Religion Chapter 1 - Basis of Morality

What is the origin of both the physical and moral laws of the universe?

Both kinds of laws were created by God and are discovered, not invented, by human beings.

How did Christ recognize the reality of body and soul in instituting the Sacraments?

By bestowing spiritual grace through physical signs, Christ united the spiritual and the material in the Sacraments.

How does Christian morality relate o love?

Christian morality begins and ends with love.

Do Christians have a greater moral responsibility than non-Christians?

Due to their Baptism, Christians have a greater moral responsibility in God's eyes.

What is the natural result of keeping the moral law?

It brings holiness, happiness, and justice.

What does a saintly life modeled on Christ reveal?

It reveals the beauty of truth, the liberating force of God's love, and the value of unconditional fidelity to all the demands of God's Law.

What is the difference between sanctifying and actual grace?

Sanctifying grace is a permanent presence of God in our souls. We receive it in Baptism. Actual graces are temporary infusions of God's grace to help us live according to God's will.

Why will "scientism" always fail to answer the basic problems of mankind?

Scientism is a philosophy in which the only truths that exist are those that can be scientifically demonstrated. Science can discover how the world works and, through technology, it can give us new powers over the natural world. Science, however, cannot tell us what to do with the knowledge and power we gain. Thus, scientism cannot offer a reason why we should not use knowledge and power in selfish and evil ways.

What is the "moral" taught by Christ in the Parable of the Good Samaritan?

We are to love even the unlovable.

With what is subjective morality synonymous?

moral relativism

What is the difference between positive and negative morality?

A positive morality prescribes what a person, motivated by the love of God, should do to imitate the life of Christ. A negative morality consists of "thou shalt nots," obedience to which is motivated primarily by fear of punishment.

Why does even a person committed to Christ have a tendency to sin?

A tendency toward sin is a consequence of our wounded human nature, so we can never presume ourselves to be invulnerable to temptation and sin.

Why is being moralistic wrong?

Acting "holier than thou" and appearing as a cold and judgmental moralizer makes one a poor witness to the Faith and not someone others would like to emulate. Extension: Besides this, we are all sinners and should be humble.

A mini-lecture on the Catholic understanding of the effects of Original Sin Part 2

Although Baptism restores sanctifying grace, it does not remove the wounding effects of Original Sin. There are two principal errors in regard to Original Sin. On the one hand, some people have exaggerated the definition of Original Sin. For example, the Manichaeans claimed that everything physical is evil. Later, Calvin said our human natures are totally depraved. On the other hand are those who deny Original Sin altogether. For example, Rousseau and the Romantics claimed people are originally good but are corrupted by society.

What is an unfortunately common attitude regarding moral issues in Western society today?

At present, a secularizing trend, which views morality and truth as subjective, is prevalent. Oftentimes, people who publicly hold a moral position on public policy issues are accused of imposing their personal moral views--or the moral views of their particular churches--on others. This view rejects the objective nature of the natural law.

How did Christ perfect the Commandments in Matthew 5:18-48?

Christ taught that it was not sufficient for Christians just to avoid murder, but they should not even give in to anger. Likewise, it was not sufficient just to avoid adultery, but a man should not even look at a woman with lust. In a like manner, Christ perfected the Commandments of the Old Law.

What is the relationship between a morality of rules and a morality that includes rules?

Christ's morality is not a morality of just rules as if following rules would save you. Rather, it is a morality that includes rules. Moral laws and precepts show us the difference between good and evil and the path we need to follow if we want to please God, achieve true perfection, and obtain salvation.

What effect does Christian morality have on free will?

Christian morality makes us freer by overcoming slavery to sin.

What effect does Christian morality have on human dignity?

Christian morality safeguards human dignity because it recognizes the dignity of each person and requires us to treat ourselves and others accordingly.

What vocation does Baptism give every Christian?

Every baptized person has the vocation to become completely centered on Christ. This is the holiness proclaimed by the Gospels and found throughout the New Testament.

What is the universal call to holiness?

Every human being is called to holiness and therefore to living the moral law.

What is the error of a "purely spiritual" viewpoint?

Excessive spiritualism denies the inherent goodness of matter and thus of the human body. The Christian view is that our moral actions are acts of both body and soul and that creation is good.

How can Catholics have assurance that the moral teachings of the Church are correct?

God guarantees that the teachings of the Church are correct. The Church's moral teachings are revealed through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition and communicated through the Magisterium.

What is the risk that God took in creating us with a free will?

God took the risk that we would say no to him and abuse our freedom.

How do our actions either increase or decrease our freedom?

Good actions make us freer, whereas bad actions diminish our freedom and make us slaves to sin. Extension: For example, generosity in giving money to charity makes it easier to give the next time I can help someone.

What is grace?

Grace is a free gift that God gives us so we can share in his life and conform ourselves to his will.

Why was Christ critical of many of the ideas preached by the religious leaders of his time?

He criticized the Pharisees for reducing the Old Testament to a narrow, legalistic, and so,stokes hypocritical model of morality.

Why does Christ speak of good and bad fruit trees?

He is making an analogy between fruit trees and men. Good or bad fruit grows from good or bad trees. Good or bad actions indicate whether we are good or bad people.

What basic question does Catholic moral teaching answer?

How can we best reflect our love for God and other people in our thoughts, words, and deeds?

Why can human reason on its own not determine moral truths without error?

Human reason can discover moral truths on its own, but it is prone to error. If the existence of God is denied, then many people will erroneously be led to follow their own desires rather than an objective moral law.

What are some characteristics that differentiate humans from the rest of creation?

Humans search for truth and are morally responsible for heir actions. Humans can also fashion things that express and evaluate the human spirit, e.g., art, music, science, literature, film, and humor.

What is the freedom that a moral life in Christ gives us?

It gives freedom from sin.

Besides matters of sexual morality, what else does the Moral Law include?

It includes all human behavior that has a moral dimension, including war, health care, economics, poverty, discrimination, calumny, and criminal justice.

What is actual grace?

It is a temporary grace that gives us the knowledge and strength to do what is good and right.

What is the relationship between vocation and freedom?

It is completely up to us whether we respond to our vocation.

What is a "materialistic view" of the world?

It is one that recognizes only the existence of physical mater and ignores or rejects the immaterial or supernatural.

What is sanctifying grace?

It is the abiding grace that we receive at Baptism through which God himself dwells in our souls and we share in his life.

What is Christian humanism?

It is the view that God has created us with an inherent dignity and given us marvelous gifts that reflect his own wisdom and goodness.

What does it mean to say man is a social being?

It means man is made to live with others and relate to them.

What is the purpose of this first chapter?

It presents an overview of the basic principles of a Christian morality and clarifies some common misconceptions about it.

How does keeping the moral law lead to happiness on earth and in Heaven?

Keeping the moral law gives a foretaste on earth of the perfect happiness that awaits us in Heaven.

What are the fruits of keeping the moral law?

Keeping the moral law leads to holiness, happiness, and a more just world.

How does the moral law provide the way to true happiness?

Living by the moral law helps us get closer to God, who is the true source of happiness.

What do some people assume morality is basically about?

Many people assume morality is all about issues pertaining to sexuality and marriage. They then conclude morality is nothing but an unnecessary restriction on human freedom.

What is morality and moral law?

Morality refers to the standards by which we judge actions to be good or evil. Moral law refers to the standards of human behavior that were established by God and are taught by the Catholic Church.

What is the difference between an objective and a subjective morality?

Objective morality claims that our actions are good or evil independently of what think about them, whereas subjective morality claims that the moral value of our actions depends on the situation and one's opinion.

What are two extreme views that destroy to the moral law's call to justice?

One extreme view is to see moral behavior exclusively in terms of social justice. The other is to limit the scope of morality to individual actions only. The former might justify injustice to individuals in the name of the common good. The latter might justify ignoring the common good and focusing only on one's own spiritual life.

A mini-lecture on the Catholic understanding of the effects of Original Sin

Original Sin is transmitted to every human being as part of his or her human nature. It is not a moral guilt as if the person has committed a resonance sin; rather, it is a wound that leads to sin. Due to Original Sin, the intellect is darkened, so it is harder to recognize the truth. The will is weakened, so it is harder to do good. The passions often overwhelm the reason and will father than being ruled by them. This is called concupiscence, and it leads us to sin. Because of Original Sin, we experience pain, sickness, and eventually death. The most important consequence of Original Sin is the privation of sanctifying grace we experience as a consequence of the sin of Adam. Privation means being denied something we were created to possess. We were made to be in relationship with God and to have God's own life within us. However, Original Sin alienates us from God.

What effect does Original Sin have on our free will?

Original Sin weakens our free will and inclines us toward sin.

What makes us human?

Our immortal souls make us human, separating us from animals, which cannot know God or consciously and freely love.

Despite possessing the natural law, why do we need God's help to make good moral decisions on our own?

Our tendency to sin, a consequence of Original Sin, makes it more difficult for us to distinguish good from evil.

What do our actions reveal about us?

Our words and actions reveal our interior moral dispositions, whether good or evil.

Which Sacraments are especially helpful in living a moral life in Christ?

Reconciliation and Eucharist constantly supply us with graces.

What is secular humanism?

Secular humanism is a materialistic view that exalts humanity but leaves God out of the picture.

Why do people tend to equate morality and the Catholic Church with "repressive teachings" on morality?

Since the latter half of the twentieth century, much of the secular culture has been obsessed with sex. In 1950, only a tiny minority of people would have said that premarital sex, adultery, divorce, contraception, pornography, abortion, or homosexual behavior were morally acceptable. In 1950, ideas such as in vitro fertilization (test tube babies), cloning, same-sex "marriage," adoption of children, and partial birth abortion would have been considered morally unacceptable. While much of our culture has changed, the Catholic Church has maintained her perennial teachings and applied the, to new situations that have arisen. These teachings have sometimes been scorned and ridiculed by the media, which accuse the Church of trying to impose its values on others, or to legislate morality.

Where can one find the official presentation of Catholic beliefs and teachings on the moral law?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

What does it mean to say Christian morality is at the service of love?

The Christian moral message begins with God offering his love to us and ends with the New Commandment that we should love one another as Christ loved us. The entire moral law consists of examples of how to love God and neighbor.

What is the relationship between the morality of the Old and New Testaments?

The Commandments given by God to the Jewish people were perfected and explained by Christ.

How does the Great Commandment relate to the Ten Commandments?

The Great Commandments to love God above all else and to love your neighbor as yourself puts all the Commandments into context and describes the interior spirit with which we are to embrace the moral law. Love is both the context and spirit.

What is a human body?

The body is an incredibly sophisticated biological form that is enlivened by an immortal and rational soul.

What do the controversies between abortion proponents and pro-life advocates reveal?

The controversies reveal that, even though the two sides completely disagree, each side believes some moral standard must exist. For example, one side speaks of the right of the unborn child to live. The other speaks of the woman's rights to an abortion.

What specific virtues are received at Baptism?

The four cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance are received, along with the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love.

What is a soul?

The human soul is the spiritual part of a person, which has the power to think and will. The soul is immortal, i.e., it survives beyond the death of the body.

If one is not Catholic, a Christian, or even a deist, is the moral law necessary?

The moral law applies to every human being because every person is called to holiness.

What is the correct balance between social justice and individual morality?

The moral law calls us to try to establish a more just and peaceful society on earth and to ensure that our personal behavior is in accord with the moral law.

Are sexual ethics the primary concern of the moral law?

The moral law includes all moral matters, not just sexual ethics.

What is the essence of the moral law?

The moral law is not simply about rules but, more importantly, about how best to love God and neighbor in thought, word, and deeds.

What is the relationship between moral law and happiness?

The moral law sets us on the way to true happiness because it is rooted in love.

What are the cardinal virtues?

The moral life is guided by the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, the foundation of all human virtues.

What is the natural law?

The natural law is the moral law written in the human heart. Extension: It is the intuitive sense of right and wrong we have. If we use our reason to examine our human nature, we can discover and articulate the entire moral law.

How is God the origin and end of all good moral actions?

The origin of moral theology is Divine Revelation. The end of moral theology is attaining God in Heaven through a life of holiness on earth.

Why does a human person have dignity?

The person's soul is created directly by God at the moment of conception, and we are made in his image and dignity.

What is the purpose of life?

The purpose of life is to live the present in such a way as to enjoy eternal life with God.

What is the purpose of moral theology?

The purpose of moral theology is to lead the human person to a life of holiness and to eternal salvation with God in Heaven.

What is the relationship between the sciences and Catholic moral law?

The sciences can supplement Catholic moral teaching in important ways but can never replace it.

What is the ultimate end of the soul?

The soul does not have a temporal end because it is immortal. Death is the separation of the body, which decomposes, from the soul, which continues to exist.

What is the function of the soul in the human person?

The soul gives the body the capacity for spiritual operations such as knowledge, acts of faith and love, and supernatural life.

Why is the moral law objective?

The standards of Christian morality are God's plan for us. They are not determined by one's preference or even by the will of the majority.

Where can these higher standards revealed by Christ be found?

They are found in the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, and in the New Commandment of Love.

What are human virtues?

They are stable dispositions of the intellect and the will that govern our acts, order our passions, and guide our conduct in accordance with reason and faith.

What often happens to societies that reject the moral law revealed by God?

They reach erroneous conclusions and end up creating cultures of death, hatred, and falsehood. Nazi Germany and Soviet Communism are two notable examples from the twentieth century.

What do our actions reveal?

They reveal our interior values or moral dispositions.

Why did Christ become man, suffer, die, and rise from the dead?

This allowed us to attain eternal life.

Why is a Christian held to a higher standard of conduct?

Through Baptism, a Christian becomes a child of God and part of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church.

Which is better, to be motivated by love of God and neighbor or to be motivated by fear of punishment?

To be motivated by love is superior, since this motivation both includes not doing evil deeds beyond it. For example, "Thou shalt not kill," forbids killing the innocent, whereas loving my neighbor means more than just not murdering him but positively loving him and considering his welfare above my own.

Whose way of life and discipline are we called to adopt?

We are called to imitate Christ.

How do we commit good acts?

We commit good acts by using our free will to make good choices under the influence of grace.

What is the difference between humans and animals regarding moral actions?

We have immortal souls that give us the ability to know and love God and our neighbor. Animals do not have souls. They, therefore, do not have to know and love God and cannot perform moral actions.

What do we need besides faith to accept God's invitation?

We must use our free will to make good moral decisions.

What is the role of freedom and self-mastery in our vocation?

We need both freedom and self-mastery to respond to our vocation to holiness.

How do we attain the highest degree of freedom?

We practice the message preached by Christ.

What makes people moralistic?

When people reduce the Faith to a checklist of rules and when they consider themselves superior to others because they follow them, they become "moralistic" in a bad sense.

Is Christian morality completely positive or negative?

While it is a positive morality, it does include negative commands. Christian morality goes beyond telling us what we should do and should not do and reveals what type of persons we should be to find fulfillment.

Why is actual grace necessary for every person who has reached the age of reason?

Without it we would not have the strength to resist temptation and could not be faithful to the Commandments.

What is the first step in living the Christian life?

living according to the moral law

Which reading of Original Sin seems to best explain human history: man as totally corrupt, man as naturally perfectible, or man as possessing a basically good but wounded nature?

man as possessing a basically good but wounded nature

Free will is

our power to make decisions and act on our own.

Our actions are

our thoughts, words, and deeds.

Morality refers to

the standards which we judge actions to be good or evil.

Interior dispositions are

the things that are in our heats, our attitudes, and values, which determine our actions.