- Churches: Cross shape (Death and Resurrection of Jesus), Steeple pointing to sky, altar, pulpit etc.
- Private and Communal Worship
- Hymns, Bible Reading, Sermons
- Prayer (incl. Lord’s Prayer) Supplication, Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving
- Holy Communion / Mass / Eucharist (Bread and Wine)
- Symbols
- Music, Decoration and Art
Good and Evil
- Moral Evil – Caused by people
- Natural Evil - God? /Devil?
- Problem of Evil and Theodicies
- Devil
- Augustine: Evil caused by absence of god in world and hearts/Original Sin
- Irenaeus: Suffering is Soul-making, creates and tests Virtues needed for Heaven
- Suffering created by: Original Sin, Devil, Free-will, Absence of God, Used to differentiate between pleasure/good, Psychological problems, Punishment
- People are able to tell good from evil using: conscience, bible, parables, the ten commandments
Religion in Human Relationships
- Ideally marriage for life, ceremony, wedding vows (bible based), agreements. Marriage is a sacrament, sign of holiness.
- Genesis, fall of man (because of woman?), creation of woman, women in bible,
- Divorce vs. Annulments
- Promiscuity, Contraception, Same Gender Relationships, Body as Temple of Holy Spirit, free will,
- God created woman out of man (An implied dependency, weakness?)
- Monogamy and Fidelity
Religion and Medical Ethics
- Sanctity of Life (Body as Temple), Ensoulment, Breath of Life, God knows us before we are in the womb, Quality of Life, Right to Life
- Abortions
- Fertility treatments (IVF), playing God/God wish, Spare embryos
- Euthanasia (Active e.g. pills vs. Passive e.g. switching off machine)
- Suicide
- Animal Research,3 R’s Replace Reduce Refine, Genesis: Stewardship
- Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice
- “Playing God” and Natural Moral Law
Religion and Equality
- New Testament: Female Prophets.
- Women as Priests, Catholics believe Priest represents Christ.
- Mary Magdalene
- Love thy neighbour and love all. The Good Samaritan parable
- Liberation Theology, Jesus seen as a Liberator
- Evangelical Beliefs: Share Christianity
- Copy forgiving nature of God, the Lord’s Prayer
- Ecumenical movement: all denominations working together
- Exclusivist: Only Christians go to heaven, Fundamentalist,
- Pluralist: God is truth and truth is individual, Liberal,
- Inclusivist: “Anonymous Christians” Conservatives, Evangelicals,
Religion, Poverty and Capital Wealth
- Parable of the Good Samaritan
- Saint Francis of Assisi, Poor are better off than the rich
- Charities: Cafod, the Salvation Army, Christian Aid, Tearfund
- Love Thy Neighbour
- Correct use of money
- Monks and Nuns vows of Poverty
- Amos in Old Testament supported the fair treatment of Poor
- James in New Testament condemns Favouritism and sees it as a devaluation of Christ’s death. Story: Making poor sit on floor while giving preference to rich.
- Jesus gives more preference to the donations of the poor than that of the rich Luke New Testament. Jesus is the “good new to the poor.”
Religion, Peace and Justice
- God sees everyone as equal
- "See that justice prevails in the courts."Amos shows God wants the legal system to be fair and not biased to the rich.
- Against social injustice, Old Testament: treat aliens “as yourself”
- Just War Theory, Thomas Aquinas. Last Resort, Right Intent, Pacifism
- Conscientious Objectors – object to war but may still help: doctors
- Do not kill vs. Do not murder in Commandments
- Righteous anger
- Punishment: Deterrent, Reform, Protection, Retribution
- Amnesty International
- Liberation Theology: Speaking out against social injustice
- Repentance and Reconciliation
Fundamentalist vs. Conservative vs. Liberal
Situation Ethics > Doing the most loving thing in a situation > Utilitarian
Agape > Compassion
Absolutism vs. Relativism
Intrinsic Value vs. Instrumental Value
