Marbaniang, Domenic

From Marbaniang, Domenic. Ethics (1998). Published as Philosophical Ethics (2012) 2.1.1.3. Christianity and Normative Ethics Christian ethics, as the author believes, is a mean between Teleological and Deontological Ethics. The concept is that of a God who wills a universal law for all humans, at all times, a Will that is in accordance to His own nature and, therefore, a necessary , for all existence contingent on Him. Any being that rebels against this Will rebels against its own well-being or good , that is contingent on the Creator. The good expresses the teleological dimension and the necessary will expresses the deontological dimensions of Christian ethics. Since this Will is of Divine nature, it must be revealed by the illumination of the Spirit in man. Since man, as the Revelation (Scripture) tells us, is created in the image and likeness of God, he is able to know and choose this will for his life. However, the fallennes of man has alienated him from the divine will. Therefore,

From Marbaniang, Domenic. Ethics (1998), Published as Philosophical Ethics (2012) 3. Applied Ethics in a Naturalistic Autonomous Society This chapter is important before we move into the next chapter where we will be dealing mainly with the importance of God, Scripture, Church, and Evangelical Christianity in relation to ethics. 3.1. Naturalistic Autonomous Society It wouldn’t be appropriate to call this society godless; for man at times tends to look to a greater power beyond him in awe or aspiration. But, it is necessary to say that here is no impulsion to follow any kind of divine edict or law under fear of punishment: the idea of God, practically, seems nonsensical in this setting. This society, thus, is naturalistic and autonomous. Human reason, emotions, experiences, and aesthetic contemplation play an important role in making ethical decisions. 3.2. The Knowledge of an “Ought” An understanding of “ought” is impossible without the knowledge of good and evil. An understanding of