 NON CHRISTIAN PEOPLE CAN HAVE GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AND PERFORM VIRTUOUS ACTS WITHOUT ANY FAITH IN GOD. BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL LAW  RAHNER CALLED THESE PEOPLE “ ANONYMOUS CHRISTIANS. ”

1. THE BELIEF THAT GOD HAS INSTILLED IN HUMANITY A MORAL SENSE THAT WILL GUIDE THEM TO DO GOOD AND AVOID EVIL. 1. Basic human instinct 2. Base for virtue 3. 1 Thess. 5:21 2. THROUGH THE OBSERVATION OF NATURE HUMANITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL WHAT IS GOOD VS. WHAT IS EVIL.

1. Aristotle and natural virtues (generosity, temperance, fortitude, justice, prudence etc … ) 1. Given to humanity but guided by practical/good reason. 2. Through observation what can be deduced … Natural virtues are only concerned with the earthly existence of the human person and should lead to earthly happiness or achieve an earthly goal. Ex. Eye see, seeds

Our end is not earthly happiness but eternal happiness that is our communion with God. 1 Corinthians 13:13 – Faith, Hope, and Charity (love) All ordered to God. Allow people to live in relationship with the Holy Spirit.

 Natural virtues unite us to the divine will.  Natural virtues received through the natural law is united to the eternal law, which achieved perfection through the theological virtues.

1. GIVEN THROUGH GOD ’ S GRACE AND WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT IT. 2. THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES PREPARE US FOR DIVINE LIFE

1. HEBREWS 11:1 2. BEGINNING OF OUR JOURNEY TO GOD. 3. MAN FREELY COMMITS HIS ENTIRE SELF TO GOD - THROUGH OUR WILL AND INTELLECT WE CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IN GOD.

1. SURRENDER INTO MYSTERY. 2. FAITH REQUIRES WORKS – OUR FAITH SHOULD MOTIVATE OUR ACTIONS. 3. Beginning of our journey to union with God.

1. FOCUSES OUR MINDS ON HEAVENLY THINGS. 2. WE DESIRE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND ETERNAL LIFE AS OUR HAPPINESS.

1. KEEPS MAN FROM DISCOURAGEMENT AND SUSTAINS HIM DURING TIMES OF ABANDONEMENT. 2. AFFORDS JOY EVEN UNDER TRIAL. 3. THE PROMISES OF GOD TAKES HOLD OF OUR HEARTS AND MOTIVATES OUR ACTIONS.

1. CALLS US INTO RELATIONSHIP 1 COR.2:9 2. LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS FOR HIS OWN SAKE. LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. 3. HOW PEOPLE WOULD RECOGNIZE US AS BELIEVERS – JN. 15:9, 12(THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU)

1. GREATEST OF THE THREE VIRTUES AND GREATEST GIFT THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN GIVE US. 1 COR.13:13 2. CHARITY PERFECTS OUR HUMAN ABILITY TO LOVE.

1. CHARITY PURIFIES AND PERFECTS ALL THE OTHER AND NATURAL VIRTUES. 2. GOAL OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

 THE POWER TO ACT OR NOT TO ACT, TO DO THIS OR THAT  UNLIKE ANIMALS, HUMANS ARE NOT RULED BY APPETITES; HUMANS HAVE THE POWER TO RISE ABOVE THEIR APPETITES.

 ISAAC NEWTON  THE IDEA THAT HUMAN ACTIONS ARE DICTATED BY AND CAN BE PREDICTED FROM THE LAWS OF NATURE.

 WHEN LOOKING AT THE NATURAL WORLD HE NOTICED THAT IT RAN LIKE A MACHINE.  GOD HAS A MINIMAL ROLE IN SOCIETY.

 THE MOTION OF MOST THINGS WERE DETERMINED BY THE LAWS OF NATURE.  MOST THINGS WERE NOT FREE, BUT RATHER PUSHED AND PULLED FROM ONE DIRECTION TO ANOTHER.

 HUMANS ARE NOT TRULY FREE; THEIR ACTIONS CAN BE PREDICTED. WE ARE CAUSE AND EFFECT BEINGS, AND BY OBSERVING THE INNER WORKING AND EXTERIOR INFLUENCES ONE CAN PREDICT THE ACTIONS OF THE HUMAN PERSON  HUMANITY IS NOT IN CONTROL OF THEIR ACTIONS; WE ARE THE SUM OF OUR EXPERIENCES.

 CANNOT BLAME OR PRAISE OTHERS BECAUSE WE ARE THE SUM OF OUR EXPERIENCES.  HUMAN SHORTCOMINGS AND ANNOYANCES ARE NOT THE FAULT OF THE HUMAN PERSON BUT ARE A RESULT OF A SOCIETY THAT WAS FORMED BEFORE THE BIRTH OF THAT PERSON.

 HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT FREE TO ACT AS THEY WANT BUT THEY ARE CONDITIONED TO RESPOND IN A CERTAIN MANNER.

PAVLOVS DOG  PAVLOV CONCLUDED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO PAIR A NEUTRAL STIMULUS WITH AN EXCITATORY ONE AND HAVE THE NEUTRAL STIMULUS EVENTUALLY ELICIT THE RESPONSE THAT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ORIGINAL, UNLEARNED REFLEX. IN CLASSICAL CONDITIONING TERMINOLOGY, AN UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS IS AN EVENT THAT CAUSES A RESPONSE TO OCCUR, WHICH IS REFERRED TO AS THE UNCONDITIONED RESPONSE. AND, IN PAVLOV'S STUDY WITH DOGS, THE FOOD WITHIN THE DOG'S MOUTH IS THE STIMULUS, AND THE SALIVATION THAT RESULTS IS THE RESPONSE. PAVLOV TOOK A STEP FURTHER AND ADDED AN ELEMENT KNOWN AS THE NONEXCITATORY, CONDITIONED STIMULUS (THE RINGING BELL), WHICH IS PAIRED WITH THE STIMULUS.

 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING – A NATURAL REACTION IN A PERSON OR ANIMAL IS ELICITED BY AN UNNATURAL STIMULUS. SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT NORMALLY ELICIT THAT REACTION

 CONDITIONING APPLIED TO VOLUNTARY ACTIONS  OPERANT CONDITIONING – VOLUNTARY ACTIONS OF AN ANIMAL OR A HUMAN ARE MANIPULATED OR DICTATED BY A SYSTEM OF REWARDS OR PUNISHMENTS.

 Skinner Box  It contains one or more levers which an animal can press, one or more stimulus lights and one or more places in which reinforcers like food can be delivered.

 Culpability can lessen dependant on psychological or social factors.  Aristotle – “It makes no small difference, then, whether we form habits of one kind or another from our very youth; it makes a very great difference, or rather all the difference.”

 When arguing a specific point, a persons statement of belief will not be practically lived out.  Regardless of what a person says they believe, their action would show that he did not truly believe the position for which he was arguing. Ex. Tests, God A person who believes in determinism, would not live it out.

 SIN IS A REALITY IN THE HUMAN PERSON Humans both spiritual and physical  SIN IS AN OFFENSE AGAINST GOD  SPIRITUAL DEATH, PHYSICAL DEATH

 AN ACTION AND A CONDITION 1. THE ORIGINAL DISOBEDIENCE OF ADAM AND EVE 2. CONCUPISCENCE  DISORDERED DESIRES  ATTRACTION TO SIN a. CONDITION THAT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN TO ALL OF HUMANITY

 FREELY CHOSEN SINS OF INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE.  Original Sin manifests itself most clearly in the sins of individual people.

 According to the virtues or goods the sin opposes. Adultery opposes temperance.  According to the commandments they violate. Forbidden by 6 th commandment.  According to whom they offend or concern Offends spouse, children, God, society (scandal)

 According to whether they are sins in thought, word, deed, or omission.  According to gravity. Mortal – 1.) Grave matter 2.) Full Knowledge 3.) Full Consent.

 SINS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN FORM POWERFUL INSTITUTIONS OR STRUCTURES OF EVIL. DRINKING UNDER AGE, EXPERIMENTATION WITH SEX, RIDICULING OTHERS

 INVINCIBLE IGNORANCE - ignorance is said to be invincible when a person is unable to rid himself of it.  VINCIBLE IGNORANCE - ignorance is termed vincible if it can be dispelled by the use of "moral diligence".

 INTERNAL VOICE THAT TELLS US WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG.  MOVES US TO SEEK TO KNOW AND DO GOOD AND AVOID EVIL.

 ID - PRIMITIVE DESIRES, HUNGERS  SUPEREGO – INTERNAL PARENT, TELLS YOU HOW TO ACT, PROHIBITS YOU FROM CERTAIN ACTIONS. GOOD BECAUSE IT CAN BRING YOU TO BECOMING A HEALTHY HUMAN BEING. BECOME BAD IF IT BECOMES A TYRANNICAL SUPER- EGO. CAN HURT THE AUTONOMY OF A PERSON, OVERWHELMING SENSE OF UNWORTHINESS  EGO – BALANCES THE TWO. THE EGO MEDIATES AMONG THE ID, THE SUPER-EGO AND THE EXTERNAL WORLD.

1. LEAD US TO DO GOOD AND AVOID EVIL. 2. SEEKING TO SEE TRULY AND THINK HONESTLY SEEKING HONEST AND MORALLY RIGHT DECISIONS FOR ETHICAL SITUATIONS FROM MORALLY CORRECT SOURCES(HELP HUMAN COMMUNITY AND HONOR GOD.) DIFFERENT FROM SUPEREGO IN EFFORT TO FIND THE TRUTH OF A SITUATION DESPITE WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD OR THE FLOW OF THE MASSES.

 REACH A DECISION THAT SAYS “THIS IS WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO DO.” THIS IS WHAT GOD WANTS FROM ME SO THIS IS THE RIGHT DECISION. SOME DECISIONS CAN BE PERSONALIZED.

 WHAT OUGHT I DO?  WHAT SORT OF PERSON OUGHT I BECOME?

 Object – what you have chosen to do. Concrete physical action. Can be more than one object.  Intention – why you have chosen to do the object in question. It is possible to have more than one intention or motive.  Object and Intention make up the core of human action.

 CIRCUMSTANCES – THINGS THAT EFFECT THE PERSON PERFORMING AN ACTION OR THE ACTION ITSELF. The situation or surroundings of a person.  Ex. Age, Economic Status, Psychological state. Circumstances can change.

 Both object and intention must be good for an action to be good as a whole.  An evil action cannot be good due to a good intention. Ex. A person aids his wife in committing suicide to help her out of her painful disease. Ex. A couple who isn ’ t married has sex because they are in love with each other.  A good act can be corrupted by a bad intention. Ex. A person helps an old woman in order to get praised by other people.

 CIRCUMSTANCES OF AN ACT CAN EFFECT THE CULPABILITY OF A PERSON AND THE LEVEL OF MORAL GOODNESS OR EVIL OF AN ACTION. Ex. A 16 year old girl from a poor area having an abortion vs. A 35 year old lawyer having an abortion. Ex. A teacher who does something immoral vs. A student who acts immorally.

 CIRCUMSTANCES CANNOT CHANGE AN INHERENTLY IMMORAL OBJECT INTO A GOOD ONE. Ex. Abortion is wrong despite of circumstances. Ex. Sex before marriage is always wrong.

 CERTAIN INSTANCES WHERE INTENTION AND OBJECT CAN BE GOOD BUT CIRCUMSTANCES MAKE AN ACTION AS A WHOLE INAPPROPRIATE. EX. DISCUSSION OF PROBLEMS IN A RELATIONSHIP IN FRONT OF CHILDREN.

 Guideline to happiness  Two wellsprings of Divine Revelation.

 The Bible reveals: What God has done for humankind What God is doing for human kind What God will do for humankind As well as what He expects humans to do to make his efforts on their behalf fruitful  Christians believe that Scripture is the story of God’s loving relationship with humanity. Scripture presents a consistent message of God’s love and will for humanity. Scripture shows the formation of God’s family from creation to Christ to revelation.

GOD GRADUALLY UNVEILS HIS ULTIMATE PLAN BUT GIVES US CERTAIN GLIMPSES TO THE END. NEW TESTAMENT IS CONCEALED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT – OLD TESTAMENT IS REVEALED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT – BOTH ARE NECESSARY.

 CHRISTIANS ALSO BELIEVE THAT GOD HAD A HAND IN THE WRITING OF THE SCRIPTURE.  DIVINE INSPIRATION(GOD BREATHED) – 2 TIMOTHY 3:16 - GOD ’ S DIVINE GUIDANCE IN THE WRITING OF THE SCRIPTURES. THE DIVINELY REVEALED REALITIES, WHICH ARE CONTAINED AND PRESENTED IN THE TEXT OF SACRED SCRIPTURE, HAVE BEEN WRITTEN DOWN UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 GOD INSPIRED THE HUMAN AUTHORS OF THE SACRED BOOKS. TO COMPOSE THE SACRED BOOKS, GOD CHOSE CERTAIN MEN WHO, WHILE HE EMPLOYED THEM IN THIS TASK, MADE FULL USE OF THEIR OWN FACULTIES AND POWERS SO THAT, THOUGH HE ACTED IN THEM AND BY THEM, IT WAS AS TRUE AUTHORS THAT THEY WROTE WHATEVER HE WANTED WRITTEN, AND NO MORE. THE HUMAN WRITERS WERE "TRUE AUTHORS" OF SCRIPTURE AND SO WAS GOD.

 FROM DEI VERBUM (WORD OF GOD) – Books of Scripture firmly, faithfully, and without error teach that truth which God, for the sake of our salvation, wished to reveal.

 Interpretation of the Mystery of revelation.  Fallible on the level of cultural limitations.  Infallible on the level of God’s desired teachings for the world. Spiritual and moral matters. Bible is what it purports to be.  No uniform criterion for the scriptures and interpreting its truthfulness.

““ SOLA SCRIPTURA ” – SCRIPTURE ALONE NNO OTHER SOURCES OF THEOLOGICAL OR ETHICAL WISDOM. SSCRIPTURE IS THE SOLE SOURCE OF REVELATION. SSCRIPTURE ALONE IS THE GUIDELINE FOR ITS INTERPRETATION.

““SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION ” – RELIGION OF THE WORD OF GOD. JJESUS CHRIST IS THE WORD WWELL WITH TWO STREAMS THAT MAKE UP THE WORD OF GOD. SSACRED TRADITION IS USED BY THE CHURCH TO INTERPRET SACRED SCRIPTURE. SSACRED TRADITION GUARANTEES THE INTERPRETATION OF THE SCRIPTURES INTO CORRECT DOCTRINE AND CREEDS. SSACRED TRADITION IS SEEN IN LITURGY. IINTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE INTO MORAL RULES IS DONE BY THE MAGISTERIUM.

 Natural Law aids our understanding of Scripture – Scripture is not a proof text for or against natural law.

 Different weight should be given to different scriptures.  Gospel accounts are the pinnacle of the scripture. Christ is the lens for interpreting scripture. Elements of the Old Testament that are irreconcilable with Jesus’ message are imperfect or provisional.

 Deuteronomy 24:1 - If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house.  Matthew 19:6 – 8 - So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. Why then, they asked, did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away? Jesus replied, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

 Our understanding of God and His movements have changed.

 EXEGETICAL TASK – DETERMINE THE ORIGINAL MEANING OF A PARTICULAR TEXT. LOOK AT LANGUAGE, HISTORICAL SETTING, DESIGNATED AUDIENCES(EG. GOSPELS – MATTHEW VS. MARK), CIRCUMSTANCES.  CAN CHANGE THE LIGHT OF A PASSAGE.  Letters of Paul – soon returning Christ

 Luke 12:25-6 Great crowds were travelling with him, and he turned and addressed them, “ If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple”. One is called to such “hatred” of one’s kin to the extent only that such persons would be opposed to Jesus; the choice that the disciple has to make is between natural affection for kin and allegiance to Jesus.

MMETHODOLOGICAL TASK – TAKES A STORY OR PARABLE THAT ENGAGES THE INTELLECT AND DETERMINES IF A PARTICULAR PASSAGE IS TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY, AS AN EXPLICIT MORAL RULE, OR IN SOME OTHER WAY, INTENDED TO MOTIVATE AN AUDIENCE.

 MARK 9:43 - If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

 CHRISTOCENTRIC PRINCIPLE – CHRIST SHOULD BE THE LENS THROUGH WHICH THE WHOLE OF THE BIBLE IS VIEWED AND UNDERSTOOD.  JESUS ’ TEACHING SUPERSEDES OTHER SCRIPTURES.

Matthew 5:38 – 40 YYou have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

HHermeneutical Task – Attempt to understand what the scriptures have to say about contemporary ethical issues.

1 Corinthians 6:9  Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders

 The Theological Task Combine the Biblical message with other sources of moral wisdom.  Prayer  Guidance and example of virtuous people  Parents  Teachers  Friends  The Natural Law  Lives of the Saints and Holy Martyrs  The Church through the teachings of the Magisterium

Guarantees faith through Tradition Tradition  Christ message passed down through oral tradition.  Organized into the New Testament.  Christian Community’s official leaders interpreted the scriptures.  Modern day Christian leaders interpretes Christ’s message for the modern day situations.

 Church Magisterium has the authority to interpret and teach in Jesus’ name on contemporary issues. Eg. Abortion, Stem Cell Research  Magisterium gives an understanding of God’s word that cannot be achieved by ourselves.

 If you choose what you will believe and what you won’t believe from the scriptures, it is not the scriptures that you believe in but yourself.  Goal of a religion is to stretch and challenge a person.

 Our original understanding of the scriptures come from the early Christian community.  Jesus designated authority to teach in his name to His Apostles.

Matthew 16  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Matthew 16  Simon to Peter (Petros –Rock, Solomonic Temple)  Keys to Kingdom Isaiah 22:22 – Prime Minister Davidic – Governing of God’s Kingdom – 2 Samual 7(Bayith)  Bind and Loose

Matthew 18:18  Power to Bind and Loose given to all Apostles (Bishops through Apostolic Succession.) Matthew 28:18 – 20  Great Commission – Make disciples of all nations…

 Combination of weighing the moral issues and authority given by Christ.  Error free on dogma.  Magisterium teachings could be infallible or “provisional.” Ex. Some teachings are made to the best of the ability of the magisterium. Faith is living and evolving – Holy Spirit.

 Jesus protects the integrity of the message.  Integrity of the message is independent of the personal mistakes of believers.

 On the level of non-infallible teachings the faithful are given the ability/license to follow their own conscience.  Must have necessary theological expertise to deviate from church teaching, and weariness of arrogance.

 Catholic Church uses natural law in discussing unforeseen ethical dilemmas. Use of reason is God given and is able to correctly guide us through moral situations. Through rational reflection on human experience, people can learn about their own nature and discover Gods plan for creation. Natural Law enhances ethical dialogue between Christians and non Christians.

 The idea that natural things are to be preferred to man-made ones. (“Back to Nature”)  About comparing the traits that humans share with other creatures in nature. (“the birds and the bees”)  The idea that activities that regularly occur in human affairs are therefore natural (i.e., OK) (“It’s only natural for a person to... “)  The idea that behaviors that flow from natural inclinations are therefore OK. (“If it’s involuntary, then it’s natural”)