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Transcript of Alternatives within Christian Ethics. Roman Catholic Begin with philosophy Vatican Council II,...
Alternatives within Christian Ethics
Roman CatholicBegin with philosophyVatican Council II, 1962-1965Morality based on law: divine, natural, humanObjective right and wrongDouble effect to resolve conflicts: nature of act is good good effect be intended (evil is indirect) simultaneous proportionality
(cont’d.)Other methods: hierarchy of values;
prima facie claimsFaith affects vision and motive, but not
content. Morality is the same forall people.
Protestant approaches– Begin with Bible– Ethical Center Reinhold Niebuhr: “impossible
possibility”Sacrificial love
Paul Ramsey; Christocentric Ethics.Obedience to Jesus
(cont’d.)– Situation Ethics Joseph Fletcher. Love is only absolute Four working principles: pragmatism relativism positivism personalism Paul Lehman. Matter of faith rather of
ethics
(cont’d.)
– Absolutist Ethics
Robertson McQuilkin. Bible has all the answers
We need only to search the Scriptures No need for Philosophy or Science
(cont’d.)
– Evangelical Ethics
Lewis Smedes. Mere Morality. Morality is universal
God’s demands apply to all, even tononbelievers
Ten Commandments = starting point “direct commands” vs. “abiding laws”
(cont’d.)
Justice and Love “Respect” for values Focus on commands, not on
exceptions
(cont’d.)– Theocentric Ethics
James Gustafson Eight central emphases:
1. humankind is not central in creation2. human life and rest of creation are
interdependent3. moral thinking vs. judging over natural impulses4. piety as natural response
(cont’d.)5. everything described within larger whole
context6. concern for common good is essential7. awareness of moral ambiguity in life8. strong emphasis on self-denial and self-sacrifice
Powerful sense of the “Other,”piety, order (God’s purposes)
Liberation Ethics
– Begin with the experience of the poor and oppressed
Commit oneself to liberation Read Bible texts that speak of
Liberation(especially Exodus)
(cont’d.)
– African-American Themes
James Cone: denounces evils, sees them in
“white church.” “Blackness of Jesus” J. Deotis Roberts: ignores “white
church,” emphasizes what black churches have
done and ought to do
(cont’d.)
– Feminist Themes
reaction against patriarchal order of society, and of the church
want a renewed vision of the community
“womanist” – term used by black women
Julian of Norwich – “motherhood of Jesus”