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The Dialogue Between The Bible and Moral Theology
The Dialogue Between The Bible and Moral Theology
The Dialogue Between The Bible and Moral Theology
Between the
Bible and Moral
Theology
A Continuation
3. JAMES M. GUSTAFSON
*sees the Bible as being used
by the Christian ethicist in
two different ways:
c. Revealed Morality
d. Revealed Reality
Revealed Morality
• Evangelical Protestants
Examples:
• The Sermon on the Mount
• Celibacy
1. Sermon on the Mount
• For the Liberal Protestant Theology,
the Beatitudes are the blueprint
about the presence of God’s Kingdom
here on earth.
• For Albert Schweitzer, the Beatitudes
are proposals for an interim ethic for
a short time before the coming of the
end of the world (parousia).
2. Marriage and Divorce
• For the Catholic
Teaching=INDISSOLUBILITY (ratum et
consummatum)
• For Charles Curran
« …. Indissolubility of marriage is proposed
as an ideal, but that in the world between
the two comings of Jesus, it is not always
possible to achieve the fullness of that
ideal. »
• Paul allowed divorce in 1 Cor 7: 12-16
3. Problems of Systematization
and Selection
• Fact: There is a great divergence
even within the Biblical message
itself which makes it most difficult to
arrive at a satisfying synthesis of
Biblical teaching/Biblical morality.
• There exists even within the SS a
plurality of misunderstandings of
moral life.
4. Subjective use of a
particular Biblical verse
• Examples:
2. Social Gospel Approach
3. Liberation Theologians’ Use of the SS
4. Focus:
e. OT (Teachings of the Prophets)
f. NT (Teachings of Jesus)
= common source for Social Gospel
Approach
A Proposed Methodology
Gaudium et Spes 4
« At all times the Church
carries the responsibility of
reading the signs of the times
and of interpreting them in
the light of the Gospel, if it is
to carry out its task. »
Gaudium et Spes 58
« There are many links between
the message of salvation and
culture. In His self-revelation to
His people culminating in the
fullness of manifestation in His
Incarnate Son, God speaks
according to the culture proper
to each age. »
Method of Gaudium et Spes
• Viewing reality in terms of
the Gospel and of Human
Experience
Reasons of the Advantages in using
the said GS Approach according to
Charles Curran
• SS allows us to reflect on who a Christian
is and what his attitudes, dispositions,
goals, values and decisions are.
• SS can never be used as a book of
revealed morality because of hermeneutic
problem.
• SS furnishes us with information about
self-understanding of the people who lived
in covenant relationship with God and hos
this helped shape their lives and actions.
The Dialogue
Between the
Magisterium and
Moral Theology
An Essential Component
in Moral Theology
MAGISTERIUM
•Latin «magiste» which
refers to « authority »