Should Christians Use the Conscience?: For Flashcards
What are four points?
It is the inner feeling of right and wrong
Church Teachings (e.g. the Roman Catholic Church)
Joseph Butler — it is a natural guide
Helps Christians know what to do in specific circumstances (e.g. Dietrich Bonhoeffer,
Conscientious Objectors, Thomas More)
It is the inner feeling of right and wrong
Aquinas states that humans were made Imago Dei (in the image of God) which means they could do no intentional wrong - God is omni-benevolent so if God is our conscience we should always follow it to do good
Church Teachings (e.g. the Roman Catholic Church)
Catechism: “A human being must always obey the certain judgement of his conscience.”
Christians should not act contrary to their conscience
Christians believe that the Church, specifically the Pope, act through the word of God because they have studied Bible teachings and have been given authority from God
Joseph Butler — it is a natural guide
If everyone was in tune with their conscience (not led by ‘apparent good’s etc…) we would not need anything else to guide us
conscience is “our natural guide, the guide signed us by the Author of our nature.”
If Christians followed the voice of God through their conscience they would need nothing else to guide them, the conscience is suffice in helping them make moral decisions
Helps Christians know what to do in specific circumstances. E.g. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Conscientious Objectors, Thomas More
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor who abandoned his pacifist mindet which was taught by Jesus because his conceice told him he had to act out against Hitler to do good
The conscience guides us to do what is right even if it means abandoning what we have been taught
