Introduction to Christian Morality | Ethics and Morality | Good and Evil

Summary

This video delves into Christian morality, emphasizing that every person is made in God's image and possesses an immortal soul. It discusses the impact of original sin and how baptism mitigates its effects. Morality is defined as the science of what humans ought to be, guided by God's revelation and natural laws. The video distinguishes between ethics and morality, highlighting that ethics is the study of moral principles, while morality is the practice of those principles. It also touches on the importance of love, the role of divine revelation and reason in moral theology, and the challenges of living a moral life.

Takeaways

• 😇 The core of Christian morality is recognizing the dignity of every person as made in the image of God, endowed with an immortal soul and free will.
• 🌟 Humans have the ability to discern right from wrong through intelligence and reason, which are gifts from God, and are thus morally responsible for their actions.
• 🍂 Original sin affects human nature, causing a tendency towards evil, but baptism offers a path to overcome its effects, though not completely.
• 🐾 Unlike animals, humans are morally accountable for their behavior, as morality is a human construct tied to human nature and societal context.
• 📜 Morality is rooted in the natural and eternal laws of God, and our moral lives are guided by both reason and divine revelation.
• 🔍 Morality, as defined by Franz Bakl, is the theological study of norms for free human conduct in light of God's revelation, emphasizing freedom and divine guidance.
• 📚 According to Anton Sertal, morality is a science that examines what humans ought to be, based on their nature and the aim to fulfill their potential as intended by God.
• 👫 Christian faith views individuals as children of God with inherent dignity and an eternal destiny, which shapes the concept of right and wrong actions.
• 🤔 Ethics and morality are closely related but distinct; ethics is the study of moral principles, while morality is the practice of those principles in daily life.
• 🚦 Basic ethical principles include respect for persons, truthfulness, autonomy, and justice, which guide the moral evaluation of actions.
• 🌐 Moral theology is divided into general morals, which address the presuppositions of moral acts, and special morals, which focus on specific responsibilities towards God and the created world.

Q & A

What is the most basic principle of the Christian moral life?

The most basic principle of the Christian moral life is the awareness that every person bears the dignity of being made in the image of God, possessing an immortal soul and the gifts of intelligence and reason.

How does original sin affect human nature according to the script?

Original sin affects human nature by darkening our minds, weakening our wills, and inclining us towards sin, even though baptism delivers us from its original state.

What is the role of free will in Christian morality?

Free will allows humans to seek and love what is true, good, and beautiful, and it is a fundamental aspect of morality as it enables us to make choices about our lives and actions.

Why are animals not considered moral agents?

Animals are not considered moral agents because they are not responsible for their actions or behavior; morality is a concept that applies only within the context of humanity.

What is the definition of morality according to Franz Bakl?

Morality, according to Franz Bakl, is the part of theology that searches for the norms of free human conduct in the light of God's revelation.

What are the three elements of morality as described by Anton and Sertal Ages?

The three elements of morality as described by Anton and Sertal Ages are: morality as a science, morality concerned with what humans ought to be, and morality in the light of what humanity is.

How does the Christian faith define men and women?

The Christian faith defines men and women as children of God, with basic dignity, an eternal destiny, created by God, redeemed by Christ, indwelt by the Spirit, and destined for eternity with God.

What is the difference between ethics and morality as discussed in the script?

Ethics is the systematic study of the rightness and wrongness of human actions, while morality refers to the actual principles of right and wrong behavior or the rightness and wrongness of human actions.

What are some basic ethical principles mentioned in the script?

Some basic ethical principles mentioned in the script include respect for persons, truthfulness, confidentiality, autonomy, informed consent, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.

How does the script differentiate between physical evils and moral evils?

Physical evils are those caused by natural disasters or things outside of human control, while moral evils are brought on by the free, deliberate, and unjustified actions of human beings.

What are the two presuppositions in moral theology according to the script?

The two presuppositions in moral theology are that man possesses freedom of will and that man is accountable to an ultimate value or authority.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Christian Morality and Human Dignity

The paragraph discusses the foundational principles of Christian morality, emphasizing that every person is made in the image of God, possessing an immortal soul and free will. It acknowledges the impact of original sin on human nature, which inclines individuals toward sin but also highlights the role of baptism in delivering from its effects. The concept of morality is introduced as being uniquely human, with animals not bearing responsibility for their actions. The video script also touches on the idea that morality is rooted in the natural and eternal laws of God, and that human beings are reward-oriented, seeking to be good for the promise of salvation. The paragraph concludes with a definition of morality from the perspective of theology, suggesting that it involves understanding the norms of free human conduct in light of God's revelation.

05:02

📚 Ethics and Morality: Definitions and Distinctions

This paragraph delves into the relationship between ethics and morality, explaining that while the terms are often used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings. Ethics is described as the systematic study of the rightness and wrongness of human actions, focusing on the theories behind moral principles. Morality, on the other hand, pertains to the principles themselves and the practice of ethics. The paragraph outlines basic ethical principles such as respect for persons, truthfulness, autonomy, and justice, and discusses how these principles are violated in actions like killing. It also explores the origins of the words 'morality' and 'ethics,' linking them to concepts of custom and character. The paragraph emphasizes that morality is intrinsically linked to the human person and their societal responsibilities, acknowledging cultural variations in moral approaches and the inherent goodness or badness of actions.

10:04

🛡 The Nature of Evil and Moral Theology

The third paragraph explores the concept of evil, identifying it as anything that hinders human growth and development, such as death, suffering, and discrimination. It distinguishes between 'pre-moral evils,' which are objective evils like natural disasters, and 'moral evils,' which result from human actions. The paragraph discusses the importance of morality in relation to human identity and development, asserting that a shared moral code is essential for societal functioning. It also clarifies that legality and morality are not synonymous, with examples provided to illustrate the distinction. The paragraph introduces two presuppositions in moral theology: the existence of free will and the accountability of humans to an ultimate value or authority, which are foundational for moral duties and the concept of guilt.

15:07

🌐 Moral Theology: Foundations and Challenges

The final paragraph addresses the foundations of moral theology, which are divine revelation and human reason. It outlines the two divisions of moral theology: general morals, which deal with the presuppositions of moral acts and their qualities, and special morals, which focus on specific human actions and responsibilities. The paragraph also discusses the challenges faced in Christian moral living, encouraging individuals to become moral agents within their communities. It concludes with a reminder of the teachings of Jesus on love, emphasizing the importance of both faith in God and love for one's neighbor as essential for living a good life, and a closing statement on the objectivity of right and wrong.

Keywords

💡Christian Morality

Christian morality refers to the principles and values that guide the behavior of Christians, based on their religious beliefs and teachings. In the video, it is discussed as the most basic principle of the Christian moral life, emphasizing the dignity of every person as being made in the image of God and endowed with an immortal soul.

💡Original Sin

Original sin is a Christian theological concept that refers to the state of sin inherited by humanity as a result of Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden. The video mentions that original sin affects human nature, causing a predisposition to sin or 'concupiscence,' which baptism does not fully eradicate.

💡Free Will

Free will is the power of making choices that are neither determined by natural causality nor predestined by fate or divine will. The video script highlights that God has given humans free will, which allows them to seek and love what is true, good, and beautiful, despite the challenges posed by original sin.

💡Morality

Morality is the differentiation between what is right and what is wrong. In the context of the video, morality is deeply rooted in the natural and eternal laws of God and is not just a human construct but a reflection of divine order. It is also discussed in relation to human responsibility and the capacity for rational choice.

💡Ethics

Ethics is the systematic study of moral principles, which is closely related to morality but focuses more on the theoretical aspects. The video distinguishes between ethics and morality, with ethics being the study of the rightness and wrongness of human actions, while morality is the practice of these ethical principles.

💡Respect for Persons

Respect for persons is a fundamental ethical principle that emphasizes the inherent dignity and worth of every individual. The video mentions this principle as one of the basic ethical guidelines that help determine the morality of actions, such as the wrongness of killing due to its violation of this principle.

💡Good and Evil

Good and evil are moral concepts that represent the moral quality of actions, intentions, or characters. The video discusses the innate human tendency to seek fulfillment and perfection, which is termed as 'good,' and anything that hinders this development is considered 'evil.'

💡Divine Revelation

Divine revelation is the disclosure of divine truth or knowledge to humans, which is a foundational aspect of Christian faith. The video script refers to divine revelation as a source of moral guidance, particularly through the teachings of the Old and New Testaments and the sacred tradition of the Church.

💡Human Dignity

Human dignity is the inherent worth and respect that every person possesses simply by being human. In the video, human dignity is linked to the concept of being created in the image of God, and it is the basis for moral responsibility and the proper treatment of others.

💡Concupiscence

Concupiscence, derived from the Latin 'concupiscentia,' refers to the inclination to sin or the moral weakness resulting from original sin. The video explains that baptism delivers from original sin but not from its effects, particularly concupiscence, which continues to influence human behavior.

💡Moral Theology

Moral theology is a branch of theology that studies the moral principles of the Christian faith and their application to human conduct. The video touches upon moral theology as it discusses the basis of morality in divine revelation and reason, as well as the responsibilities of humans in the religious and created realms.

Highlights

The most basic principle of the Christian moral life is the awareness that every person bears the dignity of being made in the image of God.

God has given us an immortal soul and the gifts of intelligence and reason to understand His creation.

Original sin impacts our minds, weakens our wills, and inclines us to sin, but baptism delivers us from its effects.

Morality is founded on the natural and eternal laws of God, derived from our experiences and our belief in salvation.

Humans have responsibility and morality, unlike animals, because of their capacity for reason and free will.

Morality is guided by God's revelation, which unveils Himself in human history and invites people to share in His life.

Morality is concerned with free human conduct and what we do with our freedom, according to Franz Bakl.

Anton Sertal defines morality as the science of what humans ought to be by reason of what they are.

Christian faith views men and women as children of God with basic dignity and an eternal destiny.

Ethics and morality can be used interchangeably, but ethics is the systematic study of the rightness and wrongness of human actions.

Ethics provides systems of moral principles and reasons why these principles are valid, guiding the moral agent.

Morality refers to the principles of right and wrong behavior, or the goodness and badness of human acts.

Ethics as a moral philosophy provides principles on the morality of human acts and a theoretical knowledge of right and wrong.

Morality as a moral theology is the practice of ethics, actualizing theory into real action.

Personal morality is inextricably linked to our responsibilities as members of society and the human community.

Morality has to do with who and what we are as human beings, and our legitimate development as persons.

Authority does not create morality; things are forbidden because they are wrong, not wrong because they are forbidden.

Immoral and illegal are not the same; legality does not necessarily equate to morality.

Moral theology is based on divine revelation and reason or human intelligence.

The challenge to Christian moral living is to become a moral agent within one's own community, guided by love and faith.

Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it, and right is right even if no one else is doing it.

Transcripts

[Music]

in this video we will be talking about

christian morality we begin by saying

the most basic principle of the

christian moral life is the awareness

that every person bears the dignity of

being made in the image of god

he has given us an immortal soul and

through the gifts of intelligence and

reason

enables us to understand the order of

things established in his creation

[Music]

god has also given us a free will to

seek and love what is true

good and beautiful

sadly because of the fall we also suffer

the impact of original sin

which darkens our minds weakens our

wills and inclines us to sin

baptism delivers us from original sin

but not from its effects especially the

inclination to sin

or known as concupiscence

within us then is both a powerful surge

toward the good because we are made in

the image of god

and the darker impulses toward evil

because of the effects of original sin

let me bring you to the context of

morality

animals are not responsible for their

actions or the way they behave

this is not so with man

there is responsibility or morality only

in the context of humanity

there is no morality outside the context

of humanity

we say there is morality because there

is man

morality is founded on the natural and

eternal laws of god

from the basis of our experiences we

want to be good because of our belief in

salvation

man is indeed a reward-oriented creature

and so we are lucky that god

in his wisdom knows how to reward us

properly not only later in heaven but

already here on earth

our moral lives can't be fully lived

understood

and explained through our reasoning

alone

[Music]

let us see the definition of morality

first according to franz bakl

a german theologian morality is the part

of theology that searches for the norms

of free human conduct in the light of

god's revelation

again morality is that part of theology

that searches for the

first norms of free human conduct then

second

in the light of god's revelation let us

see the two elements according to bachel

first morality is concerned with free

human conduct

it means morality presupposes freedom

and freedom means we can make choices

about our lives or actions

and lastly morality concerns with what

we do with our freedom

the second element is morality is guided

by god's revelation

it means man has more than reason or

human intelligence to guide his actions

we will note that revelation means god

unveiled himself in human history

by inviting people to share his very

life

[Music]

god's self-disclosure is known as

salvation history and this is recorded

in the old testament

the chronicle of yahweh is dealing with

the jews and is fulfilled in the new

testament

when god's own son jesus christ came as

god's final word

his total self-communication

let us have a look on the definition of

morality according to anton and sertal

ages a french theologian

morality is the science of what human

ought to be by reason of what he is

it is concerned with what humans ought

to be in the light of what humanity is

let us see the three elements according

to sertal ages

first morality is a science it means

it is an open-ended body of study it

builds up it develops

it is good to note that the more a

person understands himself

the more refined his behavior will be

the second element is morality is

concerned with what humans ought to be

it focuses on how things should be and

how people should act

the third element is in the light of

what humanity is

morality asks people to be the persons

they are meant to be

[Music]

christian faith defines men and women as

children of god

with basic dignity having an eternal

destiny and is created by god

redeemed by christ indwelt by the spirit

destined to eternity or god

what is right is to act as a child of

god what is wrong is to forget one's

basic dignity

[Music]

and so in anything a christian asks what

is the human thing to do

before we go further let us talk first

about ethics and morality

the terms ethics and morality can be

used interchangeably

however there is a fine line that

divides the two

ethics is the systematic study of the

rightness and the wrongness of human

actions

it is also known as the science of

morals

morality is the rightness and wrongness

of the human action

we call this one as the practice of

ethics

morality refers to principles of right

and wrong behavior

or rightness and wrongness of human

actions

[Music]

in determining the morality of human

actions the moral agent is guided by the

broader rules

or principles of ethics ethics attempts

to provide systems of moral principles

and the reasons why these principles are

valid

[Music]

hence ethics is more concerned with the

theories that can be used to explain why

a particular moral principle is valid or

not

right or wrong it is in this reason that

ethicists have come up with some of the

basic ethical principles that may help

determine the rightness or wrongness of

a human action

some of these basic ethical principles

are

respect for persons truthfulness and

confidentiality

autonomy and informed consent

beneficence

non-maleficence justice

in ethics killing is wrong because it

violates the basic ethical principles of

respect for persons or non-maleficence

in morality we do not kill because it is

wrong

morality comes from the latin word mose

or mores which means custom

ethics is derived from the greek word

ethicos or ethos

the english translation of which is

custom or character

customary behavior ethics is a

philosophical science which deals with

the morality of the human acts

morality of human acts refers to the

goodness or the badness

the rightness or the wrongness of human

acts

[Music]

ethics as a moral philosophy provides

principles on the morality of human acts

provides a theoretical knowledge of the

morality of human acts

provides basis of right or wrong and

good or bad actions

it does not necessarily follow that man

does what he knows ethics does not

actually guarantee that man will be

moral

one can be moral when one applies ethics

or theory

morality as a moral theology means the

practice or practice of the ethics or

theory

properly called applied ethics

actualizes the theory into a real action

the doing of ethics what does moral mean

again moral is from a latin word mores

meaning customs or habitual ways of

doing things

customary ways of doing things can of

course be either right or wrong

good or evil when we say that something

is moral we generally mean that it is

good

in morality the fundamental value is

always the human person

and the person in relationship with

society

we belong to society and the human

community by the very nature of our

birth

thus personal morality can never be

divorced from our responsibilities as

members of that society

since customs practices habitual ways of

doing things vary from culture to

culture

it can be expected that there will be

varying approaches to morality

the major issue in these varying

approaches to morality

is that people have different views of

what is good or evil

speaking of good or evil let us have a

few discussions about the matter

[Music]

every human person has an innate

tendency to seek his or her fulfillment

and perfection

[Music]

the mere fact of being alive and being

human means that one has purpose

one has goals one seeks meaning in life

also it means that one has needs and

desires pursuant to keeping oneself

alive

and seeking one's own fulfillment this

fulfillment or perfection

we call the good hence we can state

another fundamental truth

anything contributing to the full

actualization of human potential

and the proper development of the human

person is good or moral

[Music]

those who believe in god see and

understand god as the final end and

purpose of human life the supreme good

for the believer human development and

human perfection are undertaken in

accordance with god's will

the guiding principle of which is love

god is love

just as anything that contributes to the

proper growth and development of the

human person is good

so anything that frustrates or acts

against this proper growth and

development is considered to be evil

what are some of the things that

frustrate human life and development

in which everyone would therefore

consider evil

here is a partial list death suffering

pain

disability deprivation of freedom

discrimination that deprives one of

opportunity to improve one's self

deprivation of worth and self-esteem

we call these pre-moral evils that is

evils in the objective sense before any

moral slant has been added

human beings may be deprived of what

they need for their growth and

development as persons in different ways

one way that premoral evil may be caused

is by natural disasters such as

earthquakes

floods epidemics accidents and in

general

things which are outside of human

control

we call such evils physical evils but as

we know quite well

most of the evil in the world does not

occur in this way

most evil in the world is brought on by

the free deliberate and unjustified

actions of human beings

we call such evils moral evils

and so moral evils occur when we

voluntarily

and deliberately become involved in the

spread of premoral evil

some important considerations

first morality has to do with who and

what we are as human beings

and with our legitimate development as

persons

[Music]

one does not have to be a religious

person or express belief in god to be

bound by morality

no society can function properly for the

good of its members

unless there is some form of agreed upon

moral code that binds everyone

right is right and wrong is wrong apart

altogether from religion

second authority does not create

morality

[Music]

things are not wrong because they are

forbidden they are forbidden because

they are wrong

and lastly immoral and illegal are not

the same thing

what is legal may not be moral like

abortion and prostitution

doing bodily harm to oneself may not be

illegal but it is almost

certainly immoral driving through a red

light may be illegal but unless there is

a danger of premoral evil to the public

or to oneself it is not immoral

two presuppositions in moral theology

[Music]

first man possesses freedom of will

men experience themselves not merely as

instruments in the hands of higher

forces

but as creative agents

and are able to choose among

alternatives

men are capable of self-determination

second man is accountable to an ultimate

value or authority

this ultimate accountability is what

gives a moral demand or moral duty its

character

only on this condition is it possible to

speak of moral duties which bind a

person in conscience

and which he cannot refuse to obey

without becoming guilty

[Music]

from the commitment to this ultimate

value human life receives its ultimate

meaning

[Music]

the existence of god and man's

accountability to an ultimate value

are not two separate presuppositions

how about the two divisions of moral

theology

first we have general morals this treats

the general presuppositions of the moral

act

and its qualities that it may contribute

to humans final goal

it answers to the question why the

action has to be done

in short it refers to the ethics of

being

second we have special morals it treats

the human action

it answers to the question what action

has to be done

this is the ethics of doing the two

subdivisions of special morals are

first man's responsibility in the

religious realm towards god

and second man's responsibility towards

the created world

his neighbor and the creation around him

what are the basis of moral theology

there are two first divine revelation

our christian

faith that finds foundation in the old

testament and fulfilled in the new

testament and of course we have the

sacred tradition church teachings

the second is reason or human

intelligence

what is the challenge then to our

christian moral living

i leave it to you as i challenge you on

how to become a moral agent within your

own community

let us just remember the teachings of

jesus about love

remember the cross the vertical

direction points to god

and the horizontal is pointing to others

faith in god alone is not enough in

order to live a good life

we must also love our neighbor

finally let me end by saying wrong is

wrong even if everyone is doing it

and that right is right even though no

one else is doing it

may god bless you all

you