Christianity: Dialogue between Christianity and ethics — AQA A-Level Religious Studies

This topic explores the relationship between Christianity and ethical decision-making, focusing on how Christian teachings, traditions, and authorities shape moral reasoning. It examines key ethical theories such as Natural Law, Situation Ethics, and Virtue Ethics, and considers their application to contemporary issues like abortion, euthanasia, and war. Students will analyse the diversity within Christianity, including liberal and conservative perspectives, and evaluate the coherence and relevance of Christian ethics in a pluralistic society.

Understanding this dialogue is crucial for AQA A-Level Religious Studies because it integrates core Christian beliefs (e.g., the imago Dei, agape love, sanctity of life) with practical moral dilemmas. It also challenges students to critically assess how biblical interpretation, church teaching, and reason interact. This topic builds on earlier study of Christian moral principles and prepares students for synoptic questions that link ethics with philosophy and theology.

Mastery of this topic requires familiarity with key thinkers such as Aquinas, Fletcher, and Hauerwas, as well as the ability to apply ethical frameworks to specific issues. Students should be prepared to debate whether Christian ethics offers a distinctive voice in modern debates or merely reflects broader cultural values. The dialogue between Christianity and ethics is not static; it evolves with new scientific developments and social changes, making it a dynamic and engaging area of study.

• →Natural Law: A deontological, teleological theory rooted in Aristotle and Aquinas, emphasising that moral goodness is achieved by fulfilling the purpose (telos) of human nature, with primary precepts like preservation of life and reproduction.
• →Situation Ethics: A consequentialist theory by Joseph Fletcher, based on agape love, which holds that the most loving action in a situation is morally right, rejecting absolute rules.
• →Virtue Ethics: An approach focusing on character and virtues (e.g., compassion, justice) rather than rules or consequences, drawing on Aristotle and adapted by theologians like Stanley Hauerwas.
• →Sanctity of Life: The Christian belief that human life is sacred because it is created in the image of God (imago Dei), influencing debates on abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment.
• →Conscience: In Christian ethics, conscience is seen as a God-given faculty for discerning right from wrong, though its authority is debated (e.g., Aquinas vs. Freud).

• Christian responses to deontological, teleological/consequential, and character-based ethical approaches.
• Evaluation of whether Christian ethics can be classified as deontological, teleological, consequential, or character-based.
• Christian perspectives on human life and death (embryo research, abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment).
• Christian perspectives on animal life and death (food, farming, scientific procedures, blood sports, organ transplants).
• Christian views on theft, lying, marriage, homosexuality, and transgender issues.
• Christian responses to issues of wealth, tolerance, and freedom of religious expression.
• Christian understandings of free will, moral responsibility, and the value of conscience.
• Analysis of the impact of other ethical perspectives on Christian views, including challenges, support, and compatibility.
• Evaluation of the relative strengths and weaknesses of Christian perspectives versus other ethical theories.

• 💡Ensure you can apply specific Christian moral principles to each of the prescribed ethical issues.
• 💡Use the dialogue section to demonstrate how Christian belief is influenced by ethical studies, not just how it applies to them.
• 💡Structure arguments to compare Christian perspectives directly with secular ethical theories like Utilitarianism or Kantian ethics.
• 💡Use precise terminology when discussing different ethical approaches (e.g., deontological vs. teleological).
• 💡Use specific examples from scholars (e.g., Aquinas, Fletcher, Hauerwas) and apply them to contemporary issues like abortion or war. This demonstrates depth and evaluation, which are key for top marks.
• 💡Always compare and contrast different Christian ethical approaches. For instance, show how Natural Law and Situation Ethics might reach different conclusions on euthanasia, and evaluate which is more consistent with biblical teaching.
• 💡Avoid vague statements like 'Christians believe...' without specifying which tradition or denomination. Be precise: 'The Roman Catholic Church, following Aquinas, teaches...' or 'Liberal Protestants influenced by Fletcher argue...'

• Failing to explicitly link Christian teachings to the specific ethical theories (Kant, Bentham, Virtue Ethics).
• Treating Christian ethics as a monolith without acknowledging denominational or theological diversity.
• Neglecting the synoptic nature of the question by failing to connect ethical studies back to core Christian beliefs.
• Describing ethical theories without evaluating their compatibility with Christian moral principles.
• Misconception: All Christians hold the same ethical views. Correction: Christianity is diverse; for example, Roman Catholics often follow Natural Law, while Protestants may favour Situation Ethics or biblical principles, leading to different conclusions on issues like contraception or war.
• Misconception: Situation Ethics is the same as moral relativism. Correction: Fletcher's Situation Ethics is based on the absolute principle of agape love, making it a form of 'principled relativism' where love is the only absolute, not a rejection of all moral norms.
• Misconception: Natural Law is purely religious. Correction: While Aquinas integrated Christian theology, Natural Law is also a philosophical theory accessible to reason alone, as seen in its use by non-religious thinkers.