Using the preparation exercise in Week 1, critically reflect on the issue you brought to the group in the light of what you have studied in further chapters.
One of the most pressing moral issues facing the world today is the blatant inequality between developed and third world nations. It is shameful that as professing Christians we sit idly by and watch our fellow human beings languish in squalor and unclean conditions while we sit in our cozy three bedroom houses, two car garage and have annual vacations to sunny destinations. How can we self reflect on our behavior to improve our actions to show God’s love to our fellow human beings in our homes, work places and communities? Unless we as individuals are willing to examine our own actions …show more content…
Residual tradition of Thomas Aquinas places economic activity in the context of the virtues and ends of human life. Thomas Aquinas developed both natural law and virtue theories and both indicate that as human beings we have proper ends and goals that must be attained by right actions and virtuous character. In Messer’s text he says “Most importantly, our actions and characters should be directed towards our ultimate end of eternal life with God.”
The problem we experience with human ethics is the need for God to help us see past our present goals to an ultimate eternal life with God. We must prudently judge our moral actions according to God’s highest commandment of ‘love’ and if we are in alignment with God’s will our motives should be both moral and ethical. Our economic life must be evaluated by ‘virtue’ as these are true qualities that will give us right direction. “Put another way, our economic life and practices, if they are to be theologically and morally acceptable, must enable us to practice the virtue of love.”
When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment of the Law? He replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
What did Jesus command us to
One of the most pressing moral issues facing the world today is the blatant inequality between developed and third world nations. It is shameful that as professing Christians we sit idly by and watch our fellow human beings languish in squalor and unclean conditions while we sit in our cozy three bedroom houses, two car garage and have annual vacations to sunny destinations. How can we self reflect on our behavior to improve our actions to show God’s love to our fellow human beings in our homes, work places and communities? Unless we as individuals are willing to examine our own actions …show more content…
Residual tradition of Thomas Aquinas places economic activity in the context of the virtues and ends of human life. Thomas Aquinas developed both natural law and virtue theories and both indicate that as human beings we have proper ends and goals that must be attained by right actions and virtuous character. In Messer’s text he says “Most importantly, our actions and characters should be directed towards our ultimate end of eternal life with God.”
The problem we experience with human ethics is the need for God to help us see past our present goals to an ultimate eternal life with God. We must prudently judge our moral actions according to God’s highest commandment of ‘love’ and if we are in alignment with God’s will our motives should be both moral and ethical. Our economic life must be evaluated by ‘virtue’ as these are true qualities that will give us right direction. “Put another way, our economic life and practices, if they are to be theologically and morally acceptable, must enable us to practice the virtue of love.”
When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment of the Law? He replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
What did Jesus command us to