Christian Ethics

- The Bible - Protestants use the Bible for moral guidance as it is the word of God 

- Faith - Lutherans make moral decisions 'per sola fide' (by faith alone)

- Magisterium and tradition - Catholics use this more as moral guidance 

- Based on strict traditional laws

- Conformity of human behaviour to the will of God 

- God has righteous indignation

Examples:

- Deuteronomy 27: 9-10 'so obey him and keep his laws that I am giving you today'

- Hosea 6:6 'I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices' 

- The story of Abraham and Isaac - an example of people following the law over agape or reason

- Love is the fulfilling of the law

- Based on the love of God and neighbour 

- More flexible than the OT

- Sometimes broke traditional laws

Examples:

- 'In everything do to others as you would have them do to you'

- 'The Sabbath was made for the good of human beings; they were not made for the Sabbath'

- Based on love - admits love is limited without the Holy Spirit 

- Says we should act the same way as Jesus did with the guidance of the Holy Spirit  - we can only have a good relationship with God by trusting in Jesus 

- The Holy Spirit is more important than traditional laws

- Highlights the importance of reason

Examples:

- 'Let love make you serve one another'

- 'Trust in the Lord Jesus and you and your family will be saved'

- Founder of Situation Ethics

- Influenced by Christianity, being a theist

- Wrote 'Situation ethics, the new morality' 1963

- Make decisions based on what is the most loving thing to do (agape love)

- Agape = unconditional love

- Most of the time, the most loving thing to do is to obey the law - if it isn't then it is okay to break the law

- Paul - 'let love make you serve one another'

Strengths:

• Relativistic
• Encourages Absolutism
• Deontological
• It is our nature to want to do the right thing

Weaknesses:

• Love is subjective and can sometimes be wrong
• Cultural relativism

- German Lutheran Pastor 
- Executed by Nazis for attempting to assassinate Hitler
- Was a Situationist - willing to violate Christian Law to do the most loving thing 
- Killing is against Christian law but was willing to kill Hitler as it was the most loving thing to do

- Devised by Plato to question the morality of the Gods

- Is something good because God commands it or does god command something because it is good?

- Because God commands it - his commands could become arbitrary - what do we do if he orders abhorrent commands?

- God commands it because its good - there is a higher moral code above God and outside his power that he must command

- Divine Command Theory - Humans are powerless and should obey all of God's laws and commands - 'We are simply obeying a tyrant who commands us to obey' Bowie