THED03: CHRISTIAN MORALITY

2ND SEMESTER REVIEWER

MODULE 1: GATEWAY TO CHRISTIAN MORALITY adequacy of our moral beliefs.

MORAL LIFE A process of becoming authentically

TERMINOLOGIES human. It is about growing in love
MORALITY and holiness with others in the
community.
➜ Branch of theology that searches for the norms of free
human conduct in the light of revelation. (Franz Bockle,
CHRISTIAN Experiencing the liberating and
a German theologian)
MORAL LIFE transforming presence of Christ
➣ Latin: “Moralis” = Manners
through the grace of His spirit,
➣The rightness or wrongness of an action in
relation to a standard or norm of conduct.
➣ Also refers to a doctrine or a system of ideas MORAL & ETHICAL SPHERES
that is concerned with conduct.

2 ELEMENTS
1. MORALITY IF CONCERNED WITH FREE MORAL CONDUCT
➣The assumption people can freely perform human
acts. Morality presupposes freedom. It takes for granted
that humans are not absolutely determined (means that
either one’s heredity or environment or both totally cause
the person to act in a certain way, theories of absolute
determination claim that humans are not free- they only
think they are)

2. MORALITY GUIDED BY REVELATION

➣ Unlike ethics, which reaches for the norms of the
human conduct in the light of reason alone, Christian APPROACHES TO MORALITY
Morality is guided by revelation, meaning a person has
more than reason to help him. God reveals himself in MORALITY AS LAW
human history, thus, Christians believe that reflection on
and praying with (the scriptures) are powerful helps in DUTY/OBEDIENCE
solving moral problems. ➣ Motivation: Reward vs. Punishment
➣ Example: Ten Commandments
CHRISTIAN MORALITY/MORAL THEOLOGY
➜ A branch of theology that deals with the rightness and MORALITY AS INNER CONVICTION
wrongness of human actions (morality) in relation to CONSCIENCE/INTEGRITY
God. It is also termed Christian ethics. ➣ Motivation: Inner peace vs. Disquiet

ETHICS MORALITY AS PERSONAL GROWTH

➜ The study of human conduct, focusing particularly on
VALUE/CONVERSION (CONSTANT)
attitudes and actions that are considered to be “right” or
“wrong”. Ethics is a philosophical discipline. When ethics ➣ Motivation: Wholeness vs. Fragmentation
is treated from the point of view of Christian faith, it is
called Christian ethics. The term moral theology is also MORALITY AS LOVE
used to refer to ethics. FAITHFULNESS/RESPONSE
➣ Motivation: Communion vs. Isolation
MORALITY AND ETHICS
MORALITY Set of beliefs and practices about MORALITY AS SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
how to live a good life JUSTICE/ SOLIDARITY
➣ Motivation: Social Peace vs. Division
ETHICS Conscious reflection on the
 KOHLBERG’S MORAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY ➜ ISSUE: The Hebrew came up with 613 sub-laws and
1,792 IRR, which must be memorized and obeyed. If
LEVEL STAGE SOCIAL violated, they will be considered sinners.
ORIENTATION ⤷ Why is it a problem? Obeying the laws itself is
not a problem because it helps to maintain
Pre-conventional 1 Obedience & peace and order in the society. However, it
(ages 1-6) Punishment becomes a problem when the laws become too
legalistic, and the governing body is more
2 Instrumentalism & concerned on implementing rules and punishing
Exchange the people, than looking at why they have
violated it. (E.g. During Sabbath day, it is
Conventional 3 “Good boy/girl” prohibited to help your sheep when the sheep
(ages 6-10) has fallen on some hole. For them, you are
4 Law and Order offending God when you’re exerting any effort on
Sabbath day.)
Post-conventional 5 Social Contract ⤷ In Exodus, the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt.
(ages 11 Being slaves, they had no education. The only
onwards) 6 Principled Conscience educated individuals were Moses, and his sister,
Miriam.
⤷ When the Hebrews escaped Egypt, they spent
“There is no moral precept that does not have something 40 years in the dessert before they were allowed
inconvenient about it.” – Denis Diderot by God to enter the promised land. It was
impossible for them to know all laws because
“Don’t be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much they were uneducated, hence, they might have
life. So aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good violated some laws without their knowledge.
for something.” – Henry David Thoreau ⤷ “Ignorance is not an excuse” so it is still
considered as violation.
⤷ Because of this, it became a source of
oppression of the general public who were
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF MORALITY
uneducated, and were considered sinners.
I. OLD TESTAMENT ➜ How were they FORGIVEN during the time?
10 COMMANDMENTS ⤷ The only was was to offer a lamb in the
1. You shall not have any other gods besides temple in order to be forgiven.
me. ⤷ It must be an unblemished lamb, a year-old
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your male.
God, in vain. ⤷ Only the rich can afford to buy an
3. Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. unblemished lamb.
4. Honor your father and mother. ⤷ If you are poor, you are condemned to be a
5. You shall not kill. sinner forever.For Hebrews, if you are a sinner
6. You shall not commit adultery. you will be punished by God, either by poverty
7. You shall not steal. or sickness.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbor. B. YAHWIST RITUAL DECALOGUE - (Dt 12-26& Ex 34: 17-27)
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. ➣ Can be found in Exodus, as part of the first 2
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to Commandments on how to worship and honor God.
your neighbor. ➣ On festivals, offerings, prohibition of images, prohibits
the worship of other gods. (1st Commandment: Thou
shall not have any other gods before me)
A. COVENANT CODE/10 COMMANDMENTS - (Ex 20:22-23:33)
➣ Universal moral norm C. HOLINESS CODE - (Lev 17-26)
➣ Accepted and recognized by the world of ethics and
➣ Falls under the first 2 Commandments
reason
➣ On diet, worship, hygiene, marriage and sexual
➣ The whole chapters after Exodus 23, book Leviticus
morality. (6th Commandment: You shall not commit
as well, contains IRR (Implementing Rules and
adultery)
Regulations) of the 10 commandments in the context of
the Israelites.
⤷ In the postmodern era, the IRR changes and II. THE LAW OF LOVE
adapts to the time and the society’s needs, but ➣ Jesus has seen the problem of the people of being
the 10 commandments never changes. oppressed because of their sins. He came to the world
and everything changed.
➣ The teachings and ways of God are revolutionary ⤷ (E.g. Jesus called Peter “Satan”. MT 16:
because it doesn’t violate the “Covenant Code”. He had 21-24.)
a different way of approach and applying, instead of
being legalistic, he applied the Law of Love. D. DEMAND FOR FAITH
⤷ Because of this, many people got angry at ➣ Jesus demands for faith. He did not disregard our
Jesus because of changing the law and violating faith.
it. ⤷ In His healings, he always say “your faith has
healed.”
III. NEW TESTAMENT
➣ Jesus Message (Law of Love) E. CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP
➣ Focused more on love, forgiveness, and discipleship.
➣ Jesus emphasized taking responsibility for your faith.
⤷ Jesus friend of sinners. Jesus’ heart breaks to
the least, lost, and the last.
F. WOMEN, MARRIAGE, AND FAMILY
A. KINGDOM OF GOD ➣ Jesus put importance to women by having women
disciples.
➣Jesus changed the “Covenant” in the OT into the
➣ He changed the definition of family.
“Kingdom of God” in NT.
⤷ Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of God is
➣ Covenant = Kingdom of God
my brother”
➣ He was referring to the goal of the Covenant/
Kingdom of God.
➣Central of Jesus’ teachings G. REWARD AND PUNISHMENT
➣ Jesus knows the nature of the human person, that’s
B. THE COMMANDMENT OF LOVE (THE LAW) why He also gave importance to reward and
punishment.
➣ Jesus emphasized THE COMMANDMENT OF LOVE
➣ Matthew 8:16
in the 10 Commandments and summarized it into 2:
⤷ “If anyone causes one of these little
1. Love God with all your heart, with all
ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it
your soul, with all your might. (1st and
would be better for them to have a large
2nd Commandment)
millstone hung around their neck and to be
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.
drowned in the depths of the sea.
(3rd-10th Commandment)
⤷ Jesus said,” If you are already following the 2
commandments of Love, you are already H. THE CONCEPT OF HELL OR GEHENNA
fulfilling all the 10 Commandments.” ➣ The sinners who doesn’t want to repent would end up
➜ Difference of OT and NT: in Gehenna or Geenna, also known as “the hell” but not
⤷ In OT, it is focused on the prohibitions “thou entirely.
shall not” and violations. ➣ Gehenna is not hell. Jesus was not referring to hell,
⤷ In NT, it emphasized the application of the because it was only later on when the Church
Commandments through LOVE. conceptualized the idea of hell. He was referring to the
smokey mountain that has an eternal flame, burning the
C. THE CALL TO CONVERSION garbage.
➣ Gehenna: “A valley west and south of Jerusalem, also
➣ “Your sins are being forgiven. Go and sin no more.”
a symbolic name for the final place of punishment of the
➣ One can only be converted when they felt that they
ungodly.” This concept of a “final place” for the ungodly
have been forgiven, or somehow accepted even if they
and evil naturally becomes, for most people, tantamount
had sinned. Just like what Jesus did. The way he
to hell.
associated and dealt with sinners. Jesus knows that this
is a way to touch peoples’ hearts, and to call them to
conversion and repentance IV. EARLY CHRISTIANITY
➣ Jesus’ love is tough love, not soft love. He is ➣ After Jesus has died and resurrected, the Early
straightforward. Christianity was empowered by Christ to lead the
⤷ He’s kind, but He’s not nice. community.
⤷ He grew up in Nazareth. People had a
stereotype, where they compare Nazareth to the A. GOSPEL AS THE NEW LAW
‘Tondo of Manila’. People viewed Jesus as a ➣The founders of Christianity somehow sustained the
lowly being, because of where He came from. law of love of Jesus. They lived by the Gospel. They
He was depicted as a tough man who spoke were able to love, forgive, and share.
harsh straightforward words, “pang-kanto”.
⤷ But He forgives and shows compassion in a
B. MARTYRDOM BECAUSE OF PERSECUTION
“tough love way”.
➣ The Christians were able to stand by their faith in
Jesus Christ.
➣ Norm: If you’re a Christian, you have to be willing to
➣ Benedict (480-547)
die for your faith, and be willing to be persecuted
➣ Medieval age (Dark age/Middle age)
because of Christ.
(476-14th)
➣ Rise of Islam (632) - With the death of
C. UPHOLD PURITY AND SANCTITY ESPECIALLY FOR CONVERTS Mohammed
FROM PAGAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE
➣ Pagans are those who worship many gods or 4. Charlemagne (800CE)
goddesses. A person who was not of Jewish faith. ➣ Named as the Roman Emperor 300 yrs
➣ If a Pagan will join Christianity, they must be baptized after the fall of Rome.
to be purified and sanctified. ➣ Brought Christianity to Europe
➣ Massive Christianization by baptism -
Known for military tactics (You convert to
D. PRAYER
Christianity by the cross, or you will die by my
➣ Highlighted the importance of prayer through the sword)
breaking of the bread. ➣ Has persecuted many people
⤷ That is the only way to relive their core ➣ Cons of conversion by Charlemagne: Did
memory with Jesus, and celebrate the death and not know truly what faith is
resurrection of Jesus Christ. (“Do this in memory
of Me) 5. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) - Summa
Theologica
E. NEED OF CONFESSOR ➣ Had contributed in the systemization of
➣ Confession to a priest moral theology
⤷ Before, the confessor was public shaming by ➣ Council of Trent (1545-1563) - counter
shouting the sins of the sinners in a reformation
marketplace.
➣ There was a need for a private confessor. 6. Crusades
➣ Began in 1905, when Pope Urban
summoned a Christian army to fight its way to
F. SYSTEMIZATION OF MORAL THEOLOGY Jerusalem, and continued on and off until the
end of the 15th century.
➣ Thomas Aquinas systemized moral theology, as
➣ To reclaim the promise land but there were
written in Summa Theologica.
too many political intentions and hidden
agendas, not purely for a noble cause.
G. SCHOLASTICS AND THEOLOGIANS (SUMMA THEOLOGICA)
7. Inquisition
➣ (Begun 12th: lasted hundreds of years
A GLIMPSE OF THE CHURCH HISTORY Medieval Inquisition - Spain [most cruel],
Roman Portuguese) - started 1184
1. Christian Roman Persecution (64-313) ⤷ Pope Lucius III - ended 1808 by
➣ 3 Centuries Napoleon Bonaparte - last execution
➣ The blood of martyrs became the fertile 1826
ground of Christianity. (Martyrdom became a ➣ This time it is the Christians who persecute
norm) non-Christians.
➣ Primary purpose of Inquisition - To
2. Edict of Milan (313) investigate heretics, those who teach fake
➣ End of Persecution by Constantine news about Jesus. (E.g. witches, herbal
(Constantine reign 306-337) doctors)
➣ Norms began to change, but they still
upheld the law of Love of Jesus. 8. Indulgence (remission of sin) for sale
➣ Start of politics in Christianity when the ➣ 16th Pope Leo X wanted to reconstruct
official religion of Roman Empire was changed Saint Peter’s Basilica (the crown jewel of
to Christianity by Constantine (Rise to Power) Vatican). But the Church was broke.
➣ Constantine had power. Christianity was ➣ People were donating money to the church
indebted to him. because they were scared to go to hell, and to
pray for their dead relatives so that they won’t
3. Fall of Western Roman Empire (374-476) go to hell.
➣ Only the Byzantine or the Eastern Empire ➣ Using blood money to build the church.
was left. ➣ A kind of corruption
Prominent influencers of the Church:
➣ Augustine (354-430) 9. Martin Luther (1517)
 ➣ An Augustine priest who protested with 99
theses; He was furious because of the
Indulgence and protested.
➣ He was excommunicated (1521)
➣ He sought for execution
➣ (Reformation) Lutheran Protestant.
➣ He made an eye opener for the church to
stop the corruption/indulgence.

10. Council of Trent (1545-1563)

➣ Counter reformation

V. RENEWAL OF MORAL THEOLOGY

MANUALS OF COUNCIL OF TRENT (1545-1563)
➣ Law-oriented (natural law)
⤷ They established a norm that is based on the
natural law.
⤷ Came back to the idea of the OT, wherein the
law is the emphasis.
➣ Act-oriented
⤷ Response of the church to the evil acts of the
Church
➣ Classicist worldview
⤷ A deductive method: The norm must be
institutionalized by the Church, that will be given
out to the people and they must obey it.
➣ Deductive method
➣ Strict in nature

VATICAN II: RENEWAL (1962-1965)

➣ The laws became passionate and humanized, rather
than legalistic.
⤷ Inclusive to other religions
⤷ Closer to the love of God
⤷ More open, but there are still norms (E.g.
LGBTQ is accepted in the church, but they can’t
be married)
⤷ Does not condemn people.
➣ Pope John XXIII: Initiated the renewal.
⤷ Similar to Pope Francis
⤷ When he died, Pope Paul VI took over
➣ Vatican II lasted for 3 years but was very progressive
➣ Person-oriented (compassionate)
➣ Holistic approach
➣ Historical consciousness
⤷ An empirical and inductive method: Trusting
the discernment of the individual on what is best
for them.
➣ Looks at the intention and situation of the act done by
the sinner
➣ Norms of the Vatican II is being used until now in the
Catholic church.

MODULE 2: THEMES OF CHARACTER FORMATION