Ethics Textbook Project: A Discussion On The Christian Belief In God
Ethics Textbook Project: Chapter: Christian Ethics
Fall 2017
Objective: To effectively guide students in structuring and writing chapter on an
introduction to ethics for their Ethics Textbook Project.
Important Note on Transitions!: Work on your transitions! Reflect on your organization and order. I have presented an order of what is listed below - think about that order before you answer the questions. This will help your transitions from one topic to the next.
Christian Ethics. The objective of this chapter is to discuss and explain Christian Ethics, defining it in general and highlighting what makes it distinct.
Chapter Beginning. Chapter should begin with paragraph(s) on how ethics is viewed differently in different cultures. Through the long course of history, different cultures have thought about what is right and wrong and developed different traditions of ethics. One of the largest and oldest studies of ethics is the Christian tradition. A Christian understanding of Ethics is based upon faith. And their faith is founded upon God, scripture, and tradition. Christian ethics is a two thousand year old study into what God has revealed about what is right and wrong given to us through scripture and tradition. Transition! Refer back to your moral story from the previous chapter. Ask how Christian ethics might reflect on the story.
Chapter Body. Chapter should then transition to a discussion of what ethics is in general. The following list must be included in your chapter. Strongly suggest structuring the chapter in the order presented:
1. God. Transition to a discussion on the Christian belief in God. Provide reasons to believe in God (need for a Creator) and arguments against God's existence (suffering argument) and how Christians respond to the arguments against God's existence (God does not make people suffer, rather, God gave us freedom and in our freedom we choose to hate rather than love - which makes ourselves and others suffer. God permits us to do this because he loves us and would not go against our freedom - he wants us to choose love, but will not force us).
2. Our Purpose. Discuss what Christians believe our purpose is (to love and be loved) and how and why we fail (sin). Include the following, according to Christianity:
a. Our Purpose
b. Sin. Define sin and discuss its effects and consequences. Discuss the division between venial and grave/mortal sin.
c. Love and the Difference between Loving and Liking
d. How Our Response to God Leads to Heaven or Hell. Judgement Day.
Discuss the Christian understanding of Heaven, Hell and Purgatory.
3. The Human Person and Human Dignity. Discuss how Christians understand
what a person and human nature is. Include the following: a. How humans are spiritual animals - give examples b. Made in the Image and Likeness of God
c. Human Dignity.
4. Freedom. Discuss what freedom is and is not according to a Christian understanding. Include:
a. Definition of freedom. “Freedom is a power, rooted in the intellect and will, to act or not to act.”
b. “freedom from” and “freedom to or for”. Give examples that illustrate the difference (i.e., travel to Hawaii or draw a circle).
c. Contrast freedom with license.
d. Relationship between freedom and responsibility. Use moral scenario
to illustrate. Discuss how responsibility can be lessened via limits to external freedom and limits to internal freedom. Use one or two examples from each.
5. Overview of Christian Ethics. Discuss what makes an act good or bad in Christian Ethics (all parts of the moral act have to be good). Be sure to include details for each part of the moral act. Refer to your moral scenario to illustrate each. Feel free to play around with your moral scenario to show how it could be good or bad. Include:
a. Discussion of relationship between Intention and the Moral Law. Define the sources of law. Discuss the 10 commandments in general.
b. Discussion of relationship between Action and Virtue. Define virtue and how it is formed. Describe the natural and theological virtues, discussing each.
Chapter Ending. Chapter should then end with paragraph(s) that summarizes above, leaves reader a few questions to ponder, and analyzes your moral scenario in light of a Christian understanding.
Chapter Expectations. Your chapter, in addition to the above requirements, is expected to be written as follows:
● Proper MLA format (12 point, double-spaced, etc.)
Grammatically correct (proofread at least two times!!!)
● Minimum of two pages in length.
1
2
Far Below Expectations
3
4
Meets Expectations
5
Requirements
(R)
Timeliness, Conventions
Several days late. Many requirements were not met. Author makes excessive mistakes in grammar, spelling, or punctuation that distract the reader from the content.
One day late. Almost all of the requirements were met. Author makes few errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation that distract the reader from the content.
Content
(C)
Key Terms & Definitions
The paragraphs include few to none of the necessary required points.
Many terms not correctly defined or understood.
The paragraphs include all but one or two of the required necessary points.
One or two terms not correctly defined or understood.
Analysis
(A)
Organization
The organization of some or all of the paragraphs make for a difficult read because of poor sentence structure or lack of transitions.
The sequence of paragraphs is not logical.
Each of the paragraphs includes a well-written topic sentence, sentences with supporting details, transitions, and a wrap-up sentence.
The logical ordering of paragraphs is clear.
Application
(A)
Moral Scenario
The moral scenario is insufficient and does not fulfill what was required of it. It is not able to be adapted. Story is rarely or poorly referred back to to illustrate concepts covered.
The moral scenario is creative and with a robustness that is able to be adapted. Story is occasionally referred back to to illustrate concepts covered.
Expression
(E)
Comprehension and Voice
There is no unique, creative expression of material. The author's “voice” is absent as content is copied from prompts. Introduction is undeveloped. Transitions are poor; essential material is presented in “checklist” fashion. and important information is absent. The chapter is not summed up.
Unique and creative expression of material present, the author's “voice” is mostly present as material is mostly rephrased from prompts. The introduction is mostly effective. The conclusion is recognizable.
Instructor
Course
Date
Ethics Textbook Project
HOW ETHICS IS VIEWED DIFFERENTLY IN DIFFERENT CULTURES
Ethics is not considered the same in different cultures especially when different countries engage in business among themselves. These ethical concerns are mainly a challenge to the small firms. According to Tian and Dane, as smaller companies go into the international market, they meet different moral structures than those of their local marketplaces. Smaller businesses might be less well-prepared to tackle the dissimilarities. A good example is how different nations treat bribery. Bribery to get business is severely prohibited for an American firm. In contrast, other republics are more lenient on corruption. For example, bribes are tax-deductible in Germany. This tendency has brought the necessity to manage possible moral conflict before it becomes problematic.
God
Reasons to believe in God:
Human beings need morals to live. Individuals impose ethics efficiently if they fear God and have faith for the existence of Heaven.
Arguments against God's Existence:
Since evil happens, God cannot be present. God also permits discomfort, illness, and natural calamities to be in existence. Because God is unseen, and the world is no different than if He did not exist, it is easier to accept that He does not live.
OUR PURPOSE
First of all, there is a God. Christians trust that God always planned human life to be the peak of a massive plan, determined by loving one another and being kind.
Sin:
A sin is a dishonest act reflected to be a wrongdoing contrary to the divine rule. Crime has become tolerable because everyone is doing it! Because of sin, we have all lacked the glory of God. Rightness has disappeared. A mortal sin is a fatal sin, while a venial sin is a minor sin that does not lead to the entire parting with God and everlasting damnation in Hell as a mortal sin, which people do not repent would.
Love and the Difference between Loving and Liking:
Love comprises of broader and more robust feelings. Loving somebody means that he/ she means everything to you while liking a person means that you are only glad being with that individual.
How Our Response to God Leads to Heaven or Hell:
We might have some temper at God and try to correct Him, therefore, leading us to hell. Hell is the result of telling the Lord to "move out." We keep saying to God to leave us alone. To go to heaven, we must look up to Christ as our protector and savior, and be pleasing to Him.
Judgement Day:
According to Christians, heaven is above in the sky while hell is under t...