Term 3 RE glossary

3a. conscience

is a gift that recognises the call to goodness and moral sense of goodness

3a. ideals

an ideal is a standard or moral principle to which people aspire

3a. sanctuary

a holy place

3a. natural law

is the moral law of God inscribed in human nature, that can be discovered from the human ability to reason

3a. divine law

Is the moral law given and revealed to humanity from God. These include the 10 commandments, 2 great commandments and the beatitudes.

3a. sin

is any deliberate thought, word, or deed against the law of God

3a. Precept

is a general rule intended to regulate behaviour or thought

3a. Grace

the free gift of the presence and action of God in the world and the lives of believers

3a. moral

concerned with the principle of right and wrong behaviour

3a. examination of conscience

a process reflecting on one’s own thoughts, words, and action in light of God’s law in order to develop the power to love as a Christian

3a. Rationalisation

the action of attempting to explain or justify behaviour or an attitude with logical reasons, even if these are not appropriate.

3a. virtues

habits of doing good

3a. vices

habits of doing wrong

3a. charity

is a gift of God that empowers baptised people to love and do what is good. If developed, it can gradually grow stronger than all emotions, habits, and other influences.

3a. magisterium

the teaching body of the church that consists of the pope and bishops

3a. orthodoxy

generally accepted doctrine or teaching

10.3a.1 - humans call to goodness

• humans are made in the image and likeness of God, meaning people can’t repress the call to goodness

• people are moved from within to love and do good

10.3a.1 - what is goodness?

• goodness is a normal human characteristic but people can forget due to the influence of media focusing on the negative aspects of human nature

10.3a.1 - how does God call to goodness?

• god calls people to become holy by inspiring them through thoughts, words, and actions that are good

10.3a.1 - calls to conscience (1)

• ideals

• a standard or moral principle to which people aspire

• eg, loyalty to friends

10.3a.1 - callls to conscience (2)

• being inspired by others

• when a person’s conscience resonates to the love or admirable qualities seen in others

10.3a.1 - calls to conscience (3)

• feelings of guilt

• guilt is the result of doing something that represses a person’s deep human need to reflect the love and goodness of God

• they are left feeling guilty after doing wrong

10.3a.1 - calls to conscience (4)

• fear of inner conflict

• people are tempted to do wrong

• conscience can arouse fear to warn someone that they haven’t shown God’s love or goodness

10.3a.1 - why do we ask human heart questions?

• as humans mature, they ask many important questions

• God is calling everyone to seek the truth but people can never fully answer human heart questions

10.3a.1 - who can answer human heart questions?

• God is the only one who can answer these questions

• people are called to; search for God, join other searchers, and love

10.3a.3 - 4 principles of conscience (1)

• form your conscience

• conscience is developed like a skill

• it learns right from wrong by engaging God’s commandments as taught by Jesus

• people must develop moral conscience by practicing using it by recalling God’s laws before acting/talking

10.3a.3 - 4 principles of conscience (2)

• everyone is obliged to follow sincere conscience

• a person is obliged to obey what their conscience tells them is right, even if mistaken

• Since created to be good, we are called to obey what our conscience tells us

10.3a.3 - 4 principles of conscience (3)

• conscience discerns; it doesn’t create morality

• God ultimately determines right and wrong

• conscience helps a person ask which moral principles apply, how they apply, and what they should do

• right and wrong cannot vary in diff situations, they apply to everyone

10.3a.3 - 4 principles of conscience (4)

• the goal and the moral must both be morally good

• good intentions matter, but they aren’t enough

• a moral judgement must consider the end being pursued and the means used to achieve it

• examination of conscience is for an individual to discover whether or not they have behaved as God taught