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Ethical Teachings
Christianity - Religious Tradition
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Religion and Ethics
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Definition – a system of moral principles by which human
actions may be judged to be right or wrong.
Morals – description of human behaviour e.g. lying
Ethics – justification for and formal reasoning behind
human moral behaviour e.g. why lying is wrong
Ethics – then is a conscious stepping back and
reflecting on morality
Religion gives believers a direction and motivation for
moral behaviour and a system of meaning to support
their ethical reflections
Religion and Ethics
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Religious traditions use sacred stories & texts, beliefs,
individual and communal experiences, and authority
within their structures to form ethical teachings that have
significant effects on the everyday lives of believers.
What is considered right and wrong will vary from one
religion to another – but ideally followers of a religious
tradition will act in accordance with its ethical system.
Religious ethical systems explain and regulate moral
behaviour of its followers.
For example the role of Christian ethics is to provide a
“guide” for Christians so that their daily lives reflect the
scriptures...help bring about God’s reign
Christian Ethical Sources
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Christian ethics are based on the Christian beliefs about
God’s relationship and interaction with the world
The sources of Christian ethics are found in the:
Scriptures
The Natural Law
Human Experience
Authorities & Traditions within the structures of the
Christian churches
The emphasis given to each of these sources varies
within the different variants of Christianity
Christian Ethical Sources
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Scriptures – key passages – OT and NT :
Decalogue / 10 Commandments – Ex 20: 1-7
The Golden Rule – Matthew 22: 37-39
The Beatitudes – Matthew 5-7
“Love one another as I have loved you” – John 13:34
Jesus’ ethics – in summary:
Repentance & forgiveness as the basis of the ethical life
The radical, demanding nature of God’s ethical call on
God’s reign
The centrality of the love commandment
Christian Ethical Sources
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Old Testament- duty, follow commands of God
Obedience to the law – very important
In the OT – people learnt what was required of themwere laws on every aspect of life
Paul – stresses that not all OT laws apply to Christians –
for it is no longer the OT that saves – faith in the
resurrection – brings to Christians the qualities of faith,
charity, peace, goodness……. the gifts of the spirit –
these should direct the lives of Christians
Christians are saved not through the old law, but through
Christ
Christian Ethical Sources
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The Ten Commandments- need to give Christians a
compendium of moral practice – the 10 commandments
were used for that purpose – later Christians used them
as they provided convenient headings for summaries of
Christian ethics
They are moral laws or principles – normative for just
and orderly living – if we follow them, we grow as human
beings and our conscience is at peace – they help to
ensure that people’s freedom and rights are not violated.
They contain a number of positive values – including the
need for respect for the life of others, for family values,
for personal integrity, justice & the property of others
Christian Ethical Sources
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New Testament – Jesus the foundation of Christian
ethics – the Christian ethical system emanates from his
life and teachings – “Golden Rule” – Christian ethics
centre on the idea of love, concern and respect for all
human beings.
Primary source of ethical teaching is the sacred text the
Bible, especially the NT.
Jesus was a moral teacher but he did not set out to
develop an ethical system – however NT reflections on
his life & teachings, especially the gospels/Pauls letters,
have provided the basis for Christian ethics
Christian Ethical Sources
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Jesus’ teachings differ from the OT in that they do not
consist of a set of rules or laws to be followed, but rather
they focus on the need for people to change themselves
– their thoughts/feelings – as these are just as important
as actual conduct & action
Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5-7, sets out in detail
Jesus’ own outline of the Christian life – it presents a
positive image of the way that Christians should live in
the world.
Jesus called his followers to conversion and repentance,
a change of heart and preached forgiveness eg The Lost
Son – Luke 15
Christian Ethical Sources
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Jesus, in his words/actions had a preference for the poor
& marginalised, he kept company with outcasts &
sinners and he called his followers to sell what they
possess & give it to the poor.
Christian ethics is based on following Jesus – Christians
try to be disciples, imitating Jesus.
Paul and other NT writers teach about the way of life
required by Christians
Colossians 3: 12- 14 “ …..clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, meekness &
patience….above all clothe yourselves with love…..unity.
Christian Ethical Sources
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Conscience – holds an important place in Christian
ethics for two main reasons:
1) it is an important aspect of the Christian decisionmaking process
2) it is one of the most indispensable sources of authority
for Christians
Conscience is understood as the whole self trying to
make judgements about who one ought to be and what
one ought to do or not do when faced with ethical
dilemmas – the Catholic Church teaches that God
speaks through a person’s conscience
Christian Ethical Sources
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The primary role of conscience is to uphold the
individual’s integrity & moral goodness – its judgements
must be followed because they reflect convictions and
internalised values that set the boundaries within which
one acts with integrity.
Eternal / Natural Law – question of how people could
live truly moral lives – idea of being directed from within
to do good works
The human person it was argued was directed towards
doing good works by an external force – this force was
the eternal law (which is really God’s law) which directed
all nature to its proper goal
Christian Ethical Sources
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Natural law is that law implanted in nature by the Creator
that human beings can discern by the light of their
natural reasoning – the natural law points to the right
way of acting freely and responsibly as a human being.
Sophocles, Aristotle, western legal tradition, the Bible &
many other authorities throughout history bear witness to
the natural law.
Aquinas taught that there is a natural moral law, a mirror
of the eternal law of God, ingrained in human nature – it
enables a person to recognise right, or the good, that
which is ordered to the natural law
Christian Ethical Sources
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The second way in which the eternal law could be known
is through God’s revelation, which has taken place
through the Scriptures, and according to some Christian
churches, through tradition – this is known as the
‘revealed law’ – this will give a more full exposition of the
precepts of good & proper conduct than could be
obtained simply by human reason and its understanding
of the natural law
Because Jesus est. his church & gave it authority, the
church was able to formulate an ecclesiastical or church
moral law – these are based on natural law, Scripture,
the person life & teachings of Jesus, and on tradition
Diversity in Christian Ethics
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Christians share common ethical ideals based on biblical
teaching – however different variants have some
variations in their ethical reasoning and the extent to
which they give prominence to sacred stories and texts
(the Bible) and authority within religious structures.
Catholic Ethics:
has drawn its basic principles from the natural law – they
are taught a way of arriving at moral truths that are not
simply personal opinions or subjective impressions
Examine nature –especially human nature – to discover
the purpose of things built into their very nature
Diversity in Christian Ethics
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use reasoning to arrive at general principles of morality
based on an examination of human nature
apply these principles to the particular moral dilemmas
encountered
The Catholic Church gives a high priority to the role of
authority within its religious structures (the magisterium)
Catholics are guided by the authority of the Pope and the
bishops of the world in council with him, which is
expressed through various councils & synods.
In recent years, Catholicism has reaffirmed the centrality
of the Bible (revealed law) and the role of conscience in
moral decision - making
Diversity in Christian Ethics
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Contemporary Catholic ethical teaching centres on the
dignity of the person – evident in its social teaching that
places emphasis on human rights, liberation of the
oppressed & the development of all peoples.
Second Vatican Council makes it very clear that
Catholics should act according to the dictates of a
properly informed & developed conscience, centred on
human dignity, in their moral decision making
Archbishop Pell maintains that conscience cannot have
the last word in moral decision making – because
conscience is at the service of truth & the Church
possesses the truth in her stance on moral issues
Diversity in Christian Ethics
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Protestant Ethics:
The Protestant reformers saw the Bible (revealed law) as
the sole authority for Christian living
Protestant ethical traditions place emphasis on Jesus’
command of love and view the Bible as the central
source of moral guidance
Some Protestants consider that they have a more direct
experience of God & do not need the intermediate role of
Church authority to direct their decisions – this has
tended to result in a more individualistic ethic in
Protestant traditions
Diversity in Christian Ethics
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Authority tends to be exercised in a different way through
a synod, presbytery or assembly of leaders or
consensus of a congregation giving advice and
guidance, rather than final determinations on ethical
matters
The Anglican church speaks authoritatively through its
General Synod & the pronouncements of its diocesan
bishops
Australian Lutherans derive their authority from their
pastors & parish representatives – they are active
members of local ecumenical & inter-faith dialogues
Diversity in Christian Ethics
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In the Uniting Church, authority devolves through the
local congregation upwards with increased authority to
the council of elders, the parish and the presbytery
(people appointed from parishes) – above this is the
synod or state council of the Church, and finally the
National Assembly, the national council of the church
The Baptist Church has recently introduced committees
to take responsibility for various aspects of the Church’s
life, including ethical aspects – these committees elect
reps for the State or Baptist unions, which in turn send
members to the Baptist Assembly meetings.
Diversity in Christian Ethics
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Eastern Orthodox Ethics:
Biblical authority (revealed law) is central to Orthodox
ethics
The goal of moral living is to “become participants of the
divine nature” (2Peter 1:4) – the believer should live a
life of imitation of Christ, based on his command of love
and his life of self-sacrifice
It is a family of churches when it comes to authority –
generally speaking each orthodox church is hierarchical,
with its ultimate authority resting in its bishop or
patriarch, who in turn consults other bishops, the people
& reps of monastic orders.
Beliefs and Ethics
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Christians, when looking for guidelines in their lives, see
their main sources of inspiration as coming from –
the life and teachings of Jesus as expressed in the
gospels
the teachings of the Church
their own individual conscience, taking into account the
teachings of Jesus and the church
These sources give rise to Christian beliefs about
humankind, the world & universe.
Life has been created by God and is good – human
beings are made in the likeness of God and can find
redemption and salvation
Beliefs and Ethics
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While on earth, Christians are called to love God & to
love one another – if don’t do this may jeopardise their
salvation.
Christians also have a “stewardship” of God’s creation
(animals, plants & non-living things) – as such there are
a number of “key” principles that underlie Christian
beliefs about stewardship e.g. the goods of the earth are
to be shared by all; it is important to live in a safe and
life-giving environment…..
Through the resurrection of Jesus, humanity has been
given the chance of new life – here faith is vital
Beliefs and Ethics
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The Bible, together with its values & principles, is the
standard for Christian living and ethics. All Christian
moral decision-making and examinations of conscience
are conducted in the light of the Bible’s teachings. The
basis of the Bible’s authority is the Christian belief – that
the Bible contains revelation from and about God and
God’s design for humanity.
The Catholic Church alone espouses Papal Infallibility –
yet this cannot rob Catholics of the right to make their
own decisions on matters of morality- need to act in
terms of a properly informed and developed conscience,
centred on human dignity.