rs3 definition of terms.christian morality

Definition of Terms

Chapter 1

Definition of Terms

By rational criterion, accepting a reality requires proportionate knowledge on its essential nature so that no misinterpretation will arise along the course of study.

The following are fundamental notions involved in the field of Christian Morality.

1. Christian: To distinguish from non-Christian beliefs such as Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim etc.

2. Theology (Theos and Logos) Science of/about God acquired through Divine Revelation.

Definition of Terms

3. Morality Mos, moris (Latin): custom. The quality of the goodness or the badness of an action.

4. Dogma Proportional truth authoritatively taught by the Church as revealed by God and binding on all members of the community. Doctrine taught with highest solemnity and immune from fundamental error.

Definition of Terms

5. Doctrine A belief officially taught by the Church. It accepts dissent from the faithful and theologians while Dogma is binding and remains within the communion of Catholic faith.

6. Christian Morality The science of what man ought to be by reason of what he/she is.

Christian Morality

• Science is a discipline with precision, order and system. Its articles are based on facts and theories which in the end are formulated to become laws. Hence, it is binding unlike opinions or hypothetical guesses which are subjectively fragile.

• Ought means what man will do, not according to his whims but as demanded by his nature. Walking, thinking, loving are oughts of man while flying and crawling, among others are accidental to man (man is still a man even he cannot fly/crawl).

Christian Morality• To be indicates a process from being what is present to a future

state of life. Therefore, man should progress (to be) in accordance with his nature (ought).

• By reason simply implies that this development is rational although without excluding emotion. The point is that reason governs man and emotions/feelings are subservient to the rule of reason but moderate reason (to avoid the extreme i.e., Idealism).

• What she/he is means the bedrock of moral progress is the ‘givens’ in man. Has potentials which if properly nourished will become actualized. Christian Morality is also known as Moral Theology, and Christian Ethics.

Christian Morality

Christian morality opens to us the truth of who we are and what and how we must do or act in order to achieve not only our cultural and moral perfection but also our eternal happiness which is our transcendent and supernatural end.

To live according to this truth lies our true fulfillment and happiness and we can only achieve this through actions that we consciously and freely do.

We live our life by fulfilling this task in responsible freedom. This truth, however, is many times ignored, neglected, and even

denied due to the misconception of what is really true and good.

Fulfillment, happiness, achievement or success is defined in terms of “having more” rather than “being more” (Gaudium et Spes no. 35) thus, sometimes we appreciate others not for what they are as persons but for what they have or what they can do for us.

Because of this misconception, we become “far removed from the objective demands of the moral order, from the requirements of justice, and even more of social love” (Redemptor Hominis, no. 16).

Non-Christian Morality

Influenced by the world of materialism, consumerism, and by some individualistic and relativistic philosophical and psychological theories we become confused with who we truly are, with what is truly good, and with what can truly give genuine happiness and fulfillment.


The following are non- Christian morality which many times influence our choices, decisions,

and actions as Christians.


1. Hedonism The rightness or wrongness of an action is based on whatever pleasurable. “What gives pleasure is good” is the underlying creed of the hedonist (from Zeno of Elea).


• 2. Materialism Material things are the cause and reason for happiness. Morality is grounded in the availability and usability of the material world. What counts most are the material things (Marx, Horkheimer, Althusser).


3. Pragmatism Whatever is workable is good. Hence, that which is not feasible is not morally good. (William James)


4. Utilitarianism Whatever is useful is good. The goodness or badness of an action is based on the usefulness of things. (John Dewey)


5. Positivism To be authentically good, testability is the best criterion. (E. Durkheim) This is a ‘trial and error’ approach employed in social science and now translated in the field of moral theology


6. Ethical Relativism Morality is according to what you believe. What is good for me may be bad for you and vice-versa. The rugged effect of this thinking is subjectivism wherein the subject becomes the basis of what is right and wrong. There is no more objective norm. The subject becomes the objective, Hence, an ecclectic – anarchist moral rule.


The person is the SUBJECT OF MORALITY but there is such thing as OBJECTIVE norm such as

the Decalogue (Ex.20:1-17, Deut.5:1-21) and the Beatitude (Mt.5:1-11, Lk.6:20-26) which standard norms for all to proportionate their actions.

St. Paul explicates the objectivity of morality in his epistle to the Romans, “every person be subordinate to the authorities, for there is no authority except from God” (Rm.13:1).

Assignment / ACTIVITY : The ADS of Today’s WorldInstructions:Cite one (1) advertisement from magazines or newspapers that promotes negative

values or the non-Christian moralities.Paste it inside the box below.Identify what particular non-Christian morality it promotes. Re-write the content or the message or the dialogue of the advertisement by

promoting or advocating Christian values or virtues. You may even change the name of the product it endorses.

The teacher may ask you to share this assignment to the whole class before its submission.

Itpromotes___________________________________________________ My own ADS (Dialogue/Message):_________________________________

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rs3 definition of terms.christian morality

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