Christian Moral Principles

Question 1

What is Theonomous Christian Ethics?

Answer 1

The belief that God is at the centre of ethics and morals. God’s commandments are required to live morally. Humans are so sinful because of the Fall, that they must rely on the direct words of God through the Bible.

Question 2

What is Heteronomous Christian Ethics?

Answer 2

There is a variety of sources for morals. The Bible is one, but since it was written long ago, morality requires more to be understood. This could come from the Church or from reason or both.

Question 3

What is Autonomous Christian Ethics?

Answer 3

The authority of morals is placed on the individual. Christian ethics are ethical decisions that happen to be made by Christians. Notably, ethics that use love can be useful in decision making.

Question 4

What is “propositional revelation”?

Answer 4

The idea that God reveals himself in truth statements. To say that the Bible is an example of this is to say the Bible is a set of truth statements.

Question 5

How does the Bible support a theonomous approach?

Answer 5

“All scripture is God-breathed.” - 2 Timothy 3:16

“Prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, through humans, spoke from God.” - 2 Peter 1:20-21

Question 6

How do some proponents of a theonomous approach see the Bible’s origin?

Answer 6

Not dictated by God, but inspired and still accurate. This is borne from the nature of the Bible; it contains several different types of text, including stories of the people.

For this approach to work, Christians must consider the Bible in full rather than selecting ‘favourite’ passages. It is also important to recognise that the Bible is interpreted the moment it’s read: this cannot be helped, and literalists allow this approach to interpretation.

Question 7

What are some weaknesses of theonomous ethics?

Answer 7

• The Bible contains contradictions, such as a change to its attitude towards violence from the Old and New Testament. It seems interpretation is required.
• The Bible is written in many different styles in specific contexts, like letters from Paul to different churches. This negates the idea that the Bible is the direct word of God.
• Modern situations aren’t covered by the Bible, and any attempt to use the Bible in these situations would require human reason.

Question 8

What are some strengths of theonomous ethics?

Answer 8

• The Bible looks at situations from different contexts and angles, and the Old Testament was mostly replaced by the New, making a theonomous approach more applicable to ethics.
• We shouldn’t limit to God dictating his will in one way, like a human.
• The only source of morality provides absolute guidelines.

Question 9

How was the New Testament compiled?

Answer 9

In the second century, Christian leaders gathered to select which books had sufficient authority to make up the New Testament. The key criterion was apostolicity: it must have a direct link to apostles.

For some, this was simply the church finding ‘God-breathed’ books, and for others, this was evidence of the Church selecting the authentic tradition of scripture.

Question 10

How do some Protestants approach Church authority?

Answer 10

• The Bible has been interpreted over 2000 years and this should guide people in their moral lives.
• The Church is the bridge between the first century and today.
• Preaching is a valid method of interpretation.
• Prayer and worship are ways that Christians use and learn scripture.
• The Bible was written after Christianity had existed for some time, so what was written down was written for the specific contexts of different authors.

Question 11

How do Roman Catholics approach Church authority?

Answer 11

• Authority over the Church was given to Peter by Jesus. The apostles and Christianity already existed when the New Testament was put together.
• Tradition comes from spoken tradition given to the apostles and passed down over time.
• Authentic interpretation of the Bible is one pf the duties of the Church.
• Humans are weak and sinful and cannot use their reason to make decisions alone.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church: “To the Church belongs the right… to announce moral principles.”

Question 12

What sources external from the Church does Catholicism condone for decision making?

Answer 12

Natural Law - God revealed it to all humans, embedded in humanity. Secondary precepts can be worked out through reason.

Conscience - Aquinas says conscience is reason being used to work out what is right to do, it is God-given. Newman said conscience has more power than even the Pope as it predates the Church.

Question 13

How does Protestantism react to the use of reason to make moral judgements?

Answer 13

Reason is required to understand the Bible in an ever-changing world. The Bible can speak into today’s world if it is properly analysed. Many Protestant communities emphasise understanding the context of the Bible through study groups and discussion.

Question 14

What is non-propositional revelation?

Answer 14

The idea that God does not reveal himself through truth statements, so the revelation might need interpretation. View accepted by heteronomous approach.

Question 15

What is the significance of Mark 12:30-31?

Answer 15

Jesus summaries all law as being about love. Love is a theme throughout Gospels and some interpret it to be an overriding factor in ethics.

Question 16

How could one define Agape?

Answer 16

Greek term for love in a religious context. It is used to describe God love for humans and what humans have to reciprocate to God.

Agape is:
- sacrificial love
- making yourself a servant
- directed towards everyone
- eternal

Question 17

How did Paul Tillich see love as part of Christian moral action?

Answer 17

Love is a central precept, underpinned by justice and growing out of the wisdom of the past. The laws of the Bible represent wisdom from which we learn, but our decisions must be based on love. Tillich rejects non-autonomous ethics.

Question 18

How did Joseph Fletcher see love as part of Christian moral action?

Answer 18

Used the principle of love to form the basis of Situation Ethics. Love is the central principle that prevents Christians from being forced into absolute rule or being left without rules.

Question 19

How did J.A.T Robinson describe love?

Answer 19

It has “a built-in moral compass” which can direct people to their most important needs.

Question 20

Are Christian ethics distinctive?

Answer 20

Yes: It is underpinned by the incarnation and resurrection, and God reached down to humans rather than vice versa. Christianity calls people to be counter-cultural when society loses its way and to be prophets who love enemies. Literal interpretations of ethics see the world differently.

No: Theonomous approaches hold similarities with deontological forms of ethics, and heteronomous approaches are similar to normative ethical theories due to an emphasis on reason. Love is a universal principle, although agape is not.

Question 21

How are Christian ethics personal?

Answer 21

• The Bible and Church give individuals a way to live life according to their own needs.
• Jesus spoke to individual circumstances.
• Some Christians apply reason on an individual level to circumstances.
• Focus on worship and prayer over ethics.
• Situation Ethics emphasises individual decisions.

Question 22

How are Christian ethics communal?

Answer 22

• The Bible needs to be read as an expression of how a community lives its life.
• Jesus spoke to groups more than individuals, like in the Sermon on the Mount.
• The Bible is best studied in group situations.
• Communities work with rules, and the rules in the Bible are for the Christian community.
• Interpretations of the Bible are done so with community context.

Question 23

What are Christian virtue ethics?

Answer 23

Aristotle said that an approach to ethics that was based on your constant character development (though virtues) was more important than an approach that gave absolute laws.

This could be how we should interpret Jesus’ teachings; he wanted to form people into ‘Good Christians.’