Unit 8 x 1 Flashcards
The church is still relevant:
- provide shelter, clothes, food for destitute asylum seekers, who are usually ignored by politicians.
- embrace the homeless, lonely, those with mental problems - become a part of a community (different classes people are equalised and welcomed to church)
- priests (big part of Christian churches) specially trained, experienced to give authoritative guidance on moral issues to the laity
- provides a sense of fellowship and togetherness in Christian gatherings
The church is not still relevant:
- Not modernised: eg laws about homosexuality aren’t relevant anymore or specific teachings on modern day ethical issues such as genetic engineering
- people who want to go to church for community can do this without the Christian restraints eg atheist gathering
- the church doesn’t offer a valid explanation of who ‘God’ is. As science develops there less about the world that requires supernatural invention.
Church as a source of moral authority
- believed that God guides people and continues to speak to world today through the church (in R Catholicism Pope is directly appointed by God)
- regarded as the body of Christ, as the laity represent the Jews who follow Jesus and are joined to Christ in belief and salvation. Church teachings-Jesus’ teachings
- God can make his will known to ordinary members of the congregation which gives the community of believes great authority
- clergy are trained priests who may have a special relationship w God. interpret scriptures reliably, training and experience enables them to give authoritative moral guidance
- church teachings can deal with odeon day dilemmas that are not mentioned in the bible (stem cell research, fertility treatment)
- Jesus said holy spirit would lead Christians into all truth - this happens through church teachings
How to use church as a source of moral guidance:
RCC - Pope and the magisterium offer moral guidance on dilemmas and publish teachings as part of the catechism or the popes official letters
Church of England - Archbishop of Canterbury and the general synod make decisions as part of a general assembly. Eg in 2008 they discussed the issues of accepting homosexual clergy and women bishops.
Why bible as moral authority?
- great source of structure for Christian life - contains teachings that help to lead lives, guidance, rules to follow eg Decalogue,
- has authority - word of God. Divinely inspired by God therefore it is important to closely live by its teachings. Valued greatly to believers, authority held within the bible is far greater than any individuals
- contains access to the foundations of their faith and historical events that took place in the time of Jesus. Includes witnesses of Jesus and stories such as the parable of the Good Samaritan to teach and inspire
- explains answer of eternal life. Without the bible, Christians cannot get to know gods will and would otherwise be destined for hell. Heaven and hell - important concepts to Christians as the descriptions of both are very vivid in the bible
(• tells story of jesus accounts of holy men. Christians can follow their example. Some think ‘what would Jesus do’ to help them decide how to act
• fundamentalists - inerrant - gods word which is valid for all time. follow the bible as closely as possible, consult the bible as guidance )
Bible not as moral authority
Liberal Christians - favour intellectual inquiry, the bible was for ‘then’ and times have changed. Gods message needs to be adapted for 21st century. Eg ‘husband is the head of the wife’ no longer valid
Catholics may think some of bible is hard to understand, need church to help explain
Liberal Protestants may think conscience is more important than following exactly what bible says
Written by people, people make mistakes
Why use a wide variety of moral authorities?
- moral dilemmas not simple, so complicated that a number of approaches are needed. Eg Dietrich Bonhoeffer - closely follows biblical teachings about pacifism and agape but when faced with extreme situation of hitler and Nazi Germany - decided to revert to his conscience on the matter and ended up planning to assassinate hitler
- God speaks through all the different sources of moral authority so Christian will consult more than one to gain a wider perspective on what to do in given situation. The sources generally agree with one another - seek gods guidance in most accessible form. If no bible to hand- situation ethics
- many consult the bible- word of God but no specific teachings on modern day ethical problems eg stem cell research. - church teachings and conscience. Eg in case of transplant surgery- turn to Pope and magisterium - find out that organ donation is supported by them. - Pope guided directly by God
- disadvantages as using only 1 source - eg if base moral judgements purely on situation ethics - may lead to immoral act on basis that it’s considered most loving thing to do at the time. Joseph fletcher suggests that eg the bombing of Hiroshima, where 152000 were killed, could have been the most loving outcome even though that is unthinkable
Conscience is a good source of authority:
- Joseph butler - isn’t the voice of God but God given. gift from God, gives the ability to reason, part of human nature
- it’s accessible - within everyone and is everywhere
- the church teaches that we are all individually responsible for our actions, so we should follow our conscience
- bible and church are indirect ways of learning gods will but conscience may be gods voice directly to individuals
- Cardinal Newman - God given and strengthened by experience. Inner sense that guides us in a personal way to help us make decisions.
- may be the voice of God - no scientific explanation. Some Christians believe God exists for the better of the world and everything comes from God - conscience, a voice to guide you is similar to the idea of God.
Conscience is a bad source of moral authority:
If a person goes through something traumatic in their life, they could acquire a conscience that is incorrect according to society. A perception on what is right is false.
- some mad people hear voices sometimes telling them to do bad things
- should follow the teachings of church and bible as they are both agreed by Christians to have divine authority of God
- if everyone did what they felt like doing, life would be chaotic and many would not follow the laws of the state or the laws of their religions
Situation ethics as a source of moral authority:
Invented by Joseph fletcher
- Jesus believed in Agape. It supports Jesus’ teachings such as the golden rule. ‘Treat others how you would like to be treated.’ - follow example of Jesus
- some bible teachings not relevant to modern day issues eg genetic engineering. Situation ethics can be used to interpret the correct way to respond to certain issues; in the most loving way. Modern, more flexible approach to morality.
- Takes into consideration the consequences of the action. It is most likely going to produce good, loving results. Guides people to behave morally
- bible says: ‘love is the most important policy on which to base moral decisions’ bible supports agape and situation ethics. Bible is divinely inspired by God and holds great authority.
Situation ethics as a bad source of moral authority:
- does not necessarily follow human rights of everyone involved. It could encourage someone to break a law. ‘You must always obey the state authorities as they were put there by God’ - St. Paul
- not easy to determine what is the most loving thing to do. As there’s no universal definition of ‘love’. Different for everyone. For example Christian views for and against abortion.
- easily exploited. Too flexible with too many loop holes so easy to take advantage of. Eg euthanasia - killing for the suffering persons sake or for the sake of saving the hospital’s money and space.
- it is impossible to know all of the facts about a given situation, impossible to decide what is the most loving thing to do. There will always be a victim so the consequences cannot be easily compared.
Why are human rights important for Christians?
- sanctity of life - life is holy and belongs to God. Everyone has a right to a life of freedom and respect, gods creations should not be disrespected
- golden rule - treat others how you would like to be treated. It supports human rights - Jesus
- Christians want to be free to practice their faith and don’t want to be discriminated against.
The parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46):
King will separate the people like a shepherd separates sheep and goats.
Those on the right (sheep) - when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirst you gave me drink, when I was stranger you invited me in, when I needed clothes, you clothed me, when I was sick you looked after me…
‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’
Left - depart from me, you who are cursed to hell. I was hungry you gave me nothing to eat etc
They will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life
King = Jesus
My brothers keeper (1 John 3:17-18):
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone does not help their brother in need, how can the love of God be in him?
Let us love not with words but with actions and in the truth.
‘For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything)
Matthew 7:12
The Golden Rule: ‘So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you’
