religion 22

Religion Study Guide

UNIT 1

Ethical Philosophy

• Aristotle

• To have a good life, do good to others

• Immanuel Kant

• Intention over feelings

• Emmanuel Levinas

• Walk in other’s shoes

Catholic Teachings

• The 10 Commandments ~ A Deeper Look

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

3. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

4. Honor your father and your mother.

5. You shall not murder.

6. You shall not commit adultery.

7. You shall not steal.

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

9. You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods

10. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.

• St. Thomas Aquinas ~ Cardinal and Theological Virtues

Pursuing Justice, Tempering with Fortitude

• Prudence

• Justice

• Temperance

• Fortitude

• Faith, Hope, Love

• The Eight Beatitudes

Please Make Me Holy, My Peaceful Precious Path

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

2. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. 

3. Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. 

4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. 

5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 

6. Blessed are the pure of heart: for they shall see God.

7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 

8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

• Parables

"Faith Shows We Must Trust."

• Fisher of Men

  • Jesus called ordinary people to spread His message.

  • Lesson: God can use anyone for His plan.

• Stoning of an Adulteress

  • Jesus stopped the stoning, urging mercy over judgment.

  • Lesson: Show mercy, not judgment.

• Walking on water

  • Jesus walked on water to reach His disciples.

  • Lesson: Faith helps overcome fear.

• Mustard Seed

  • The Kingdom of God starts small but grows big.

  • Lesson: Small faith can lead to great things.

• Tax collector vs. Pharisee

  • A humble tax collector was justified over the proud Pharisee.

  • Lesson: Humility and repentance matter more than pride.

• The 8 Corporal Works of Mercy

F-D-C-S-V-V-B-H → try turning it into a phrase like: "Funky Donkeys Can Serve Very Very Big Hearts"

1. Feed the hungry 

2. Give drink to the thirsty 

3. Clothe the naked 

4. Visit the imprisoned 

5. Shelter the homeless 

6. Visit the sick 

7. Bury the dead 

8. Care for the environment

• The 7 Spiritual Works of Mercy

"Careful Instructors Forgive Bearers of Wrongs, Praying Comfortably Patiently."

1. Admonish the sinner 

2. Instruct the ignorant 

3. Counsel the doubtful 

4. Comfort the sorrowful 

5. Bear wrongs patiently 

6. Forgive offenses willingly 

7. Pray for the living and the dead

UNIT 2

Judgement 

• Is it Okay to Judge?

• Do not judge the heart of the person but the actions of them. Hate the sin, not the sinner

• Walking in Other People's Shoes

• Don't be too Quick to Judge

Free Will

• Concepts of Freedom

• Naturalism: Freedom is a delusion. A person is not responsible for their actions.

• Social Determinism: Argues that behaviour is determined by social influences. Humans are not free. Sigmund Freud believed our motives stemmed from instincts: Eros (love), and Thanatos (death).

• Religious Determination: God is in control. God is given ultimate freedom at the expense of human freedom. God has predetermined the course of the world.

• The Problem of Evil

• Being able to choose to do good or bad is more valuable than God restricting us only to do good because that is true free will

Conscience

• Catholic Guilt and What Is It Telling Us

• Guilt is an awareness of having violated some objective standard. Solution: tell the truth, confession.

• Shame is the awareness of failing in someone’s eye. Solution: reveal the wound and ask for reassurance. 

• The Role of Our Conscience

• It is the key to responsible freedom.

• Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment.

• Moral conscience, present at the heart of the person, enjoins him at the appropriate moment to do good and to avoid evil.

• Theory: The Hunch, The Little Voice, the Feeling, Follow the Crowd, No Conscience, Using Your Head

• Big 3: Capacity to recognize right and wrong, Process of moral reasoning, moral judgment

• Misinformed: Rationalization, Trivialization, Misinformation, The end justifies the immoral means, Difficult to reason

Morality

• Objective vs Subjective Morality

• According to objective morality, evil acts are wrong regardless if they are culturally acceptable. What is evil is evil. Opinion, culture, and laws cannot change this fact.

• Moral relativism (subjective): only taught bad, they think what they were doing was “good”

Sin

• A Deeper Understanding

• Sin is an offence against reason, truth, and right conscience. Treat others how you want to be treated.

• Venial: Lesser offence

• Mortal: destroys relationship with God

• The 7 Deadly Sins and 7 Lively Virtues

• Deadly sins: "People Get Lazy Every Week Sitting Greedy."

• Lively virtues: “Holy Grace Makes Disciples Grow Through Chastity.”

• Pride - Humility

• Envy - Gratitude

• Wrath - Meekness

• Sloth - Diligence

• Greed - Generosity

• Gluttony - Temperance

• Lust - Chastity

Forgiveness

• The Sacred

• Forgiveness is more so for yourself rather than for the one who hurt you. Forgiving means releasing that pain in your heart and to move on.

• Is it Okay to Hate Someone?

• Hate the sin, not the sinner. You don’t have to like someone to forgive them.

• Is it Ever Too Late to be Forgiven?

• Everyone can be forgiven by God, you have to repent though.

• Reconciliation/Confession

• Brings healing, and peace. Confession with a priest is good since they represent the community like you’re saying sorry to everyone.

• The Passion of Christ

• Jesus would pay the penalty for everyone’s sin in order for mankind to be saved

• The Secular (Forgiveness)

• Exoneration: restoring relationships completely. E.g. genuine accident, doesn’t understand, truly sorry

• Forbearance: partial apology, “sorry, BUT…” be weary around them.

• Release: doesn’t acknowledge their wrongdoings. You do not need to continue the relationship but release all negative feelings.

Eternal Salvation

• Discussing Heaven and Hell

• Pascal’s Wager

Parables

• The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7)

  • Context: Tax collectors and sinners listen; Pharisees grumble about Jesus welcoming sinners.

  • Key Verse: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one, does not leave the ninety-nine and go after the lost one until found?”

  • Meaning:

    • Lost sheep = people lost in sin or away from God’s will.

    • Shepherd = God who cares deeply for each individual.

    • God does not give up on anyone.

    • We should rejoice when the lost return, showing mercy and hope.

    • Calls for care and patience toward those who struggle spiritually.

• The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)

  • Key Verse: “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times” — meaning unlimited forgiveness.

  • Story:

    • A king forgives a slave’s enormous debt (more than a lifetime’s worth).

    • The forgiven slave refuses to forgive a fellow servant a much smaller debt.

  • Meaning:

    • God forgives us much more than we deserve.

    • We must forgive others sincerely and generously, as God forgives us.

    • Forgiveness should be limitless; holding grudges contradicts God’s mercy.

    • If we expect God’s forgiveness, we must also forgive others.

• The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)

• Story:

  • Younger son demands inheritance early, leaves, wastes it, becomes desperate.

  • Returns humbly; father runs to him, welcomes him back with joy and celebration.

  • Older son is angry and jealous; father explains celebration is because the lost son is found.

• Meaning:

  • Father = God; sons = people.

  • Turning away from God leads to spiritual starvation.

  • God eagerly welcomes sinners back with mercy and grace, no matter their past.

  • True repentance involves humility and returning to God.

  • We must celebrate others’ repentance, not begrudge it.

  • God’s love is unconditional and joyful for every returning sinner.

• The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)

• Story:

  • Landowner hires workers at different times of day but pays them all the same wage.

  • Early workers grumble about equal pay with latecomers.

• Meaning:

  • Vineyard = following God’s path.

  • God accepts anyone at any time in life who turns to Him.

  • Reward (heaven) is the same regardless of when you come to God.

  • We should rejoice when others find God, even if late.

  • “The last will be first, and the first will be last” highlights God’s generosity and grace.

UNIT 3

Norms

Secular Norms

• Cultural Norms

• Strongly influence our behavior, often without us realizing it.

• Guide how people ought to act in society (what’s normal vs strange).

• Protect and uphold what society values.

• Create moral standards for individuals to follow.

• Come in forms like laws, rules, principles, commandments.

• Carry different levels of obligation.

• Norms are Declared by Authority

• Some norms come from God (e.g. 10 Commandments).

• Others from the Church (ecclesiastic law).

• Government sets civil laws.

• Parents teach family rules and traditions.

• Western civilization heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian values.

• Norms Must be Reasonable

• More reasonable norms get greater acceptance.

• Reasonable norms compel people to follow them.

• Stable countries usually have mostly reasonable norms.

• Kant believed reason is the main source of obligation.

• Norms Involve Our Ethics

• Pass wisdom from past generations to avoid ethical mistakes (e.g. Germany rewriting laws post-Holocaust).

• Provide safety and security by forbidding harmful behavior (e.g. sexual abuse).

• Help make quick, accurate decisions based on what others would do.

• Help us decide ethically: “Would I be ashamed if everyone knew?”

• Unite people through common goals.

• Show what ethical behavior looks like through social stigmas.

• Laws

  • Highest form of norms aimed at uplifting society.

  • Important norms for the common good become laws.

  • Strict guides to behavior with consequences if broken.

  • More freedom in a country tends to mean more reasonable laws.

• Rules

  • Accepted behaviors enforced by specific groups or places.

  • Breaking rules can lead to denied access (schools, stores, sports leagues, families).

  • Police only get involved if a law is broken, not just rules.

  • Healthy norms create good societies; good norms should be encouraged, bad ones discouraged.

• Maxims and Proverbs

• Short sayings sharing wisdom or general truths about conduct.

• Often linked to religion but not always.

Sacred Norms

• Definition: Norms motivated and influenced by religion.

• Purpose: Protect and encourage the values and traditions of a specific faith.

• Variation: Differ between religions and across countries.

• Global Role: Play a major role in all nations to varying degrees.

• Catholic Sacred Norms

• Rooted in:

  • Initiation, healing, and service → the 7 Sacraments.

• Law & Church Teaching:

  • Catholics must follow just laws of the land.

  • If a civil law contradicts Church teaching, Catholics follow Church teaching instead.

  • Because of belief in objective morality, Catholic law supersedes unjust civil law.

Types of Catholic Norms

• Personal Faith Practices (for Catholics only):

• Attending Mass

• Receiving the Sacraments

• Raising your family in the faith

• Supporting the Church with time and finances

• Universal Moral Norms (expected to promote in society):

• Defending the rights of the most vulnerable:

  • The unborn

  • The poor

  • The elderly

  • Children

  • People with special needs

• Call to Action

• If you're a person of faith, take sacred norms seriously.

• If you're not doing so, maybe it’s time you did!

• Use your values to shape an ethical society.

• “Leave the world a better place than you found it.”

• Church and Culture – Practicing Catholic

  • Practical atheists: Believe in God but live like He doesn’t matter.

  • 1st Precept: Attend Mass on Sundays & holy days.

  • Mass time vs. entertainment: 65 hrs/year for Mass vs. hundreds on screens—Mass is realistic.

  • 2nd Precept: Confess sins at least once a year.

  • 3rd Precept: Receive Eucharist at least once a year (Easter).

  • 4th Precept: Observe fast/abstinence (Ash Wed, Good Fri, Lenten Fridays).

  • 5th Precept: Support the Church materially (donations, time).

  • Personal reflection: Doesn’t meet all precepts well—needs to improve.

• Church and Culture – Homosexuality

  • 3 options for gay people: Hide, leave faith, or follow God while embracing identity.

  • Is it a choice? No. Church agrees attractions aren't chosen.

  • All are God’s children: Treat everyone with love and dignity.

  • Church's call: Live in chastity—not loveless, but not lustful.

  • Marriage equality issue: Church sees marriage as male-female, open to life.

  • Does God hate gays? No. Disagreeing ≠ hating.

  • Church needs forgiveness: Many LGBTQ+ feel excluded.

  • Church stance: More loving than expected—agrees with dignity but disagrees on gender identity.

• Article – Church Teaching on Homosexuality

  • Most marginalized: LGBTQ+ Catholics—Jesus loves the marginalized.

  • Is being gay a sin? No.

  • When is it sin? Homosexual acts, not orientation.

  • Natural law argument: Sex meant for love + procreation; Church says gay sex isn’t aligned.

  • Dignity: All people, regardless of orientation, deserve respect.

  • Chastity for all: Not just LGBTQ+—everyone unmarried.

  • Least known teaching: Church says to treat gay people with respect, compassion, and sensitivity.

• Pro-Life Ethics Review

  • Legality vs Morality

  • Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s ethical (e.g. slavery, adultery).

  • Ethical behavior often means going beyond what the law allows.

  • Moral truth is independent of legal systems.

• When Life Begins

  • Science supports that life begins at conception (distinct DNA, development starts).

  • Surveys show 95% of biologists agree: fertilization marks the start of human life.

  • Abortion ends a genetically unique human organism.

• Sentience & Personhood

  • Sentience (awareness) is not a reliable moral boundary — it's gradual.

  • Newborns, disabled people, and those in comas may lack sentience too.

  • If sentience = value, many humans would lose rights.

  • Ethical personhood includes potential for sentience.

• Viability & Dependency

  • Fetuses rely on their mothers, but so do newborns.

  • Dependency ≠ no value — all humans depend on others at some point.

  • Survival outside the womb is not the measure of life’s worth.

• Bodily Autonomy

  • We limit autonomy when it harms others (e.g. seatbelt laws, drug restrictions).

  • The fetus has separate DNA, organs, heartbeat — a distinct human.

  • Ethical choice must consider both bodies, not just one.

• Legal Personhood

  • Law defines personhood at birth, but morality isn't limited by law.

  • People react with outrage when violence causes fetal death — showing we see value.

• Ethical Guiding Principles

  • Kant: Never treat others as mere means to an end.

  • Abortion often used to avoid inconvenience — contradicts this principle.

  • Mother Teresa: Accepting abortion teaches violence, not love.

  • Abortion Stats

  • Less than 0.5% of abortions are due to rape or incest.

  • 96.5% are due to social/economic reasons (career, poverty, lifestyle).

  • Abortion is often used as a form of birth control, not always desperation.

• Alternatives to Abortion

  • Adoption is a loving option: high demand for adoptable babies.

  • Support exists for pregnant women (e.g. Choice42, Catholic Charities).

  • Birth and adoption respect both life and dignity.

• Responsibility

  • 99.5% of pregnancies result from consensual sex.

  • Abortion shifts the burden from parents to the child.

  • Ethically, adults should face consequences of their choices.

• Final Reflection

  • If unsure when life begins, err on the side of life.

  • Ethics demands compassion, but also clarity.

  • Support people in tough situations, but don’t end innocent lives.