to develop charity — may find it harder to love and do what is good.

Four principles of conscience + application

1. Everyone is obliged to form their conscience

through discipline, training and instruction. includes learning God's commandments, practising making good moral decisions.

2. Everyone is obliged to follow sincere conscience

provided the mistake was not through their own fault.

3. Conscience does not decide right or wrong

God ultimately determines. helps a person work out whether conforms to God's law.

4. A good end does not justify immoral means

A person cannot use an immoral action to achieve a good outcome.

Every moral decision must consider three elements: Action, intention and circumstance

Action

What the person actually chooses to do.

Intention

The reason or purpose behind the action.

Circumstances

The surrounding conditions of the action, including its possible consequences.

For an act to be morally good, all three must be good together.

However, a good intention does not make an evil action good, and circumstances cannot make an action that is evil in itself morally good.

How Baptised people can be strengthened by the Holy Spirit

can experience direct guidance by the HS through their consciences.

HS helps them to see more clearly:

• how to love

• what is good

• how to apply God's laws to everyday situations

People can strengthen the influence of HS

• daily prayer

• worship

• especially Sunday Mass

• trying to live each day as Jesus taught

HS also strengthens people against temptations and helps them resist influences that may lead them to do wrong.