Download Greek View of Law

10.1 Students relate the moral and
ethical principles in ancient Greek
and Roman philosophy, in Judaism,
and in Christianity to the
development of Western political
thought.
1. Analyze the similarities and
differences in Judeo-Christian and
Greco-Roman views of law, reason
and faith, and duties of the
individual.
Jewish & Christian Views of Law
• The heart of Jewish law:
You shall love the LORD your
God with all your heart, with all
your soul, and with all your
strength
• & Love your neighbor as
yourself.
Jewish & Christian Views of Law
• The Jews were given the Law by
God: 10 Commandments:
1.You shall have no other gods
before Me.
2.You shall not make for yourself a
carved image--any likeness of
anything that is in heaven above,
or that is in the earth beneath, or
that is in the water under the
earth.
Jewish & Christian Views of Law
3. You shall not take the name of
the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day,
to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your
mother.
6. You shall not murder.
Jewish & Christian Views of Law
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false
witness against your
neighbor.
Jewish & Christian Views of Law
10.You shall not covet your
neighbor’s house; you shall
not covet your neighbor’s
wife, nor his male servant, nor
his female servant, nor his ox,
nor his donkey, nor anything
that is your neighbor’s.
Jewish & Christian Views of Law
• Theocracy
• The Jewish nation was
theocratic: Rule by God
• Jewish law was designed to set
Jews apart from the other
nations, keep them pure, and
keep them safe.
Jewish & Christian Views of Law
• Christians were taught to obey
the laws set forth by rulers,
including paying taxes.
• “Let every soul be subject to
the governing authorities. For
there is no authority except
from God, and the authorities
that exist are appointed by God.
Jewish & Christian Views of Law
• Therefore whoever resists the
authority resists the ordinance
of God, and those who resist
will bring judgment on
themselves.” Romans 13:1-2
Jewish & Christian Views:
Reason and Faith
• Hebrews Believe:
• Man had dignity because he is
a child of God
• Man is Created in His (God’s)
image
• Equality of people before God
• Sacred worth of the individual
Jewish & Christian Views:
Reason and Faith
• Christians Believe
• God gives you the moral freedom
to choose, but YOU are
responsible for your choices.
• Jesus adopts Jewish morality &
explained it in a different way,
expanding man’s understanding
of faith.
Jewish & Christian Views:
Reason and Faith
• Judaism and Christianity
emphasize man's freedom to
act morally.
• Their legacy provides a
foundation of thought which
effectively supports the
proposition that democracy is
for all.
Jewish & Christian Views:
Duties of the Individual
• Jews were taught from birth to
keep all of the Laws given by
God.
• For Christians, God appoints
all rulers, and these rulers
must therefore be obeyed.
• Christians are to submit to
those in authority over them.
Jewish & Christian Views:
Duties of the Individual
• Christians are to forgive their
enemies, and love those who
oppress them.
Jewish & Christian Views:
Duties of the Individual
• “But I say to you, love your
enemies, bless those who
curse you, do good to those
who hate you, and pray for
those who spitefully use you
and persecute you.” Matt 5:44
• In a democracy, people are free
and equal. They have dignity and
worth. The Declaration of
Independence states that “We
hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness.”
• These rights, these Natural
Rights, are given by God, and
cannot be taken away.
Therefore, when coupled with
the fact that we have self-worth
and dignity because we’re
created in God’s image
(Jewish idea), these rights help
form the basis of any
democracy.
Jewish & Christian Views:
Duties of the Individual
• Because we are citizens, and
not subjects, we may exercise
our God given rights that exist
in a participatory government,
a Democracy. We can vote,
serve on Juries, take public
office, etc..
• Further, because we have worth
and dignity, something lacking in
a monarchy or empire, we stand
equal. The Jews believed we are
all equal before God. This
concept is similar to the Roman
view of equality before the Law.
Because we’re equal, we can,
again, participate in a democratic
government.