Morality Unit One

Morality

Standards by which we judge actions as good or evil

Moral Law

Standards of human behavior established by God

Moral Relativism/Subjective Morality

Can vary from situaion to situation and from one situation to another.

Objective Morality

Fixed morality rooted in the fundamental dignity of the human person and sacredness of human life

Moral Theology

Study of principles and actions revealed by Jesus and taught by the Church

Moralistic

Reducing morality to a checklist of behaviors or a narrow legalistic model.

Concupiscience

The desire to sin

Grace

Divine life of God in the soul, supernatural gift, assist us in living in Christ’s teachings

Disciple

“Follower”- One who has adopted another person’s way of life

Soul

Spiritual component of a human being, created by God.

Why doesn’t a person’s morality and moral law always align?

People can have subjective morality, the church is always objective. Moral law is above human comprehension as it was created by God.

Difference between subjective and objective morality

Subjective can vary from situation to situation but objective is concrete.

Can people disagree over morality if they have a subjective view? What about objective?

Yes for both. Subjective is valuing different things but objective is someone is wrong about the moral facts

What is moral law really about? What’s the foundation of moral law?

It’s about getting closer to God/achieving salvation, love is the foundation. It’s also about the universal call to holiness- everyone is invited to love and serve God and become a saint.

If moral law isn’t about rules why must we include rules?

Our actions must be informed by moral law in order to follow Christ.

What topics are covered by moral law?

Any issue with a moral component

The four cardinal virtues-list and describe

Prudence-Choose right course of action. Before continuing an argument, the arguer pauses to consider their words and doesn’t use harsh ones.

Justice-To render what’s due to God and neighbor. Ex. A manager promotes the best employee rather than the one they like the most.

Fortitude- To perform good action despite difficulties. Ex. A student keep studying and trying despite repeated failures.

Temperance- To control our passions. Ex. Someone addicted to tv turns off the tv because they know they have work early the next morning.

Difference between actual and sanctifying grace

Actual- Temporary help from God, requires response, necessary for the commandments. You can’t lose it, but you can resist it.

Sanctifying- New life in the sould through baptism, nourished by Eucharist, lost by sin and restored through reconciliation

What’s a soul, when’s it created, why is it important to recognize the soul when living out the moral law?

It’s the spiritual, immortal part of a human. It’s created by God at the moment of conception. The soul affirms the inherent dignity of the human person./