Welcome to the Dialogue: Christianity and Ethical Studies
In this final section of your AQA A Level course, we explore the "Dialogue" between Christianity and ethics. This isn't just about learning what is right and wrong; it’s about how Christian beliefs (like the idea that humans are made in the image of God) interact with ethical theories (like Situation Ethics or Natural Moral Law).
Think of this as a conversation. Sometimes Christianity and ethics agree, sometimes they argue, and sometimes they change each other. This guide will help you navigate these conversations, from the beginning of life to the way we treat animals and use our money.
1. The Foundation: How Christians Make Decisions
Before we dive into specific issues, we need to look at the "toolkits" Christians use to make moral choices. You’ve studied these in Paper 1, but now we apply them specifically to Christian life.
Natural Moral Law (NML) and Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas argued that God created a purposeful universe. By using reason, humans can discover the "Natural Moral Law" written into our hearts.
• The Primary Precepts: These are fundamental goals, like protecting life and living in an ordered society.
• The Principle of Double Effect: This is a vital "get out of jail free" card in NML. It says that if you do something good (like saving a mother's life) and it has an unintended bad side effect (like the death of a fetus), the action is morally okay because your intention was good.
Situation Ethics and Joseph Fletcher
If NML is about strict rules, Situation Ethics is about Agape (unconditional love). Joseph Fletcher argued that "Love is the only norm." For many modern Christians, this is more practical than strict laws.
• Key Idea: You should do the most loving thing in every specific situation, even if it means breaking a traditional rule (like "do not lie").
Virtue Ethics and Aristotle
Virtue Ethics doesn't ask "What should I do?" but "What kind of person should I be?" It focuses on developing character and virtues like courage and justice. Christians often link this to the Fruit of the Spirit or the character of Jesus.
Quick Review: NML focuses on Rules/Reason; Situation Ethics focuses on Love; Virtue Ethics focuses on Character.
2. Issues of Life and Death: Human Ethics
The dialogue here often centers on the Sanctity of Life (the belief that life is sacred because it is a gift from God) versus the Quality of Life.
Abortion and Embryo Research
• Natural Moral Law: Usually takes a "Pro-Life" stance because a primary precept is "to protect life." From the moment of conception, an embryo is seen as a person with a right to life.
• Situation Ethics: Might allow abortion or embryo research if it is the most loving thing to do (e.g., to prevent extreme suffering of the mother or to cure a disease through research).
• Christian Teaching: Many Christians point to the idea of being "knit together in the womb" (Psalm 139) to support the sanctity of life.
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
• The Conflict: Is it a "mercy killing" (Situation Ethics) or "playing God" (Natural Moral Law)?
• Double Effect: Aquinas’ idea is often used here. A doctor might give a high dose of morphine to take away pain (good intention), knowing it might shorten the patient's life (unintended side effect). This is often accepted by the Church.
Capital Punishment
This is a classic "dialogue" point.
• Old Testament: Often cited for "an eye for an eye."
• New Testament: Matthew 5:38-48 (the Sermon on the Mount) shows Jesus challenging retaliation, saying we should "turn the other cheek" and "love your enemies." Most modern Christian denominations now oppose the death penalty based on Jesus' teachings on forgiveness.
3. Issues of Life and Death: Non-Human Animals
How do Christians treat "our cousins in creation"?
• Stewardship vs. Dominion: Some interpret the Bible to mean humans have dominion (power) over animals, allowing for intensive farming or scientific testing. Others believe in stewardship—that God has trusted us to care for His creation.
• The Dialogue: Aquinas argued animals don't have rational souls, so we don't have direct moral duties to them. However, Virtue Ethics might suggest that being cruel to animals makes us a cruel person, which is bad for our own character.
4. Modern Social and Personal Issues
This is where Christianity meets the 21st century. The dialogue here can be quite tense!
Theft and Lying
• NML: Theft and lying are generally wrong because they break the precept of "living in an ordered society."
• Proportionalism: A middle-way theory. It suggests that while rules are important, you can break them if there is a proportionate reason (e.g., stealing a loaf of bread to save a starving child).
Marriage, Same-Sex Relationships, and Transgender Matters
• Traditional View: Often based on NML and Bible passages like 1 Timothy 2:8-15 (which discusses traditional gender roles and authority). This view sees marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation.
• Liberal View: Uses Situation Ethics and Agape. If a same-sex relationship is loving and committed, it reflects God’s love.
• Feminist Theology: Scholars like Rosemary Radford Ruether and Daphne Hampson critique traditional Christian ethics for being patriarchal (male-dominated). They argue that Christian ethics must evolve to treat women and marginalized groups with full equality.
Genetic Engineering
Is "designing babies" or altering DNA a way of "healing the sick" (following Jesus' example) or "playing God"?
• Natural Moral Law is often wary of interfering with the "natural order."
• Situation Ethics would support it if it ends suffering from genetic diseases.
5. Wealth, Tolerance, and Freedom
• Wealth: Jesus famously said it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Christian ethics often engages with Social Justice—the idea that wealth should be used to help the poor.
• Tolerance and Expression: In a pluralistic society, Christians must decide how to balance their truth claims (e.g., John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life") with respect for other faiths. This is a dialogue between Exclusivism (only Christianity is right) and Tolerance.
6. The Internal Compass: Conscience and Free Will
How do we actually make these choices?
• Free Will: For moral responsibility to exist, Christians believe we must have Libertarian free will (the genuine ability to choose). If we were "programmed" (Hard Determinism), reward and punishment wouldn't make sense.
• Conscience: Is it the literal voice of God (Augustine) or a rational process (Aquinas)?
• Dialogue Point: Secular ethics (like Utilitarianism/Bentham) might see the "conscience" as just a social construct or a calculation of pleasure and pain. Christians argue it has a deeper, spiritual significance.
7. Key Comparison: Bentham and Kant
The exam often asks you to compare these two "heavyweight" philosophers with Christian ethics.
• Jeremy Bentham (Utilitarianism): Focuses on the "greatest good for the greatest number."
• Immanuel Kant (Deontology): Focuses on duty and universal rules.
• The Dialogue: Christians often find Kant more relatable because he believes in absolute moral duties (like "do not lie"). However, Bentham's focus on ending suffering can look like Agape. The big difference? Christianity usually puts God’s will at the center, whereas Bentham and Kant put human reason at the center.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't just list what Bentham said. You must explain how far his view is consistent with Christian decision-making. (e.g., "Bentham's focus on pleasure might conflict with the Christian value of self-sacrifice.")
Final Tips for Section C (The Dialogue Essay)
When writing your essay, remember these three steps to hit the high marks:
1. Link the Theory: Don't just talk about abortion; talk about Natural Moral Law or Situation Ethics.
2. Use the Bible/Scholars: Mention Matthew 5, Aquinas, or Fletcher.
3. Evaluate: Does the "dialogue" work? Is Christianity being too rigid, or is Situation Ethics being too vague? AO2 (Analysis and Evaluation) is worth 60% of your marks, so always ask "Is this a strong argument?"
Don't worry if it feels like a lot to juggle! Just remember: it's all about how the ancient wisdom of Christianity meets the logical systems of Ethics. Keep looking for the connections!