Situation Ethics The New Morality?

Situation Ethics Associated with Joseph Fletcher (who coined the phrase) Associated with Joseph Fletcher (who coined the phrase) Fletcher was an American Christian priest Fletcher was an American Christian priest His book Situation Ethics was published in His book Situation Ethics was published in 1966.

Situation Ethics: The Christian Context To understand SE it is necessary to have some knowledge of its context. To understand SE it is necessary to have some knowledge of its context. Fletcher roots his ideas in the very roots of Christianity – the gospel accounts of Jesus’ teaching but importantly not in the traditional teaching of the Christian Church. Fletcher roots his ideas in the very roots of Christianity – the gospel accounts of Jesus’ teaching but importantly not in the traditional teaching of the Christian Church. To properly understand it let’s do a spot of Bible bashing and look at Mark’s gospel. To properly understand it let’s do a spot of Bible bashing and look at Mark’s gospel.

Mark 2: One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions." He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions." Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

Points to note… This took place on the Sabbath This took place on the Sabbath On the Sabbath it was forbidden to… On the Sabbath it was forbidden to… …work. …work. To this day certain Orthodox Jews will observe this rule to a very high degree. 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. 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. 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.

Points to note… Jesus’ response to this criticism from the Pharisees is twofold. Jesus’ response to this criticism from the Pharisees is twofold. First he cites a precedent, King David’s men breaking a religious rule due to hunger. First he cites a precedent, King David’s men breaking a religious rule due to hunger. But the second is more significant for our purposes. 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." But the second is more significant for our purposes. 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."

Meaning What Exactly? The commandments are not to be followed slavishly as if life is a game of Simon ( or Jehovah) Says and that heaven is a reward for those who obey. The commandments are not to be followed slavishly as if life is a game of Simon ( or Jehovah) Says and that heaven is a reward for those who obey. The commandments are there for the benefit of humankind and that he Jesus has discretion over how they should be interpreted. The commandments are there for the benefit of humankind and that he Jesus has discretion over how they should be interpreted. What might have been the original intention of the commandment forbidding work on the Sabbath? What might have been the original intention of the commandment forbidding work on the Sabbath?

So what’s this got to do with Situation Ethics? In another passage, Jesus says this.. 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." "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." For Fletcher, this has enormous significance. For Fletcher, this has enormous significance. For Christians all of the commandments are to be seen in the light of love. 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. 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) …the only rule is that you should act in the way that results in the most love being shown. (Love is the law) …as 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…(hence the name) …as 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…(hence the name) …all you need is love (no Fletcher wasn’t a Beatle) but it was the sixties. …all you need is love (no Fletcher wasn’t a Beatle) but it was the sixties.

Four Working Principles These help us determine what the most loving thing to do is in any situation; These help us determine what the most loving thing to do is in any situation; Pragmatism Pragmatism Relativism Relativism Positivism Positivism Personalism Personalism Using page 96 of your books define these (10mins) Using page 96 of your books define these (10mins)

Apply the four working Principles A teenage girl has become pregnant as a result of being raped by a close family member. She’s very poor and very young. A teenage girl has become pregnant as a result of being raped by a close family member. She’s very poor and very young.

Six Fundamental Principles ‘Only one thing is intrinsically good, namely love: nothing else at all’ – nothing is good in its own right except for love ‘Only one thing is intrinsically good, namely love: nothing else at all’ – nothing is good in its own right except for love ‘The ruling norm of Christian Decision is love: nothing else’ – Love is the basis of Christian decision making ‘The ruling norm of Christian Decision is love: nothing else’ – Love is the basis of Christian decision making

Six Fundamental Principles ‘Love and Justice are the same, for love is justice distributed, nothing else’ – Justice is love at work in the community ‘Love and Justice are the same, for love is justice distributed, nothing else’ – Justice is love at work in the community ‘Love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not’ – People should show love to all, even their enemies, as agape love is selfless ‘Love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not’ – People should show love to all, even their enemies, as agape love is selfless

Six Fundamental Principles ‘Only the end justifies the means, nothing else’ - A loving end must be achieved and this can be done through any action ‘Only the end justifies the means, nothing else’ - A loving end must be achieved and this can be done through any action ‘Love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively’ – people have the freedom to make their own decisions. But they must use this freedom responsibly and apply love to each situation ‘Love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively’ – people have the freedom to make their own decisions. But they must use this freedom responsibly and apply love to each situation

Apply 3 of the 6 fundamental principles A teenage girl has become pregnant as a result of being raped by a close family member. She’s very poor and very young. A teenage girl has become pregnant as a result of being raped by a close family member. She’s very poor and very young.