UNIT I: Ethics and Christian Ethics

1. Etymological Meaning of Ethics and Christian Ethics

 The word Ethics comes from a Greek word "ethos", which means habit, custom, or
character.
➤ So, ethics is the study of how people should live and what is right or wrong.
 Christian Ethics means learning how to live a good and holy life by following Jesus
Christ and the Bible.
➤ It teaches us how to love God and people, do good things, and avoid sin.
2. Secular Ethics and Christian Ethics
 Secular Ethics is based on what people think is right or wrong.
➤ It depends on human ideas, culture, or reason.
➤ It does not follow God or the Bible.
➤ What is “good” or “bad” may change over time or from place to place.
 Christian Ethics is based on what the Bible says is right or wrong.
➤ It is God-centered.
➤ It follows the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
➤ Right and wrong do not change, because God’s truth is unchanging.
Example:
 Secular ethics may say lying is okay in some cases.
 Christian ethics says lying is always wrong because God says so in the Bible.
3. Significance of Christian Ethics
Why is Christian ethics important?
 It helps us to live like Jesus.
 It teaches us to love others, forgive, and be honest.
 It gives us a clear standard of right and wrong.
 It helps us make good decisions in our daily life.
 It keeps us strong in faith, even when the world thinks differently.
 It helps us to be holy and pleasing to God.
4. Etymological Meaning of Morality and Ethics
 Morality comes from the Latin word "moralitas", which means custom or manner.
➤ Morality is about the actual behavior—what people do and what they believe is
good or bad.
 Ethics comes from the Greek word "ethos", which means character or habit.
➤ Ethics is about thinking and studying what is right or wrong and why we should
do it.

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In simple words:
 Morality = What people do (action)
 Ethics = What people think is right or wrong (thinking or reasoning)
II.UNIT II: Relationship of Christian Ethics with Other Social Sciences
 Christian Ethics is about knowing what is right and wrong based on the Bible and the
life of Jesus. But to understand people and the world better, Christian Ethics also
relates to other social sciences. These are subjects that study human life and society.
 1. Philosophy
 Philosophy means the study of truth, knowledge, right and wrong, and the
meaning of life.
 It asks questions like:
 What is a good life?
 What is truth?
 What is right or wrong?
 Relationship with Christian Ethics:
 Philosophy helps Christians think deeply about moral problems.
 Christian ethics uses philosophy to explain why something is good or bad.
 But Christian ethics follows the Bible, while philosophy often depends on human
reason.
 🟢 Example:
Philosophy may say stealing is wrong because it breaks trust.
Christian ethics says stealing is wrong because God commands us not to steal
(Exodus 20:15).


 2. Psychology
 Psychology is the study of the human mind, feelings, and behavior.
 It helps us understand why people feel sad, angry, afraid, or happy, and how people
grow and change.
 Relationship with Christian Ethics:
 Psychology helps Christian ethics understand people’s inner struggles.
 Christian ethics teaches how to heal and grow spiritually.
 Both work together to help people live a healthy and holy life.

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  🟢 Example:
Psychology helps people manage stress.
Christian ethics teaches us to trust God and pray when we are stressed.


 3. Sociology
 Sociology is the study of society, how people live together, and how they are affected
by family, culture, economy, and government.
 Relationship with Christian Ethics:
 Sociology shows the problems in society—like poverty, violence, or injustice.
 Christian ethics gives moral answers—like helping the poor, promoting peace, and
fighting injustice.
 It helps Christians to serve others and make society better.
 🟢 Example:
Sociology studies crime in cities.
Christian ethics teaches us to respect others, obey laws, and seek justice with
mercy.


 4. Other Religions
 Many religions teach people to do good things and avoid bad things.
 Each religion has its own moral values and teachings.
 Relationship with Christian Ethics:
 Christian ethics respects other religions but believes that Jesus is the only way to
know true good and evil.
 It helps Christians understand and talk kindly with people of other faiths.
 It teaches us to show love and truth at the same time.
 🟢 Example:
Other religions may teach peace.
Christian ethics agrees, and says we must be peacemakers because Jesus is the
Prince of Peace.
1. Howard Yoder
 Yoder believed that Christian ethics means following the way of Jesus, especially
nonviolence.
 He said Christians must live like Jesus even if the world rejects them.

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  He is known for his book “The Politics of Jesus.”
🟢 Key idea: Christian life should be peaceful, humble, and different from the world.
2. H. Richard Niebuhr
 Niebuhr talked about how Christians live in society.
 He gave 5 ways Christians relate to culture, like: Christ against culture, Christ above
culture, etc.
 He believed that ethics depends on God’s action in history.
🟢 Key idea: Christian ethics is how we respond to God’s work in the world.
3. Paul Lehman
 Lehman said Christian ethics must bring freedom and justice to people.
 He believed God works through the church and community.
 Ethics should help people live hopefully and faithfully.
🟢 Key idea: Christian ethics brings hope and justice to society through the church.
4. Stanley Hauerwas
 Hauerwas focused on the church community.
 He said Christians should live holy and faithful lives together.
 Ethics is not about rules, but about being shaped by Jesus.
🟢 Key idea: Christian ethics is about living as God's people in the world.

5. Beverly Harrison
 She was a feminist theologian.
 She said Christian ethics must speak against oppression, especially of women and
the poor.
 Ethics should focus on love and justice in real life.
🟢 Key idea: Christian ethics must fight for women’s rights and social justice.

6. Enrique Dussel
 He was a Latin American theologian.
 He said Christian ethics should stand with the oppressed and poor.
 He believed Jesus teaches us to liberate people from injustice.
🟢 Key idea: Christian ethics must help the marginalized and seek justice.

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7. K.C. Abraham
 An Indian theologian.
 He said Christian ethics in Asia must deal with poverty, caste, and injustice.
 He believed ethics must change society with the love of Christ.
🟢 Key idea: Christian ethics in Asia must bring freedom and equality.
8. Carol Gilligan
 She was a psychologist, not a theologian, but she influenced Christian ethics.
 She showed that women often think about ethics through care and relationships, not
just rules.
 Her idea is called the ethic of care.
🟢 Key idea: Christian ethics should include caring relationships, not only rules.

9. Lisa Sowle Cahill

 She is a Catholic theologian.
 She connects sexual ethics, social justice, and family life.
 She believes Christian ethics must work for justice and human dignity, especially
for women and families.
🟢 Key idea: Christian ethics is about justice, love, and care for all people.
10. Karl Barth
 A famous Reformed theologian.
 He believed ethics must come from God’s Word and Jesus Christ.
 He said we cannot know good and evil without knowing God’s will.
🟢 Key idea: Christian ethics comes from God’s revelation in Jesus.
11. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
 A German pastor who opposed Hitler.
 He believed Christian ethics means obeying God even when it costs your life.
 He taught about costly grace, and that true faith must lead to action.
🟢 Key idea: Christian ethics is about sacrificial obedience to Christ.
12. Susan Frank Parsons
 She is a moral theologian.

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  She focuses on how ethics and spirituality go together.
 She believes Christian ethics must come from a life shaped by God’s love and
prayer.
🟢 Key idea: Christian ethics must grow from a deep spiritual life.
13. Joseph Fletcher
 He created the idea of Situation Ethics.
 He said love is the only rule in Christian ethics.
 In every situation, we should ask: “What is the most loving thing to do?”
🟢 Key idea: Christian ethics is based on love, not strict rules.
Here is a clear and detailed explanation of UNIT II: Christian Ethical Discourses, useful
for assignments, discussions, or exam preparation:

UNIT II: Christian Ethical Discourses

1. Significance of Methodology
 Methodology in Christian ethics refers to the approach or method used to understand
and apply moral principles.
 It helps answer important questions like:
o What is right or wrong?
o How should Christians respond to moral issues in today’s world?
 A clear method ensures that ethical decisions are not random but grounded in
Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience.
 It helps in applying Christian values to modern issues such as poverty, injustice,
gender discrimination, war, etc.

2. Different Modes of Ethical Discourses

These are various ways Christians think and talk about what is right and wrong:

a. Deontological Ethics (Ethics of Duty)

 Focus: Moral rules and duties
 Root word: “Deon” (Greek) meaning duty or obligation.
 Says: Actions are right if they follow God’s commandments or moral laws.

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  Example: Telling the truth is always right because it is commanded by God—even if
it causes discomfort.
 Thinkers: Immanuel Kant, and in Christian thought, it’s seen in following biblical
commandments.
 Strength: Clear guidance.
 Weakness: May ignore consequences or context.

b. Teleological Ethics (Ethics of Purpose or Consequences)

 Focus: Goals or outcomes
 Root word: “Telos” (Greek) meaning end or goal.
 Says: An action is right if it leads to good results (like happiness, justice, or love).
 Includes Utilitarianism—the greatest good for the greatest number.
 Christian version: Actions that help in fulfilling God’s purpose or kingdom values
(e.g., justice, peace).
 Strength: Focuses on results and real-life impact.
 Weakness: Sometimes justifies wrong actions for good results.

c. Contextual Ethics
 Focus: Culture, history, and local context
 Says: Ethics must be shaped by the context in which people live—social, political,
cultural.
 Popular among liberation theologians and Asian/Indian theologians.
 Christian ethics must respond to the real struggles of people (poverty, caste,
injustice).
 Example: In Indian context, ethics must consider caste oppression and gender
discrimination.
 Strength: Relevant and practical.
 Weakness: May be too flexible without clear boundaries.

d. Situation Ethics
 Focus: Love as the guiding principle
 Developed by Joseph Fletcher.
 Says: There is only one moral rule: do the most loving thing in each situation.
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  Not bound by fixed laws; love is more important than rules.
 Example: Lying to save a life might be ethical because it is loving.
 Based on Jesus’ teaching that love is the greatest commandment (Matt. 22:37–40).
 Strength: Focuses on compassion and love.
 Weakness: Can be misused to justify anything.

e. Responsibility-Relationality Ethics
 Focus: Relationships and responsibilities
 Says: Ethical living comes from being responsible in relationships—with God,
others, and creation.
 Inspired by thinkers like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and H. Richard Niebuhr.
 Ethics is not just about rules or results but being faithful in relationships.
 Example: A Christian doctor must care for patients not just because it’s right, but
because of their relationship and responsibility to serve others.
 Strength: Promotes integrity and love.
 Weakness: Sometimes hard to decide which relationship takes priority.

f. Feminist Ethics
 Focus: Equality, justice, and the dignity of women
 Challenges male-dominated ethics and lifts up women’s voices and experiences.
 Says: Christian ethics must deal with gender injustice, patriarchy, and promote
equal dignity.
 Also considers care ethics, which emphasizes compassion, care, and relationships.
 Christian feminist ethicists call for re-reading the Bible through a liberating lens for
women.
 Example: Ethical discussion about domestic violence or leadership in the Church
must consider women’s experiences and equality.
 Strength: Promotes justice and inclusion.
 Weakness: Sometimes criticized for being too political or ignoring traditional values.

Conclusion:
Each ethical method brings a unique angle to Christian moral thinking. For faithful and wise
Christian living today, it is often necessary to combine these methods—keeping God’s
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commands (deontology), aiming for good (teleology), acting with love (situation ethics),
and being responsible in our relationships (responsibility ethics), while also being
sensitive to the context and gender justice.

Let me know if you’d like:

 A chart comparing all these ethics
 A summary in very simple English
 Or examples from Indian society and ministry.