Morality Human Dignity

INTRODUCTION TO

MORALITY CHRISTIAN MORALITY

THE STARTING POINT OF MORALITY

• To acknowledge that we are creatures and not God

God is our origin. We are to serve God, and our goal is to go back to God.

THE STARTING POINT OF MORALITY

2. To know our place in creation: that we are stewards of creation and not its masters

Because God has imbued us with inculpable dignity, we have the obligation to act with responsibility.

THE STARTING POINT OF MORALITY

3. To acknowledge that God is the author over all His Creation

THE DIGNITY OF THE

HUMAN BEING

Human Being is the masterpiece in God’s creation. Being such, the individual person must respect his or her life and that of others.

To have dignity means:

to have worth and value. One who has the dignity:

is excellent honorable, and worthy of respect

Our human dignity is:

INHERENT It means that human dignity is naturally associated with a person or thing, as an essential characteristic.

Our human dignity is:

INVIOLABLE It means that human dignity cannot and must not be violated [ all kinds of violations ] or disturbed.

Our human dignity is:

INALIENABLE It means that human dignity cannot be transferred or taken away.

Our human dignity, therefore, is part of us. It is to be treated as something

SACRED, and no one has the right to degrade it.

But how did we acquire this inherent, inviolable and inalienable human dignity?

The inherent, inviolable, and inalienable dignity of the human person is rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God.

This likeness does not refer to a physical resemblance, for who can describe the physical features of God. Rather, the likeness refers to qualities which we believe God has, based on His works we see around us.

These qualities include:

The ability to think The ability to love The ability to choose The ability to relate with others

IMPORTANT TEACHINGS ABOUT MORALITY

• Because we are made in the divine image and likeness of God, we are spiritual beings with incomparable dignity, worth, and value. We are not just somethings, but someones.

IMPORTANT TEACHINGS ABOUT MORALITY

• Because we are made in the divine image and likeness of God, we are persons capable of thinking, choosing, loving and relating with God and others.

IMPORTANT TEACHINGS ABOUT MORALITY

• Because we are made from God’s love, we can enter into a love relationship with God, and can respond to Him in love and in faith. To love and respond to God is part of our dignity as human beings.

IMPORTANT TEACHINGS ABOUT MORALITY

• Because we are made in the divine image and likeness of God, by free will, we are capable of directing ourselves towards what is true and what is good.

IMPORTANT TEACHINGS ABOUT MORALITY

• Because we are made in the divine image and likeness of God, by reason, we recognize the voice of God which urges us to do what is good and to avoid what is evil.

IMPORTANT TEACHINGS ABOUT MORALITY

• Because we are made in the divine image and likeness of God, we are given stewardship over all of creation, we have the responsibility to develop a sense of morality, and to live a moral life.

THE HUMAN PERSON

THE HUMAN PERSON • What is the difference between a person and an animal?

THE HUMAN PERSON • What is a person? – Scientist • A biological being

– Philosopher • A being that can think

THE HUMAN PERSON • –Drug pusher Drug pusher – A source of income

• Pleasure seeker – An object for pleasure

• Christian – _________________

THE HUMAN PERSON Christian view of a person: 2. A person is made in the image of God - “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created then.” (Gen. 1:27)

THE HUMAN PERSON – It is the BEST creation of God. – A person is basically GOOD.

THE HUMAN PERSON Made by God in the image of God: - Because a person is made in the image God, then each person has:

“ 人类 dinity” “humanos dinity” 인간 dinity

HUMAN DIGNITY “KAHALAGAHAN”

of

HUMAN DIGNITY 1. Means that everybody is somebody. 2. Dignity does not depend on social status or achievement. It depends simply on being human. 3. We must promote the well-being of others.

What’s wrong with this? • “Sapagka’t kami ay tao lamang.”

• Minamaliit natin ang ating pagkatao, subali’t ang tao ay ginawa na kalarawan ang Diyos.

THE HUMAN PERSON

THE HUMAN PERSON • Tell something positive about the persons shown: - What the person is good at - What you like about the person

THE HUMAN PERSON

THE HUMAN PERSON • Tell something positive about the persons shown: - What the person is good at - What you like about the person

Christian view of a person 1. A person is created in the image of God, and therefore has dignity. 2. A person has freedom. - the power to choose - You are not a machine which is automatic - You are not an animal which relies on instinct

Human Freedom • Wrong understanding: “I can do anything I want.” • Correct understanding: “ I can choose to do what is good.”

PAVLOV’S Dog Experiment • He was a Russian physiologist, psychologist, and physician. • is often used to describe someone who merely reacts to a situation rather than use critical thinking.

PAVLOV’S Dog Experiment Stimulus

Automatic reaction

What is your personality based on?

- Genes - Psychology - Environment

- Automatic Reaction

Christian view of a person • Genetics – Marunong siya kasi marunong ang ina niya – He’s lazy. Kasi buong pamilya tamad.

• Psychic – He made me angry, so I hit him – Pinainit niya ang ulo ko, kaya inupakan ko.

Christian view of a person • Environmental – Bumagsak ako kasi mahirap talaga dito sa school na ito. – Umuulan sarap matulog, hindi muna ako papasok.

Christian view of a person • Persons have freedom to choose – Your Present is a product of your Past. – But your Future Action is your Choice.

Christian view of a person How did Henry become so rich and so successful? • Through plain hard work, a minimum of 12 hours a day, even these days, despite being 83 and having legs weakened by too much walking (visiting his malls). • And also, he says, “being honest and fair to other people.” And yes, innovation.

People have freedom to choose - Genes - Psychology - Environment

Your Action

FREEDOM TO CHOOSE

• Genetics

Examples

– Kahit na walang nakatapos sa pamilya namin, kaya kong maka-graduate ng college. - Kahit tamad ang mga kapatid ko, kaya kong maging masipag.

Examples • Psychic – He made me angry, but I can control myself. – Pinainit niya ang ulo ko, pero pinagpasensiyahan ko siya.

• Environmental – Bumagsak ako dahil hindi ako nag-aral ng husto. – Malamig, sarap matulog, ngunit papasok pa rin ako.

Christian view of a person 1. A person is made in the image of God, and therefore has dignity. 2. A person has freedom 3. Every person is relational. Ang bawa’t tao ay may ka-ugnay. No person is an island.

Christian view of a person After physical survival, the most important need of the person is to have GOOD RELATIONSHIPS: - In the family - Among friends - With God

Christian view of a person What do you think is the secret to having good relationships?

Ang pananaw sa tao ng Kristiyano •

•

A person is made in the image of God A person has freedom.

Ang pananaw sa tao ng Kristiyano •

•

Every person is relational, may kaugnay. No person is an island. All persons are part of Creation, so we have to take care of the environment.