STUDY GUIDE: REL104 - Christian Morality, Law, and Freedom
I. Foundations of Christian Morality
• Core Principle: Every human person bears the dignity of being made in the
Image and Likeness of God.
• Gifts from God:
• Immortal Soul: Enables us to understand the order of things.
• Intellect/Reason: Allows humans to figure out problems and discover
laws within nature.
• Free Will: The faculty that enables us to choose between right and
wrong.
• Ultimate Goal: To lead people toward communion and eternal happiness
with God.
II. St. Thomas Aquinas’ Framework of Law
St. Thomas Aquinas, the "Angelic Doctor," defined law as: "An ordinance of
reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community,
and promulgated".
The Four Essential Elements of Law
1. Ordinance of Reason: Law must be a rational plan, not based on mere
power or force.
2. For the Common Good: It must serve the community, not just individuals.
3. By Competent Authority: Must come from a legitimate leader (ruler,
legislature, or God) responsible for the people.
4. Promulgated: The law must be made known; people cannot follow rules
kept secret.
III. The Hierarchy of Law
IV. Human Acts and Moral Responsibility
• Moral Agent: The human person is the actor responsible for their choices.
• Acts of Man: Actions done without awareness of the mind or control of the
will (e.g., breathing).
• Human Acts: Actions done with Knowledge, Voluntariness, and Freedom.
• Principle: The greater the knowledge and freedom, the greater the
moral responsibility.
The Three Determinants of Morality
1. Object (The Act Itself): The primary source for moral judgment.
2. Intention (The End): The purpose or goal the agent aims to achieve.
3. Circumstances: Factors like Who, Where, When, and How that increase or
decrease the act's goodness or malice.
• Rule: An act is morally good only if the object, purpose, and circumstances
are all good.
V. Human Freedom
• Authentic Freedom: Not the right to do anything, but the power to do the
good.
• Internal Freedom: A growth process toward one’s ultimate goal.
• External Freedom: Freedom from subhuman living conditions, tyranny, or
exploitation.
VI. Conscience: The Subjective Norm
• Definition: The inner knowledge of right and wrong that allows individuals
to reflect on actions.
• Moments of Conscience:
• Antecedent: Discerns before the act.
• Concomitant: Conscience in action during the act.
• Consequent: Reviews and evaluates after the act.
Types of Moral Judgments
• Correct/True: Corresponds to objective moral values.
• False/Erroneous: Mistakenly judges evil as good.
• Scrupulous: Sees sin where there is none or exaggerates gravity.
• Lax: Insensitive to moral obligations; judges sin as less grave than it is.
• Pharisaical: Minimizes grave sins but maximizes small ones.
• Perplexed: Wrongly fears sin is committed whether an act is performed
or omitted.
The seven deadly sins (or cardinal sins/capital vices)—
pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth—are a Christian classification
of vices that lead to further immoral behavior and spiritual downfall. These
"deadly" sins are not explicitly listed in the Bible but are foundational to Catholic
theology, often contrasted with the seven heavenly virtues.
The Seven Cardinal Sins (Capital Vices)
These are considered the root of all other behaviors that separate humans from
God:
• Pride (Vainglory): An inflated, arrogant view of self-worth that places
oneself above others.
• Greed (Avarice): An excessive, hoarding desire for material wealth or
possessions.
• Wrath (Anger): Uncontrolled feelings of anger, vengeance, or rage.
• Envy: Resentment or desire for another person's talents, success, or
possessions.
• Lust: Intense, selfish, or disordered sexual desire.
• Gluttony: Excessive, over-indulgent consumption of food, drink, or items.
• Sloth (Acedia): Laziness, particularly regarding spiritual growth, duties,
and work.
Other Classifications of Sin
• Mortal Sin: A grave action committed with full knowledge and deliberate
consent that completely destroys charity in the heart.
• Venial Sin: A lesser sin that does not sever the relationship with God but
weakens charity.