BTheol Bachelor of Theology Christian Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ethical framework holds that an action's morality is determined solely by its consequences?
- Deontology
- Virtue ethics
- Consequentialism (Correct answer)
- Divine command theory
Correct answer: Consequentialism
Consequentialism judges actions as right or wrong based entirely on their outcomes or results.
Question 2: In Christian ethics, the concept of 'agape' primarily refers to:
- Romantic love between spouses
- Unconditional, self-giving love modeled after God's love (Correct answer)
- Brotherly friendship and affection
- Erotic love as described in Song of Solomon
Correct answer: Unconditional, self-giving love modeled after God's love
Agape is the Greek term for unconditional, self-sacrificial love, most fully expressed in God's love for humanity through Christ.
Question 3: Which theologian wrote 'The City of God' and significantly shaped Western Christian ethics?
- Thomas Aquinas
- Augustine of Hippo (Correct answer)
- John Calvin
- Martin Luther
Correct answer: Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo wrote 'The City of God' (De Civitate Dei), contrasting the earthly city with the heavenly city and shaping Christian political and moral thought.
Question 4: The principle of 'double effect' in Christian moral theology allows for an action that causes harm when:
- The harm is the intended goal of a greater good
- The action is intrinsically evil but socially necessary
- The harmful effect is foreseen but not intended and proportionate good results (Correct answer)
- Any harm is justified by a majority democratic vote
Correct answer: The harmful effect is foreseen but not intended and proportionate good results
The doctrine of double effect permits actions with harmful side effects when the action itself is good, the bad effect is not intended, and the good outweighs the evil.
Question 5: Which Christian ethical tradition emphasizes that moral law is written on human hearts and discoverable through reason?
- Situational ethics
- Natural law theory (Correct answer)
- Dispensationalism
- Antinomianism
Correct answer: Natural law theory
Natural law theory, rooted in Aquinas, holds that God has inscribed moral truth into creation and human reason can discern it without special revelation.
Question 6: What does the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) contribute to Christian ethical thought?
- It replaces the Old Testament law entirely with new civil regulations
- It sets a higher moral standard that exposes the heart's motives, not just outward behavior (Correct answer)
- It limits ethical obligations to the Jewish community only
- It endorses withdrawal from society into monastic isolation
Correct answer: It sets a higher moral standard that exposes the heart's motives, not just outward behavior
The Sermon on the Mount deepens Torah ethics by addressing inner attitudes and motives, not merely external compliance with rules.
Question 7: In Reinhold Niebuhr's Christian realism, which of the following best describes his view of human nature?
- Humans are basically good and will choose rightly when educated
- Sin is only a social construct with no personal dimension
- Humans are both created in God's image and radically corrupted by sin, producing moral ambiguity (Correct answer)
- Original sin applies only to Adam and Eve, not to subsequent generations
Correct answer: Humans are both created in God's image and radically corrupted by sin, producing moral ambiguity
Niebuhr's Christian realism affirms human dignity and creativity alongside a serious doctrine of original sin, producing inevitable moral ambiguity in all human endeavors.
