Alternatives within Christian Ethics

Roman CatholicBegin with philosophyVatican Council II, 1962-1965Morality based on law: divine, natural, humanObjective right and wrongDouble effect to resolve conflicts: nature of act is good good effect be intended (evil is indirect) simultaneous proportionality

(cont’d.)Other methods: hierarchy of values;

prima facie claimsFaith affects vision and motive, but not

content. Morality is the same forall people.

Protestant approaches– Begin with Bible– Ethical Center Reinhold Niebuhr: “impossible

possibility”Sacrificial love

Paul Ramsey; Christocentric Ethics.Obedience to Jesus

(cont’d.)– Situation Ethics Joseph Fletcher. Love is only absolute Four working principles: pragmatism relativism positivism personalism Paul Lehman. Matter of faith rather of

ethics

(cont’d.)

– Absolutist Ethics

Robertson McQuilkin. Bible has all the answers

We need only to search the Scriptures No need for Philosophy or Science

(cont’d.)

– Evangelical Ethics

Lewis Smedes. Mere Morality. Morality is universal

God’s demands apply to all, even tononbelievers

Ten Commandments = starting point “direct commands” vs. “abiding laws”

(cont’d.)

Justice and Love “Respect” for values Focus on commands, not on

exceptions

(cont’d.)– Theocentric Ethics

James Gustafson Eight central emphases:

1. humankind is not central in creation2. human life and rest of creation are

interdependent3. moral thinking vs. judging over natural impulses4. piety as natural response

(cont’d.)5. everything described within larger whole

context6. concern for common good is essential7. awareness of moral ambiguity in life8. strong emphasis on self-denial and self-sacrifice

Powerful sense of the “Other,”piety, order (God’s purposes)

Liberation Ethics

– Begin with the experience of the poor and oppressed

Commit oneself to liberation Read Bible texts that speak of

Liberation(especially Exodus)

(cont’d.)

– African-American Themes

James Cone: denounces evils, sees them in

“white church.” “Blackness of Jesus” J. Deotis Roberts: ignores “white

church,” emphasizes what black churches have

done and ought to do

(cont’d.)

– Feminist Themes

reaction against patriarchal order of society, and of the church

want a renewed vision of the community

“womanist” – term used by black women

Julian of Norwich – “motherhood of Jesus”