Showing posts with label Christian Ethics: A Brief History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian Ethics: A Brief History. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Democracy and Dictatorship
“A democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism.” –John Paul II
Top Cat
The desire of the common man is to be in charge, on top of the world, a fat cat, above his peers. But this is, of course, not a tenable ethical position, for not everyone can be above his peers. It is an ideal that isolates us from society.
This is not, by the way, an example of the Kantian Universalized Ethic. He said that any ethical principle only works if it works universally-- such as "Do not steal" only works if it is universally applied without exception. My example above is simply a point of fact: Not everyone can be on top. Not everyone can be above average. Not everyone can be the best. Simple mathematics: Not all the numbers can be One.
True freedom gives life to all, not just to self.
This is not, by the way, an example of the Kantian Universalized Ethic. He said that any ethical principle only works if it works universally-- such as "Do not steal" only works if it is universally applied without exception. My example above is simply a point of fact: Not everyone can be on top. Not everyone can be above average. Not everyone can be the best. Simple mathematics: Not all the numbers can be One.
True freedom gives life to all, not just to self.
Using the Norm to Thwart
The Bible challenges human culture by using the forms of human culture and thwarting it to God’s purpose and ethics.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Theology and Ethics
“Dogmatics is ethics. Ethics is dogmatics.” –Karl Barth
Dogmatics is Barth's term for the basic teaching of the church-- that which we affirm and teach to others. What he clearly states is that ethics cannot be separated from the church's teaching. If we teach about God, we teach about what is right and wrong.
Dogmatics is Barth's term for the basic teaching of the church-- that which we affirm and teach to others. What he clearly states is that ethics cannot be separated from the church's teaching. If we teach about God, we teach about what is right and wrong.
How Far We Have Fallen!
No matter how debased humans have become, the foundational ethic of creation is still imbedded in the human psyche.
Jesus and Anawim
Jesus is very clearly on the side of the poor, which the wealthy might think of as a plot to immortalize strength, wealth and power.
However, Jesus didn’t object to power or wealth, but of their neglect of the anawim—the vulnerable. Wealth and power always neglect the vulnerable, the outcast by definition. If wealth and power didn’t neglect them, they would not be outcast. Jesus is about the creation of a society in which the only vulnerable are those who created the vulnerable.
However, Jesus didn’t object to power or wealth, but of their neglect of the anawim—the vulnerable. Wealth and power always neglect the vulnerable, the outcast by definition. If wealth and power didn’t neglect them, they would not be outcast. Jesus is about the creation of a society in which the only vulnerable are those who created the vulnerable.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Crazy Ethics
Jesus’ ethics are, without a doubt, based on selfishness. He encourages certain actions by promoting reward, blessing. wealth, and high office.
As Nietzsche paraphrases Jesus, “He who humbles himself wants exaltation.”
But Jesus makes it clear that he is not working toward success now, but in the future. And those he selects for all this sordid gain are those who are the poor, humble, sacrificial and merciful. So these that Jesus receives to be great in God’s kingdom are trained to be the kind of leaders and wealthy people the poor had always wished for. The kind that would rule with an eye to the needy—the kind of ruler the world has never had. So Jesus trains unselfishness through selfish motives.
Crazy like a fox, our anti-Machiavellian.
As Nietzsche paraphrases Jesus, “He who humbles himself wants exaltation.”
But Jesus makes it clear that he is not working toward success now, but in the future. And those he selects for all this sordid gain are those who are the poor, humble, sacrificial and merciful. So these that Jesus receives to be great in God’s kingdom are trained to be the kind of leaders and wealthy people the poor had always wished for. The kind that would rule with an eye to the needy—the kind of ruler the world has never had. So Jesus trains unselfishness through selfish motives.
Crazy like a fox, our anti-Machiavellian.
Tough Love
Abraham’s choice to sacrifice Isaac is the choice of his relationship to God above his relationship to Isaac. He was forced to choose between his fidelity to God and his fidelity to his fellow human. Thankfully, God had his own fidelity to Isaac—to humanity—so Abraham had every right to entrust the future of humanity to God. By faith, Abraham knew that entrusting all to God preserved his fidelity to humanity.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Law and Grace
The “law” is any ethic or principle of rule that is “required” for salvation apart from the life and teachings of Jesus. Should anyone call the life or teaching of Jesus a “law” apart from “grace” is a heretic and rejects the true life.
Government v. Church
The government is the representative of God’s judgment, as shown by the command “An eye for an eye.” The church is the representative of God’s grace, as shown by the command, “Repent and be forgiven.”
The church should not give way to the government, for the two entities are, in a sense, in competition for humans souls. Should the government surrender some of it’s punitive nature in order to offer mercy, well and good (but we do not expect it). However, the church must never surrender its grace and mercy to become punitive, for then the witness of Christ is lost to the world.
The church should not give way to the government, for the two entities are, in a sense, in competition for humans souls. Should the government surrender some of it’s punitive nature in order to offer mercy, well and good (but we do not expect it). However, the church must never surrender its grace and mercy to become punitive, for then the witness of Christ is lost to the world.
Was God's Original Plan Anarchy?
It was always God’s intention to have human leadership over humans—e.g. government. But not the heavy-handed style. Rather gentle and guiding, for we would all be considered the same.
“The individual interest and the common goal are not the same” –Aquinas
“The individual interest and the common goal are not the same” –Aquinas
Paradise Reexplained
It was never God’s plan that humanity would be sinless or perfect. Otherwise we would not have been created with anger—a response to injustice. Nor would Jesus have expected sin in his church. However, in God’s perfect creation, all sin would be corrected and rehabilitated, not punished.
Returning Evil for Evil
It is natural for us to do evil for evil done—however, in a world of evil, the Christian must be restrained in order for grace to be offered.
Grace allows us to live as we were created to. Grace allows us to grant grace to those who do not.
Grace allows us to live as we were created to. Grace allows us to grant grace to those who do not.
Why Are We Stuck Sinning?
Why are we in the predicament of doing evil?
1. The Fall
Whether literally or symbolically, individually or collectively, there has been a rejection of God’s leadership—both His structural leadership and His ethical leadership. God gave humanity sovereignty over themselves and creation and they chose to reject God’s direct rule and law and guidance.
2. Human Nature
Human nature was created to respond to difficulties, injustices, inadequacies and poverty. It also has specific drives and needs—physical, social, sexual, emotional, etc. It was not intended to be in a context without God’s rule and guidance and so missteps—mostly unintended—are made because of a wrong reaction to a context of lostness.
3. Judgment
Due to rebellion, humanity—both individually and collectively—are under the judgment of spiritual forces. Sometimes this judgment is due to specific sin, sometimes due to general rebellion. But disasters, attacks, diseases, etc, come because of general disobedience.
4. Ethical Lapses
Selfishness, narrow-mindedness and misunderstanding cause humanity to do evil or to refuse to do good, thus creating a cycle of evil.
1. The Fall
Whether literally or symbolically, individually or collectively, there has been a rejection of God’s leadership—both His structural leadership and His ethical leadership. God gave humanity sovereignty over themselves and creation and they chose to reject God’s direct rule and law and guidance.
2. Human Nature
Human nature was created to respond to difficulties, injustices, inadequacies and poverty. It also has specific drives and needs—physical, social, sexual, emotional, etc. It was not intended to be in a context without God’s rule and guidance and so missteps—mostly unintended—are made because of a wrong reaction to a context of lostness.
3. Judgment
Due to rebellion, humanity—both individually and collectively—are under the judgment of spiritual forces. Sometimes this judgment is due to specific sin, sometimes due to general rebellion. But disasters, attacks, diseases, etc, come because of general disobedience.
4. Ethical Lapses
Selfishness, narrow-mindedness and misunderstanding cause humanity to do evil or to refuse to do good, thus creating a cycle of evil.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Destructors of our Soul
What destroys ethical living:
Selfishness: Only seeing what is right and wrong to ourselves, not to anyone else
Narrow-mindedness: Only seeing right and wrong for a certain culture, nation, social group, etc.
Universality: Assuming rules of right and wrong must apply to everyone without taking into account cultures, lifestyle, differing ideals and abilities.
Misunderstanding human nature: Not comprehending the possibility of human evil or human sacrifice for the good of all.
Misunderstanding reality: Ethics is based on what we perceive to be real, but if we do not grasp reality, our ethics will be impaired.
Selfishness: Only seeing what is right and wrong to ourselves, not to anyone else
Narrow-mindedness: Only seeing right and wrong for a certain culture, nation, social group, etc.
Universality: Assuming rules of right and wrong must apply to everyone without taking into account cultures, lifestyle, differing ideals and abilities.
Misunderstanding human nature: Not comprehending the possibility of human evil or human sacrifice for the good of all.
Misunderstanding reality: Ethics is based on what we perceive to be real, but if we do not grasp reality, our ethics will be impaired.
Natural Ethics
We are created with ethics. It is built into us. We have an emotional response to an unethical situation—it is usually anger, but it could possibly be fear, sorrow, grief or loneliness.
For most of us, ethics is strictly emotional. “Right and wrong” is that which we innately sense is “right and wrong.” However, our emotional reasoning often leads us to an ethic that might seem fair to us but not to those around us.
For most of us, ethics is strictly emotional. “Right and wrong” is that which we innately sense is “right and wrong.” However, our emotional reasoning often leads us to an ethic that might seem fair to us but not to those around us.
Can We Do What Is Right?
Pelegius says that since perfection if possible it is obligatory. The issue here is not a matter of “works v. faith” or legalism v. grace. Rather we should recognize what is the ideal and then se the human individual as being complicated and tricky to maneuver. Living the right life is not only hard to know, but difficult to do, although it can get easier with practice (until your body changes with age).
Created Sexes
Augustine said that sexuality is not a defect, but is natural. Thus God, who established the two sexes will restore them in the resurrection. If the sexes are good, we have no right to reject or spread dissent about one or another. When faced with the mystifying actions of the other sex, we should marvel at God’s variety of creation.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Ethics of Leadership
Law must be as binding on our leaders as they are on everyone else. Nor should leaders be subjected to a law apart from the law of the people. The only exceptional law of the leader is: “To the fullest extent, do good to all.”
The Christian rule of leadership is that the leader is not to use his or her position to benefit oneself, but the community, especially the needy.
The Christian rule of leadership is that the leader is not to use his or her position to benefit oneself, but the community, especially the needy.
Society and Ethics
To live ethically is to live in society. To live in an artificially controlled society—one in which an ethic is forcefully maintained or one is exiled—is not to live a fully Christian ethic. The ethic of Jesus is meant to be lived among those who do not follow the ethic. It is an ethic that is all about dealing with sin and enmity and hatred and abuse. To refuse to deal with evil in the world, to escape from it, is to not be Christ-like.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)