christian principles what are principles? ideal values which are good in themselves basic ideals on...
TRANSCRIPT
Christian Principles
What are principles?
•ideal values which are good in themselves
•basic ideals on which we should shape our moral decision making
•Christian principles are based on...onatural lawoTen Commandmentso teachings of Jesus
Making Principled Choices
• standards by which you judge whether certain decisions or actions are morally good or bad
• reflect and influence what is most important in your life
How do you apply your principlesAnswer these questions:•How do the principles involved apply to my available alternatives?
•Does each choice uphold or violate my principles?
•Will each choice protect or unjustifiably harm people?
Choose your principles carefully...
• they are the foundations for your decisions in your life
• stand by your principles and follow them faithfully
Christian Moral Principles
•Jesus didn't give his followers specific rules or instructions
•taught us basic principles to guide us
•they have become ideals throughout the world
Make a List of the Things You Value
Spiritual Values Come First
•more important than material values
•source of peace and happiness
•place people before money, success, power, schedules
What does Jesus say is the most important moral principle?
•love of God, love of others•most important principle in Christian moral conduct
•put people first in decision making--oabove structures, institutions, rules, laws, material success, possessions, schedules, time
oLive our love
Make a list of all the things you think human beings should be entitled to…
•Look at the list from the United Nations
•How many of these things did you assume were there without being given as rights.
Respect for Human Dignity•respect for each person's dignity
and basic rights•cruelty, torture, and depriving peple
of life's essentials are unacceptable•God given rights that are essential
to being fully human•we all must do our part to respect
human rights•best way to respect rights and
human dignity of others is to live as Jesus taught us
Equality and Justice
•Flow from concern for human welfare and entitle everyone to fair treatment
•treating others the way we like to be treated
•protect rights as we would like our rights to be safeguarded
•Have a responsibility to be concerned about other's well being
Honesty
•depend on one another's integrity•trust and truthfulness are
necessary for social relationships•society prohibits lying--we have a
legal obligation to tell the truth•there is a high cost to dishonesty•must work to repair wrongs
committed
Is it ever ok to lie?• Lying is speaking or acting in an untruthful
way with the intention of deceit• sometimes we might have sufficient reason to
not divulge the trutho someone's safety or common welfare-
legitimate respect for privacyo no one should ever reveal private or
prejudicial information• entitled to truth and should have access to it• sometimes telling the truth is necessary even
if it means someone will be hurt or upseto must say it in a kind wayo not inconsiderate, imprudent, irresponsible,
or unkind
Why do people lie?
What's so wrong about lying?
•violates the purpose of speech•Dishonesty offends against God•Breach of love•trust is necessary for love and happiness
•without trust close relationships are impossible
Compassion
•try to understand and empathize with others in their troubles
•essential human and Christian principle
Mercy• compassion and forgiveness in action• never punishes for the sake of punishing• punishment should always be in proportion
to the seriousness of the offense• four main legitimate purposes of
punishment areo to remedy, where possible, the harm
causedo to seek pardon for the offense doneo to preserve the necessary order of safetyo to help reform the offender
Is Capital Punishment moral?
3 Parts of an Action
Intention:
Circumstances:Who:What:When: Where:How:
End:
Reasons for opposing the death penalty
•The death penalty does not rehabilitateono chance for rehabilitationo there's always a chance someone could be innocent
•The death penalty does not deter crimeodoes not stop other crimesoviolent crimes are often of result of passion with no thought given to punishment
•Revenge is Unchristianoviolates justice
often poverty and racism seem to be a greater cause for the death penalty
oshould not punish the guilty by injuring them
•There are better ways to combat violenceoviolence does not stop violence
We must always respect human life