GCSE YEAR 10 - What is natural law, the conscience and virtue?

Summary

This video offers an insightful revision lesson on Catholic beliefs regarding natural law, conscience, and virtue. It explains that natural law refers to inherent moral principles embedded by God, guiding humans to act rightly. The conscience is viewed as God's inner voice, providing moral direction, and acting against it is seen as sin. Virtue is the pursuit of moral goodness, exemplified by figures like Jesus and Mary, and is essential for Catholics in their spiritual journey. The video aims to clarify key concepts for Catholic Christianity GCSE students in an engaging and comprehensive manner.

Takeaways

• 😀 Natural law is a Catholic belief that some laws are naturally embedded in humans by God at creation, guiding us to know right from wrong.
• 😀 St. Thomas Aquinas developed the concept of natural law, claiming humans are pre-loaded with the ability to seek good and avoid evil.
• 😀 Five basic goods that humans are naturally inclined towards: preserving life, procreating, seeking truth, living in society, and worshiping God.
• 😀 The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis serves as an example of natural law, where disobedience to God represents breaking the natural law.
• 😀 While all humans are born with natural law, some may find it difficult to follow due to sin or personal struggles.
• 😀 The conscience is considered the voice of God, guiding Catholics in making moral decisions.
• 😀 Ignoring the conscience is seen as sinning against God, as it is believed to be a direct communication from Him.
• 😀 Conscience is closely tied to natural law, as following one's conscience leads to fulfilling the natural law's purposes.
• 😀 Catholics are taught to use their conscience in combination with the Bible and the Magisterium (Church teachings) for sound moral decision-making.
• 😀 Virtue is defined as being morally good, and the ultimate goal for Catholics is to live virtuously by following Christ's teachings and achieving salvation.
• 😀 Jesus and Mary are examples of moral virtue, and Catholics are encouraged to model their lives after these figures to achieve virtue.

Q & A

What is natural law according to Catholic teaching?

Natural law is the belief that certain laws exist naturally within humans, allowing them to instinctively know what is right. These laws are believed to be embedded in humans by God at creation, guiding humans to do what is good and avoid evil.

How does St. Thomas Aquinas contribute to the understanding of natural law?

St. Thomas Aquinas developed the concept of natural law, stating that humans are pre-loaded by God with the knowledge of what is good. He emphasized that natural law allows humans to seek good and avoid evil, as it is inherent in human nature.

What are some examples of basic goods humans are pre-loaded with according to Aquinas?

Aquinas identified five basic goods that humans are naturally inclined to pursue: preserving human life, procreating, educating and seeking truth, living in society, and worshiping God.

Why do some people not follow natural law despite it being inherent in all humans?

The Church acknowledges that not everyone follows natural law due to human tendencies to sin. The Catechism states that the precepts of natural law are not always clearly perceived by everyone, and some may struggle to follow them.

What role does conscience play in Catholic decision-making?

Conscience serves as the inner voice that guides Catholics in making moral decisions. Catholics believe that conscience is the voice of God speaking directly to them, and acting against it is considered a sin.

What is the relationship between conscience and natural law?

Catholics believe that conscience leads individuals to follow natural law. Since the conscience is the voice of God and natural law is the law embedded in humans by God, listening to one’s conscience helps guide them toward doing good and following God’s will.

Why must conscience be used in conjunction with the teachings of the Catholic Church?

Conscience must be used alongside the Bible and the teachings of the Magisterium to ensure that individuals are not led astray, especially in cases where mental disorders or misunderstandings might cause someone to misinterpret their conscience.

What is virtue in the context of Catholic teachings?

Virtue refers to the practice of being morally good, which is the ultimate aim for Catholics. It involves consistently following the teachings of the Catholic Church and using one's conscience to live in alignment with God’s will and achieve salvation.

Who are the moral examples for Catholics to follow?

The key moral examples for Catholics are Jesus and Mary. Jesus is considered the perfect moral example as God incarnate, while Mary, the mother of Jesus, is revered as the perfect example of faith, discipleship, and charity.

How does the pursuit of virtue contribute to the Kingdom of God on Earth?

The pursuit of virtue helps Catholics live according to God’s teachings, thereby building a community that reflects God’s will on Earth. By consistently striving to be morally good, Catholics help to create the Kingdom of God through their actions and faith.