the basis for morality and moral theology
Post on 23-Mar-2016
205 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology
Chapter 1
Pop Quiz• According to the textbook, what
are at least 2 of the other things that Catholic moral teaching deals with besides sexuality and marriage?
• List the Cardinal virtues.• List the Theological virtues
Definitions• Morality: the _______ by which
we ______ human actions to be _____ or _______
• Moral Law: _______ norms; standards of human behavior _________ by God and ______ by the Catholic Church
1
Definitions• Objective Morality: Standards
of conduct that are ______ rather than conditioned by ________ or personal preference
• Subjective Morality: one that can _____ from situation to situation and from one __________ opinion to another 2
Definitions• Moral relativism: the view that
there is no ______ or universal moral law or_____, resulting in a morality determined by cultural factors or personal preference• Those who have a _______ morality
are moral relativists3
What is moral law?• It is law that governs our entire lives
not just sexuality and marriage• Moral law and teaching reflect
_____law• Natural Law: objective order
established by God that determines requirements to reach fulfillment. Innate to human nature and discernable to our reason.
4
What is moral law?• It is not just rules but leads to
_______• It puts us in position to achieve
happiness• We were made to live in
communion with God - this is where we find happiness
5
What is moral law?• Moral law is based on love of
_____ and love of _____• Not just about living by the
“checklist” of morals but that we have the _____ of the moral law• Difference between following the
_____ and living the _____
6
Ethic vs. Ethos• Ethic refers to the norm or law• The 10 Commandments express
the Ethic• E.g. “Thou Shall not Kill”
• If you follow the law because it’s the law you are following the Ethic
7
Ethic vs. Ethos• Ethos refers to the ______ desire
of the ______; what ______ and repulses you• E.g. having no desire to kill• Calls us to _____ our heart, not just
_____ the law
8
Characteristics of Moral Law
1. Moral law is a ______ of our faith
• As Christians we are required to follow the moral law
• It is essential to live out holiness
9
Characteristics of the Moral Law
2. Moral law is ______ by the virtues• At baptism we receive virtues to
help us live the law• Counteract the effects of Original
Sin• Must be ______ by human effort by
repeating virtuous actions
10
Cont.• Cardinal Virtues:• ______: to choose the right course
of action inspired by the moral law• ______: to render what is due to
God and neighbor• ______: to perform good actions
amid obstacles and difficulties11
Cont.• _____: to control our passions in
order to maintain a clear mind and a strong will
• These virtues _______the effects of Original Sin
• These virtues must be _____ to draw us closer to God
12
Cont.• Theological virtues:• _____: enables us to ______ the truths _____
by Christ and transmitted by the Church• _____: assists us in ______ that God will
give us the means to ________ and holiness
• _____: enables us to ______ God and others with the love of Christ.
13
Characteristicsof the Moral Law
3. Moral law is based on Divine Wisdom of God.
• Moral law reflects the dignity and equality among all persons
• Natural law reflects this• God revealed the 10
commandments to express that natural law.
14
Aristotle and Happiness• How does a person achieve
happiness?• To determine we must ask, “What
makes humans _______ from other things?”• _________ - (Intellect and Will)• Our purpose is found in what makes
us ___________15
Aristotle vocab• Telos (τέλοϛ) - end; _________;
function• Our telos as humans is _______ or to
use correctly our intellect and will• Eudaimonia (εὐδαιμονία) - fulfillment
or happiness
16
Aristotle and Happiness• A thing achieves εὐδαιμονία or
fulfillment/happiness when it performs with excellence according to its telos• According to Aristotle, the telos of a
human being is to reason or choose with excellence.
• Happiness is achieved with right moral choices
17
Morality and Free Will• Because of original sin our
ability to reason well has been damaged• We now suffer
concupiscence - tendency toward sin b/c of Original sin.
• We have clouded mind, weakened will and disordered passions
18
Morality and Free Will• Free will is our potential or
capacity to choose the good• To fulfill our function we must
use our Free will to choose good• In as much as you choose good,
you are experiencing freedom• Evil choices destroy freedom
19
Sin diminishes freedom• Evil choices are contrary to
reason and therefore diminish our freedom
• It also further clouds our ability to reason and choose the good• Weakened ability to choose
good represents a restriction in our freedom 20
Grace• In order to aid the soul in choosing
good God supplies us with Grace• Grace: the divine life of God in the
soul that is freely given to us by God• We cannot deserve or earn it
• Two Kinds of Grace:• Sanctifying Grace and Actual Grace
21
Grace• Sanctifying Grace: a
grace given to us through the sacrament that gives new life to our souls• It is given in Baptism,
nourished by Eucharist and restored in Reconciliation
22
Grace• Actual Grace: a
temporary grace given by God given to obtain, preserve and grow in holiness• Gives us knowledge and
strength to do the good• We can choose to ignore
or refuse the grace and act contrary to it. 23
Our Actions• Aristotle: “you are what you
repeatedly do”• What we choose to do expresses
our moral dispositions• Our actions reflect the soul
• Interiorly our passions, thoughts and words also begin to reflect our choices and reflect the interior
24
Moral life• The moral law shows us what a
person who loves God ought to do• Commandments are the minimum
threshold for morality• Jesus’ moral teaching focuses
mostly on what we must do25
Moral Life• Humans are a composite of
body and soul• Therefore, moral law reflects laws
that effect both• Sacraments help to build up the soul
26
Man in society• Man is by nature a social being• The moral law also calls us to
safeguard human dignity for all• It also calls us to serve and love
one another• Social morality seeks to distract
from the tendency to focus on ourselves only 27
Sources of Moral Theology• Draws from Divine
Revelation also known as the Deposit of Faith• Scripture, Tradition,
interpreted by the Magisterium
• Natural Law
28
Sources of Moral Theology
• Sacred Scripture• Both Old and New Testament are
used in moral law• New Testament is used more
because:• Some OT laws were temporary• Jesus was the fulfillment of the OT and
therefore, brings the fullness of the law29
Sources of Moral Theology• Scripture cont…• Christ’s life provides
examples of how a believer should live the moral life
• Jesus’ teaching, preaching and precepts give us the “moral rule”
30
Sources of Moral Theology
• Tradition:• This is the living transmission of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ• Transmitted both orally and in
writing• The Church passes on her
doctrine, life and worship.31
Sources of Moral Theology
• Magisterium:• The pope and the bishops united
with him teaching the faithful in matters of faith and morals
• The pope can define truths of the Faith and of Morals • These teachings are infallible (without
error) 32
Sources of Moral Theology
• Natural Law: • The basic moral principles that are
engraved in our hearts• Linked to the basic dignity of the human
person• Natural Science:• Also aids in morality but only to enhance
or elaborate on moral doctrine• It can only supplement moral theology 33
top related