Topic 3 – Christian Ethics

“You don’t say God by saying man in a loud voice” Karl Barth

Essay – (a) Explain how the religion you have studied provides a practical moral foundation. [25]

(b) ‘Situation ethics has no major weaknesses.’ Discuss. [10]

Scholars

- Divine Command Theory - Karl Barth- Moses- Luther- Erasmus- JL Mackie- Leibniz- AJ Ayer

- Situation Ethics - J Fletcher- Paul Tillich- CS Lewis- St. Paul- Jesus - Desmond Tutu- Bertrand Russell

Key Reading Works and Areas

Oliphant J. OCR Religious Ethics for AS and A2 Chapter 6

Flannagan M. ‘In Defence of Divine Commands’ dialogue Issue 37 November 2011

Wright R. ‘Understanding Religious Ethics’

Vardy P. ‘The Puzzle of Ethics’ Chapter 4

Sample Quotes – Top Ten

“I wish that all communication of the Christian would be of the scriptures.” Erasmus

“You cannot have a command without a commander.” HP Owen

“No morality can be founded on authority.” AJ Ayer

“In the greek language there a four types of words for love…situation ethics is concerned with agape.” Fletcher

“To love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus in John

“We love because He first loved us.” St. Paul

“Love is an ontological dimension of the universe.” Paul Tillich

“The law of love is the ultimate law because it is the negation of law.” Tillich

“What the world needs is Christian love or compassion.” B Russell – atheist

“Love is justice distributed.” Desmond Tutu