Making Moral Decisions Chapter 2

Human dignity Dignity is inherent – it is not something earned -- by the virtue that we were created in the divine image of God and called to eternal life with Him. Our sinfulness and lack of talent, possession, or productivity does not lessen our dignity. Our dignity comes from a loving God who created us and sent His Son to die for us. Jesus died on the Cross for every human person that existed, exists, and will exist. Human dignity means everyone is someone, not something.

God is the creator God’s greatness and goodness can be seen in His gift of creation. Starting point of morality  admitting that we are creatures

Human’s Place In Creation Humans are called to be stewards of God’s creation. We fail in this responsibility when we do not care for one another and for the earth. Humans are created to know, love, and serve God in this life and in the next.

God makes us in his divine image God created us in His divine image – meaning, God has endowed us with godlike qualities – to think, choose, love, and relate to others. These qualities enable us to share in God’s own life. Because we were created in God’s image, we possess dignity, value, and worth.

OUR SPIRITUAL NATURE Human beings is a composite of body and soul. The human soul is immortal. The soul gives us the ability to think, have free-will, to love, to respond, and to grow. Ability to think Free-will Ability to love Responsible beings Capacity to grow

Warm-up Discussion Is it ok to get drunk if you’re not going to be driving? Is it ok to cheat on a test if everyone else is doing it? Is it ok to lie to a parent if you know your parent sometimes lies, too? Is it ok to shoplift something that costs less than $5.00?

Right Reason In Action It takes hard work to search for truth or know what is right, and act on it. Prudence – the virtue that helps us make correct judgments about right and wrong, and choose the right means to do it.

Four major steps in moral decision making -- STOP Search out the facts Think about alternatives and consequences Others –consult them and consider how your actions will affect them. Pray to the Lord for guidance

Search Out the Facts Making an informed decision is about knowing the moral object (what), intention or motive (why), and the circumstances (who, where, when, how).

Moral Object (What?) What – is what we’re going to do directed to a true good or harmful or destructive to who I am and others as God’s children? It’s the objective dimension of morality. The Ten Commandments and Scriptures can give us an objective guideline. Some actions are always wrong no matter what – murder of an innocent, direct abortion, adultery, stealing, bearing false witness etc.

Intention or Motive (Why?) Why – what is your purpose or reason for doing something? It is the subjective dimension of morality. To intend something is will something. Our legal system recognizes intention (ex. 1st and 2nd degree manslaughter).

Two rules for governing intentions Keep the intention good. Bad intention can contaminate what appears to be good, thereby making it wrong. Jesus insisted on good intentions for all of our actions (ex. giving money to the temple, fasting) The end does not justify the means. Good intentions do not make an act good if the means I use are evil. Example – cheating to get good grades, lie to help someone get a good job, medical experiments on non-consenting people to find a cure. Violation of this act can lead a breakdown of society. Example – direct abortion is always morally evil even if one intends good results.

Circumstances (Who, When, Where, How?) Circumstances can increase or decrease the goodness or evil of an action ex. stealing $1 from a poor person vs. a millionaire – theft is still wrong, but not as bad. Circumstances can diminish a person’s responsibility for a particular action ex. someone who decides who have an abortion vs. someone who was forced Circumstances sometimes can make no difference in the morality of the case ex. stealing an iPod from a relative or a stranger; yelling the word “fire” at a movie theater ex. cheating using a cheat sheet or copying off someone

Alternatives and Consequences Looking at a moral problem involves looking at it from different vantage points. Two rules: Do only those things that are morally acceptable Always prioritize persons as one created in the image and likeness of God

Others Our actions can impact others Let your formed conscience be your guide Our actions need to mean what they want them to mean – “walk the walk” Consult others who are wiser and can help you make a decision  “To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.”

Prayer We pray for the strength to follow and accept God’s will