Christian Ethics

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Christian Ethics
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Learning Objectives

• To consolidate knowledge and understanding of the
  ways in which Christians make ethical decisions.
• Evaluate whether Christian Ethics are relativist
  or absolutist
• Consider the impact of Christianity on ethics
  today

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Jewish Roots

• Many believed the Hebrew Bible contains absolute
  moral rules
• Chosen people Covenant with God they should
  reflect Gods character in their lives and
  morality.
• Creation much of the Christian understanding of
  human nature comes from the Creation Myths in the
  Bible

What do the Creation stories tell us about human
nature?
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Jewish Roots

• Jesus was Jewish
• Hebrew Bible Old Testament
• Believed to contain precise word of God needed by
  humanity in order to live a good life.
• Decalogue our relationship with God others

The Lord has told us what is good. What He
requires of us is this to do what is just, to
show constant love, and to live in humble
fellowship with our God. Micah 6 v 8 What does
this tell us about the ethical approach at the
time of Jesus? What might be the problems of this
approach?
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Jesus

• Son of God therefore status of God
• Fulfilment of the law
• New approach love, compassion, salvation
• Summed up the law into 2
• New Commandment
• Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.
• Romans 13 v10

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The Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5

• 3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,  for theirs is
  the kingdom of heaven.
•  4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be
  comforted.  5Blessed are the meek, for they will
  inherit the earth.  6Blessed are those who
  hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
  will be filled.  7Blessed are the merciful,  for
  they will be shown mercy.  8Blessed are the pure
  in heart, for they will see God.  9Blessed are
  the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of
  God.  10Blessed are those who are persecuted
  because of righteousness, for theirs is the
  kingdom of heaven.  
• 11"Blessed are you when people insult you,
  persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil
  against you because of me.
• heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the
  prophets who were before you.

What is Jesus telling people to do? What
principles underpin his words?ewardin
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Pair Activity

• Each read 1 extract and answer the following
  questions
• 1. What happens in your extract?
• 2. What action did the Jewish require?
• 3.What did Jesus do?
• 4. What did he base his actions on?
• Teach you partner what you discovered.
• Identify what you have learnt today between you
  about Jesus attitude to the law
• Feedback to the class

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St Paul

• St Pauls interpretation of Jesus ethics big
  influence
• No legal code law written on the heart
• Developed rule of love as main ethical principle
• AGAPE limitless and unconditional
• Taught followers to imitate Jesus virtues
• Possible through the power of the Holy Spirit

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Age of Adam / Age of Christ

• St Paul stressed the importance of Christian
  freedom
• Pre resurrection age of Adam dominated by
  vices, after we set free and now live in age of
  Christ, characterised by virtues

Age of Adam Age of Christ
Death Life
Sin Goodness
Flesh Spirit and Mind
Darkness Light
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What have we learnt so far....

• Design a poster to demonstrate and explain how
  Christian Ethics evolved from Jewish foundations
  through teachings of Jesus and subsequently St
  Paul.

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Church
Reason and Natural Law
Sources of Christian Authority for moral decision
making
Bible
Love
The Holy Spirit
Conscience
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• Approaches
• Divine Command
• Natural Law
• Situation Ethics

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Divine Command Theory

• Whatever God commands is Good
• Popular with Fundamentalists / Evangelicals
• No Christian grp continues to follow all the
  rules on the OT.
• Why does this challenge Divine Command theory?
• Christian Response?
• Old Covenant New Covenant
• Moral rules followed by Christians today are
  based on teaching and example of Jesus and the
  writing of St Paul
• Is this approach Deontological or teleological?

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Natural Law

• Aristotles idea of eudaimonia, achieved through
  practicing virtues
• Developed by Aquinas 13th C system of absolute
  principles that can be worked out by reason
  without faith
• Purpose of world found in God. World created by
  God, thus God revels himself through reason and
  intellect
• Primary / secondary / remote principles
• Gt Influence on the Christian Church esp RC

Is this approach Deontological or Teleological?
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Situation Ethics

• Common feature of Liberal Christianity
• Developed by Joseph Fletcher
• Ethics driven by Agape unconditional love
• Rejects legalism
• Supported by example of woman caught in adultery
• Jesus greatest commandments are based on love

Is this approach Deontological or Teleological?
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Nature of Christian Ethics

• Diverse
• Variety of criteria / sources
• Emphasis depends of what type of Christian you
  are ie what Church you belong to
• Not right v wrong more the person we are
  called to become

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Roman Catholic

• Natural Law deontological in terms of applying
  the primary precepts Known through reason
• Emphasis on certain things being intrinsically
  right or wrong
• Conscience is REASON in terms of
• moral decision making. Informed by
• prayer, worship, Church teaching and
• Holy Spirit
• Bible our moral choices are our responses to
  Gods Gift of Christ (contained in Bible)

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Liberal Protestant

• Ramsey says that the central ethical notion of
  Christianity is obedient love... Love
  fulfilling the law
• The most powerful expression of this is Situation
  Ethics

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Conservative Protestant

• Bible has absolute authority commandments,
  beatitudes are the standard.
• Robertson McQuilkin said Bible is a revelation
  by God of His will for human nature
• Evangelical / fundamental prohibit Abortion and
  Homosexuality as they contravene Biblical Law

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Christians Absolutist or Relativist?

• What do you think?
• Evidence for absolutism?
• Evidence for Relativism?
• Conclusion?

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How Christian are Ethics?
Christianity
Ethical Theory
Conclusion?