Christian Ethics Situation Ethics Christians use a number of different ways to support them in making difficult moral and ethical choices in life. In the 1960’s Joseph Fletcher and other thinkers thought that the way Christians thought about ethics needed updating – this is how Situation Ethics was developed

How do Christians make moral choices? Traditional sources of moral authority for Christians: Bible: to a literalist it is the word of God. Absolutist Bible: to a liberalist it may be fallible as written by humans. Can be interpreted and useful in modern times Relativist Church – Priests given authority to guide using words of God. Absolutist Conscience – God gave humans a conscience. Relativist Reason and Natural Law – there’s a natural law that is God-given. Blessed with reason to understand this natural law. Absolutist

Paragraph on Divine Command Theory and out moral choices St Augustine Paragraph on Bible Authority in making moral choices Luther Paragraph on the Authority of the conscience to help us make moral choices St Aquinas Task: Research each area and write a paragraph to explain what Christians think about each Stretch: Try to include the thinker (in red) Challenge: Try to evaluate a possible problem with each (A02)

Relative Teleological Subjective Consequential ' THE MORALITY OF AN ACTION DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION.' Teleological Subjective

Situation Ethics Key Thinker: Joseph Fletcher was an American Christian priest (1905-1991) He renounced his faith in later life and became an atheist. His book ‘Situation Ethics’ was published in 1966. Fletcher thought that the traditional ways that Christianity had made moral choices was too absolute and out of touch with modern society. (see your research task!) He developed situation Ethics to be more consequential and relative to the situation. The one rule – ‘Love’

Situation Ethics – a Middle Way? Legalistic Ethics: There is a code of moral law. Your duty is to follow this code no matter how difficult. Antinomian Ethics: There are no rules. Do whatever you feel like doing. Situation Ethics: Only one rule: follow the most loving course of action. This is what Fletcher thinks is the best approach. Evaluate Give a possible pro and con for each in pairs – then in your notes Which is best for society and why? Why does Fletcher think Situation Ethics offers a middle path between Legalistic and Antinomian?

Historical background How was society changing Historical background How was society changing? Where does Christianity fit in? ‘Greater independence; more money in their pockets and purses; the weakening of family bonds and religious influences; the development of earlier maturity, physically, emotionally and mentally; the impact of modern books, television and periodicals’ (Sex and Morality, SCM, 1966) The study above blamed many things on the fact that many people were turning away from the Church’s rules (legalism) and more towards antinomianism (the abandonment of any rules). The world was becoming more secular (non-religious) and people had stopped listening to the Church and their teachings on what was ethically right. Good to quote!

So where does Situation Ethics fit in? Fletcher and Robinson acknowledged the changes in modern society and sought an ethical solution which would bring people back towards making Christian moral decisions, but which didn’t have the doom and gloom associated with religion. Robinson said that Situation Ethics was for “Man come of age”. In other words, it was for people who were moving away from having to be told what to do by God, and yet it still had the Christian flavour. It was slap bang in the middle of legalism and antinomianism! Use this phrase Robinson: Little Thinker

Test time! Write down your answers then click the mouse to check them Q: Give 2 things that made people start becoming secular A: war, contraception, TV/communication, greater independence Q: What was the study which investigated what was going on called and in which year was it published? A: Sex and Morality, 1966 Q: What did Robinson mean by “man come of age”? A: The idea that the time had come where people were moving away from having to be told what to do by God Q: What does deux ex machine mean? A: God is of great significance but does not interfere with humanity anymore

Situation Ethics and Scripture Mark 2: 23-28 Fletcher said that we can use the example of Jesus to see that a more relative and agape based approach to making ethical choices is better. Task: Read the passage and answer the questions 1. Summarise the passage 2. Explain the legalistic element of this passage 3. How did Jesus respond? 4. How would situation Ethics respond to this scenario?

Analyse the Scripture The problem is this took place on the Sabbath: On the Sabbath it was forbidden to……work. To this day certain Orthodox Jews will observe this rule to a very high degree. The switching on of lights would be forbidden on the Sabbath, for example. In this story, Jesus’ disciples are criticised for picking corn on the Sabbath as they walk through a field on their way to the synagogue. Technically, this is harvesting. Jesus’ response to this criticism from the Pharisees: Jesus says that "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." This story shows that humans should not follow laws blindly but should consider the most loving course of action in that particular situation.

Meaning What Exactly? Task: answer in your books The commandments are not to be followed slavishly The commandments are there for the benefit of humankind and that Jesus has discretion over how they should be interpreted. Rather than following a rule we should be more relative to the unique situation and do the most loving thing (agape) Task: answer in your books How do you think the Bible should be interpreted? (literal/liberal) Is the Bible too legalistic? How should it be used if at all?

So what’s this got to do with Situation Ethics? Task : (copy quote) In another passage, Jesus says this… "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 'The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Think? What is Jesus saying about legalism? How would this passage have affected Fletcher’s approach to Christian Ethics? For Fletcher, this has enormous significance. For Christians all of the commandments are to be seen in the light of love. When a Christian acts they should follow the course of action that leads to the most love being shown.

So in Situation Ethics… The only rule is that you should act in the way that results in the most love being shown. Love is the law No two situations are exactly alike this needs to be reconsidered every time. On some occasions you may have to tell the truth, on others you should not. It just depends on the situation There are no absolute laws apart from doing the most loving thing.

Six Fundamental Principles – these are the ideas behind the theory Only one thing is intrinsically good, namely love: nothing else at all. The ruling norm of Christian Decision is love: nothing else. Love and Justice are the same, for love is justice distributed, nothing else. Love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not. Only the end justifies the means, nothing else. Love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively.

Four Working Principles This is what you apply to an ethical situation Pragmatism For a course of action to be right, it has to be practical. It must work. If an action is not practical or cannot possibly be achieved or bring about a loving outcome we should consider if it is really right. Relativism – This means that rules (absolutes) don’t always apply, they depend on the situation. Absolutes like ‘Do not steal’ become relative to love – if love demands stealing food for the hungry, you steal. However, it doesn’t mean ‘anything goes’. Positivism - Kant and Natural Law are based on reason – reason can uncover the right course of action. Situation Ethics disagrees, You have to start with a positive choice – you need to want to do good. There is no rational answer to the question “Why should I love?” Personalism - Situation Ethics puts people first. People are more important than rules. “Man was not made for the Sabbath”.