Ethics: Moral Absolutes
Ethics 3.1
1. Why are Christian ethics and theology inseparable? What did Francis Schaeffer mean when he said that not all things are the same to God?
Christian ethics is inseparable from theology because it is grounded in the character of God. Francis Schaeffer said that not all things are the same to God and means that God exists and has a character, but not all things are the same to him. Some things conform to His character, and some are opposed to his character.
2. What did Schaeffer conclude about a society without moral absolutes? Do we see this in society?
Schaeffer concludes that if a society has no moral absolutes then there is no final appeal to judge between individuals and groups whose moral judgments conflict. There will be no standards and only conflicting opinions.
3. On what authority do Christians base their belief in moral absolutes? How specific is this authority?
Christians base their beliefs in moral absolutes through the Bible. Of course, you cannot solve all moral decisions by referring to the Bible but there sufficient guidelines provided to give us a sense of what is morally right. These guidelines are the Decalogue also known as the Ten Commandments and tat is how specific the authority is.
4. Ethically speaking, what are Christians called to do?
Christians are called to love the Lord with all their heart, all their soul, and with all their strength and with their entire mind and love your neighbor as yourself.
5. What did Dietrich Bonhoeffer mean by the question, “Where are the responsible people?”
He meant Christians, who are willing to treat God’s moral order with the same respect they show His physical order; who love God with their whole body, soul, spirit, mind and strength; who treat others as they desire to be treated.
Ethics 3.2
6. Why do Muslims view Muhammad as morally exemplary even though the Hadith does not paint a flattering portrait of his life?
Muslims are conditioned to look at the whole picture
1. Why are Christian ethics and theology inseparable? What did Francis Schaeffer mean when he said that not all things are the same to God?
Christian ethics is inseparable from theology because it is grounded in the character of God. Francis Schaeffer said that not all things are the same to God and means that God exists and has a character, but not all things are the same to him. Some things conform to His character, and some are opposed to his character.
2. What did Schaeffer conclude about a society without moral absolutes? Do we see this in society?
Schaeffer concludes that if a society has no moral absolutes then there is no final appeal to judge between individuals and groups whose moral judgments conflict. There will be no standards and only conflicting opinions.
3. On what authority do Christians base their belief in moral absolutes? How specific is this authority?
Christians base their beliefs in moral absolutes through the Bible. Of course, you cannot solve all moral decisions by referring to the Bible but there sufficient guidelines provided to give us a sense of what is morally right. These guidelines are the Decalogue also known as the Ten Commandments and tat is how specific the authority is.
4. Ethically speaking, what are Christians called to do?
Christians are called to love the Lord with all their heart, all their soul, and with all their strength and with their entire mind and love your neighbor as yourself.
5. What did Dietrich Bonhoeffer mean by the question, “Where are the responsible people?”
He meant Christians, who are willing to treat God’s moral order with the same respect they show His physical order; who love God with their whole body, soul, spirit, mind and strength; who treat others as they desire to be treated.
Ethics 3.2
6. Why do Muslims view Muhammad as morally exemplary even though the Hadith does not paint a flattering portrait of his life?
Muslims are conditioned to look at the whole picture