What is Morality?What is Morality?What is Morality?What is Morality?

Five Levels of Understanding Five Levels of Understanding MoralityMorality

1. AS LAW• Something that we have to follow

and if you do not follow, then there is a violation, i. e. TEN COMMANDMENTS

• Talks about norms and standards

• A static understanding of morality

• The opposite or the extreme would lead to LEGALISM

2. AS INNER CONVICTION

• Something that has to do with one’s understanding of his/her beliefs

• Building up the self

• A personal understanding of morality

• The opposite or the extreme would lead to SITUATIONISM

3. AS LOVE• Morality is something that is

relational

• Loving the other, God and self

• This understanding of morality is an approximation of how we Christians understand morality

• The opposite or extreme would lead to EMOTIONALISM

4. AS PERSONAL GROWTH

• Something that has to do with one’s personhood

• The opposite or extreme would lead to PERSONALISM

AS SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

• Morality as bringing about changes in society

• Something that has to do with socialconditions

• This understanding speaks about Liberation Theology

• The opposite or extreme would lead to ACTIVISM

What then is Morality?• Morality, therefore is something

that has to do with CO-EXISTENCE

• Presupposes acceptance and understanding of what it means to be human

• Living with others

• Concern for the other

Co-Existence presupposes:

• Freedom• Faith• Salvation• Dignity of the human person

Ask yourself this question:

• Could I look at my neighbor straight in the eye and say:

HOW TRULY HAVE I NOT HURT YOU?

Reflection for Understanding Morality• Some people define morality as

right conduct• Some define it as conformity to law• The dictionary defines it as “the

quantity of that which conforms to right ideals or principles of human conduct”

WE, Filipinos consider morality as an essential element of our

religion

• Morality in the Christian perspective is the morality of a believer and a listener. It presupposes a God who speaks and a God, who in creating us, has called us into an unending dialogue with Himself.

• Morality is thus a matter of response, not to a law but to a person.

“Speak Lord, your servant is listening” is the prayer of a moral person.

• Therefore Christianity is an ethical religion in the sense that it recognizes no separation between the service of God and moral conduct.

• Thus, these are the 2 inseparable aspects of Christianity:

• The religious aspect (service or love of God)

• The moral aspect (moral conduct or love of neighbor)

Please take note:• It is important to remember that

the avoidance of hell must not be one’s motivation in living a moral life.

• Is should rather be, the realization of the Kingdom of God.

Assignment• Read and interpret the message of

the following biblical passages:• Mark 1:15 Mark 10: 42-45• Isaiah 54: 1-8 Exodus 23: 23-

31• Deut 7: 9; 11: 13-17; 30: 15-20