EthicsEthics

Ethics : Is a study of standards of conduct Ethics : Is a study of standards of conduct and practical judgements It overlaps with and practical judgements It overlaps with

morality. Ethics refers to a system of thinking morality. Ethics refers to a system of thinking wheras morality refers to action. wheras morality refers to action.

Foundation of Christian EthicsFoundation of Christian Ethics

The foundation of Christian Ethics are based on The foundation of Christian Ethics are based on A) The Scriptures (Ten Commandments & the A) The Scriptures (Ten Commandments & the

Beatitudes) Beatitudes) B) Natural Law ( the Philosophy of Aristotle and St B) Natural Law ( the Philosophy of Aristotle and St

Thomas Aquinas) Thomas Aquinas) C) Natural Law is the Christian belief that God C) Natural Law is the Christian belief that God

implanted in creation a moral law that can be detected implanted in creation a moral law that can be detected by human intelligence apart from God’s direct by human intelligence apart from God’s direct revelation. ( Catholic and Orthodox support natural revelation. ( Catholic and Orthodox support natural law) law)

D) Tradition (The Church Fathers)D) Tradition (The Church Fathers)

Scripture Foundation of Ethics.Scripture Foundation of Ethics.

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20 1-17) is a The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20 1-17) is a sources of Christian ethical teaching, since it is sources of Christian ethical teaching, since it is part of Divine Revelation part of Divine Revelation

The Ten Commandments state the essential The Ten Commandments state the essential duties for the Christian adherent.duties for the Christian adherent. For example: Christian’s arguing against Abortion use For example: Christian’s arguing against Abortion use

the Biblical commandment ‘Thou Shall not Kill’ as the Biblical commandment ‘Thou Shall not Kill’ as justification for their stance.justification for their stance.

They hold that since the embryo is human from the They hold that since the embryo is human from the time of conception it has the rights as a human and time of conception it has the rights as a human and therefore cannot be harmed or killed.therefore cannot be harmed or killed.

The Beatitudes Matthew 5 1-12 is also a The Beatitudes Matthew 5 1-12 is also a foundation piece of scripture for ethical foundation piece of scripture for ethical thinking in Christianity. thinking in Christianity. ‘‘Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain

mercy’ could be used as an argument for mercy’ could be used as an argument for preserving the life of the foetus. preserving the life of the foetus.

Natural Law Natural Law

Natural law underpins Christian ethical Natural law underpins Christian ethical thinking (especially Catholic and thinking (especially Catholic and Orthodox)Orthodox)For example Catholic teaching states that For example Catholic teaching states that

humans needs grace and revelation in order humans needs grace and revelation in order that moral and religious truths may be known that moral and religious truths may be known (Catechism of the Catholic Church) (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Natural Law would be used to argue the Natural Law would be used to argue the preservation of life is a good that must be preservation of life is a good that must be assured in every situation assured in every situation

Differences between Protestant Differences between Protestant and Catholicsand Catholics

Different Christian variants give different weight Different Christian variants give different weight to each of these sources. to each of these sources. Roman Catholic - faith and reason help to shed light Roman Catholic - faith and reason help to shed light

on human good and all sources are integrated within on human good and all sources are integrated within or under the authoritative teachings of the Church.or under the authoritative teachings of the Church.

Protestants - The primacy of the scriptures over Protestants - The primacy of the scriptures over natural law or Tradition. natural law or Tradition.

Protestants consider the bible very important (New and Old Protestants consider the bible very important (New and Old Testaments) Testaments)

Protestants are more flexible than Catholics and Orthodox.Protestants are more flexible than Catholics and Orthodox.

Bioethics Bioethics

Bioethics is a science that a system of Bioethics is a science that a system of medical priorities for acceptable survival.medical priorities for acceptable survival.

Bioethics is the application of our ethical Bioethics is the application of our ethical principles to human life issues such as the principles to human life issues such as the dignity of the human person, the beginning dignity of the human person, the beginning of human life at conception. The modern of human life at conception. The modern challenges to the natural law such as challenges to the natural law such as euthanasia, abortion, human cloning and euthanasia, abortion, human cloning and inappropriate stem cell research. inappropriate stem cell research.

Different bioethical approaches Different bioethical approaches within Christian denominationswithin Christian denominations

There are many differences between the There are many differences between the approaches of the various denominations to approaches of the various denominations to bioethics. bioethics.

Orthodox and Roman Catholics state that Orthodox and Roman Catholics state that abortion is wrong. The Orthodox find no reason abortion is wrong. The Orthodox find no reason for agreeing with the Roman Catholic prohibition for agreeing with the Roman Catholic prohibition of conception. of conception.

Many Protestants refuse to concur with the Many Protestants refuse to concur with the Orthodox and the Catholics concerning abortion. Orthodox and the Catholics concerning abortion.

And some Protestants see some grounds for And some Protestants see some grounds for accepting limited voluntary active euthanasia accepting limited voluntary active euthanasia

Euthanasia Euthanasia

Suicide is considered the murder on Suicide is considered the murder on oneself and under the commandment oneself and under the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill’ is not acceptable.‘Thou shalt not kill’ is not acceptable.

Euthanasia with the intent of removing Euthanasia with the intent of removing pain and distress from a person by the pain and distress from a person by the self-inflicted or assisted act of helping self-inflicted or assisted act of helping someone to die painlessly is more difficult someone to die painlessly is more difficult to classify. to classify.

Christians are mostly against Euthanasia. The Christians are mostly against Euthanasia. The arguments are based on life is sacred and is arguments are based on life is sacred and is given by God and that human beings are made given by God and that human beings are made in God’s image. Gen1.27-28.in God’s image. Gen1.27-28.

Christians believe that intrinsic dignity and value Christians believe that intrinsic dignity and value of human lives means that the value of each of human lives means that the value of each human life is identical. human life is identical.

Patients that are old or sick and are near the end Patients that are old or sick and are near the end of their earthly life have the same value as any of their earthly life have the same value as any other human being. other human being.

Different views on EuthanasiaDifferent views on Euthanasia Different denominations within Christianity have strongly Different denominations within Christianity have strongly

held differing views.held differing views. In general Catholics and more conservative Protestant In general Catholics and more conservative Protestant

Churches would oppose Euthanasia while some more Churches would oppose Euthanasia while some more Liberal Protestant Churches eg Uniting Church would Liberal Protestant Churches eg Uniting Church would consider the advantages of the life of the person and consider the advantages of the life of the person and suggest a ‘love’ response to the person in pain. suggest a ‘love’ response to the person in pain.

Kenneth Ralph Uniting Church minister. “ Self Kenneth Ralph Uniting Church minister. “ Self determination is central to what it means to be a human determination is central to what it means to be a human being”.being”.

(Works for Christian support for Voluntary Euthanasia)(Works for Christian support for Voluntary Euthanasia)

Roman Catholic view on Roman Catholic view on EuthanasiaEuthanasia

Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the deliberate and morally God, since it is the deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human being. unacceptable killing of a human being.

The Roman Catholic Church does not accept The Roman Catholic Church does not accept that human beings have the right to die. that human beings have the right to die.

Pope John II spoke out against what he calls a Pope John II spoke out against what he calls a ‘culture of death’ in modern society and said that ‘culture of death’ in modern society and said that human beings should always prefer the way of human beings should always prefer the way of life to the way of death. life to the way of death.

ABORTIONABORTION

All Christians believe that Abortion is All Christians believe that Abortion is wrong based on the Biblical wrong based on the Biblical commandment ‘Thou shall not kill’. commandment ‘Thou shall not kill’.

The reasoning behind the this belief is The reasoning behind the this belief is different for different groups.different for different groups.

This is because of the different weighting This is because of the different weighting different groups give to different ethical different groups give to different ethical teachings.teachings.

Anglican view on AbortionAnglican view on Abortion

The Anglican Church encourage people to think The Anglican Church encourage people to think through the issue of abortion very carefully and through the issue of abortion very carefully and recognises that each individual will have recognises that each individual will have different views on the subject.different views on the subject.

The Anglican Church combines strong The Anglican Church combines strong opposition to Abortion with a recognition that opposition to Abortion with a recognition that there can be strictly limited : conditions under there can be strictly limited : conditions under which it may be morally preferable to any which it may be morally preferable to any available alternative. available alternative.

In 1993 the Anglican General Synod In 1993 the Anglican General Synod passed a resolution that in situations passed a resolution that in situations where the continuance of a pregnancy where the continuance of a pregnancy threatens the life of the mother, threatens the life of the mother, termination of the pregnancy may be termination of the pregnancy may be justified. justified.

Roman Catholic view on AbortionRoman Catholic view on Abortion

The Roman Catholic Church says that The Roman Catholic Church says that deliberately causing an abortion is a grave moral deliberately causing an abortion is a grave moral wrong. wrong.

It bases this doctrine on Natural law and It bases this doctrine on Natural law and Scripture (The ten commandments) Scripture (The ten commandments)

The Catholic Church believes that human life The Catholic Church believes that human life begins at conception. begins at conception.

On Abortion Pope John Paul writes “I declare On Abortion Pope John Paul writes “I declare that diirect abortion, that is abortion willed as an that diirect abortion, that is abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of a innocent human being. a innocent human being.