Christian Theology and Ethics Study Guide

Christian Theology and Ethics Study Guide

• Cardinal Virtues:

  • Cardinal: primary principles directing actions in the right direction
  • St. Augustine, influenced by Aristotle, emphasized love as the ultimate human goal.
  • Virtuous life is paramount.
  • Virtuous behavior mirrors God-like characteristics.
  • Evaluation of motivations is crucial, referencing past actions and the Beatitudes.
  • Virtuous living reflects a likeness to God.

• Prudence: The right method of conduct.

  • Prudence is derived from reason.
  • Careful control of situations is key.
  • Kindness and etiquette are crucial elements, surpassing mere rules.
  • Prudence involves adaptability. Rational decision-making during challenging situations exemplified by adjusting driving speed during a storm.

• Temperance: Balancing pleasure through moderation.

  • Moderation in actions like food, alcohol, and sexuality is essential.
  • Concupiscence, or strong sexual desire, should be controlled with reason.
  • Concupiscence is a misdirection of priorities.
  • God's love is the source of all types of love.
  • Moderation in all aspects of life leads to a closer relationship with God.
  • Finding moderation is crucial.
  • Maintaining good humor is a key aspect.
  • Temperance involves a commitment to happiness.

• Fortitude: Moral courage to act according to reason.

  • Fortitude involves consistently pursuing virtuous actions.
  • Important traits include generosity and perseverance.
  • Humble ambition is preferable to regular ambition.

• Justice: The correct application of virtue.

  • Justice arises from the integration of fortitude, temperance, and prudence.
  • Virtuous living is a necessary requirement for justice.
  • Patience is a critical aspect of virtuous living.

• Corinthians 13:

  • Love is a crucial characteristic of Christian living.
  • Love surpasses human efforts or talent. Key for early Christian church congregations, guiding motivations.
  • Love in action, despite difficulty is significant.
  • Motivation is important.
  • Faith, hope, and love (charity) are of utmost importance.

• Theological Virtues:

  • Faith is essential for authentic Christian behavior.
  • Hope represents anticipation for God's promises and future.
  • Charity, or love, is a crucial aspect of virtuous living.
  • These virtues are the hallmarks of Christian commitment.

• Two Important Jewish Laws:

  • The most important laws from Jewish tradition.

• Noah's Covenant:

  • God's agreement with Noah to prevent a future flood.
  • The agreement includes elements of blessing and reconciliation.
  • A covenant is a pact or mutual agreement.

• Abraham's Covenant:

  • God's promises to Abraham to bring about a new nation or many descendants.

• Moses' Covenant:

  • God's agreement including the Ten Commandments as a framework for living.
  • God's plan to rescue the Israelites through Moses.

• Jesus:

  • Significance of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection in Christianity.
  • The New Covenant established by Jesus through his acceptance of a self-sacrifice.

• Exegesis:

  • The in-depth analysis of biblical texts.
  • Different approaches like metaphorical and literal are used to analyze scripture.

• Moral Choices:

  • The complexities of moral decision-making today.
  • The conflict between ethical relativism and fundamentalism.
  • Religious beliefs affect how people make choices.
  • Applying biblical principles to contemporary dilemmas.

• Biblical Structure:

  • An outline of how the Jewish Bible, and the New Testament in different ways.

• Christian Iconography:

  • Understanding the use of imagery in Christian art.

• Illuminated Manuscripts:

  • The importance of art in preserving and sharing Biblical texts.
  • Art's use during The Middle Ages.
  • Method and use to convey information and themes within those art pieces.