35
The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology Chapter 1

The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

  • Upload
    iain

  • View
    220

  • Download
    5

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

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. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Citation preview

Page 1: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

Chapter 1

Page 2: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 3: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 4: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 5: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 6: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 7: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 8: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 9: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 10: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 11: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 12: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 13: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 14: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 15: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 16: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 17: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 18: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 19: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 20: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 21: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 22: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 23: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 24: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 25: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 26: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 27: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 28: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 29: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 30: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

Sources of Moral Theology• Draws from Divine

Revelation also known as the Deposit of Faith• Scripture, Tradition,

interpreted by the Magisterium

• Natural Law

28

Page 31: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 32: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 33: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 34: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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

Page 35: The Basis for Morality and Moral Theology

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