Free Bachelor of Theology Christian Ethics Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which of the following assumptions was this chapter not concerned with?

Religion is an essential source of moral guidance.
God is the creator of morality.
Religious belief is required to get us to do our duty.
All religions teach basically the same moral message. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: All religions teach basically the same moral message.

The chapter likely focuses on specific aspects of religion's role in morality, such as whether God is the source of morality or if religious belief is necessary for moral action. The assumption that 'all religions teach basically the same moral message' is a broad generalization that is typically explored in comparative religion or philosophy, rather than being a foundational assumption within a chapter examining the relationship between *a* religion and morality.

Question 2: What is the name for someone who doubts the existence of God?

Theist
Deist
Agnostic (Correct answer)
Atheist

Correct answer: Agnostic

An agnostic is someone who believes that the existence of God, or the ultimate nature of reality, is unknown or unknowable. Unlike an atheist who denies God's existence, an agnostic expresses doubt or a lack of definitive knowledge regarding the divine.

Question 3: Which of the following statements is true, according to the deist?

God exists and is the creator of morality.
God exists and gives commands but did not create morality.
God exists but does not give us commands. (Correct answer)
God does not exist.

Correct answer: God exists but does not give us commands.

Deism posits that God created the universe and established its natural laws, but does not intervene in its affairs or communicate with humanity through revelation or specific commands. Therefore, while deists believe in a creator God, they do not believe this God issues moral directives to humans.

Question 4: What does good moral character involve, according to the text?

Doing the right thing out of fear of punishment
Doing the right thing out of love of God
Any of the above would constitute good moral character.
Doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do

According to the text, good moral character stems from an intrinsic motivation to do what is right simply because it is the right thing to do. This emphasizes acting out of a sense of duty or inherent goodness, rather than being motivated by external factors like fear of punishment or even the desire to please God.

Question 5: What connection is there between moral motivation and religion?

Religion is not required to motivate us to do the right thing.
Religion often motivates people to do the right thing.
Religion is required to motivate us to do the right thing.
Both b and c (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Both b and c

The course's perspective indicates a dual connection between moral motivation and religion. It acknowledges that religion frequently serves as a powerful motivator for individuals to act morally. Furthermore, from the specific viewpoint of this course, it asserts that religion is fundamentally required for us to be properly motivated to understand and fulfill our moral duties.

Question 6: What exactly is the Divine Command Theory?

The view that God's commands create morality (Correct answer)
The view that God created the universe simply by issuing a command
The view that God's commands are the only thing that motivates us to act morally
The view that God's commands do not create morality but reliably track it

Correct answer: The view that God's commands create morality

The Divine Command Theory is an ethical theory that asserts that an action's moral status is determined by God's will. Specifically, an action is morally right because God commands it, and morally wrong because God forbids it, meaning morality originates directly from divine commands.

Question 7: Which of the following statements best supports the claim that morality was created by God?

If God did not create morality, we have no reason to be moral.
If theism is true, then the Divine Command Theory is true.
Every law requires a lawmaker. (Correct answer)
All of the above.

Correct answer: Every law requires a lawmaker.

The argument 'Every law requires a lawmaker' is a common philosophical premise used to support the Divine Command Theory. If morality is understood as a set of universal laws, this statement suggests that these laws must have an ultimate legislator, which proponents identify as God, thereby implying God created morality.

Question 8: What issue does the Euthyphro's query from Socrates pose for the Divine Command Theory?

Many people don't believe in God but still behave morally.
If God does not exist, the Divine Command Theory must be false.
If the Divine Command Theory is true, then it is impossible to know what is right or wrong.
If the Divine Command Theory is true, then God's commands are arbitrary. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: If the Divine Command Theory is true, then God's commands are arbitrary.

Socrates' Euthyphro dilemma challenges the Divine Command Theory by asking whether something is good because God commands it, or if God commands it because it is good. If the former is true (as DCT claims), then God's commands could be arbitrary, meaning God could command anything, even cruelty, and it would become moral, which is a problematic implication for the theory.

Question 9: Which of the following must be true in order for us to have good reason to rely on religion for moral guidance?

We must have a way of accurately interpreting our chosen religious text.
We must have a way of selecting which religious text is the correct one.
We must have good reason to believe in God.
All of the above. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: All of the above.

To reliably rely on religion for moral guidance, several conditions must be met. One must first have good reason to believe in God. Subsequently, if multiple religions exist, a method for selecting the correct religious text is necessary, and finally, a dependable way to accurately interpret that chosen religious text is crucial for understanding its moral directives.

Question 10: Why is it problematic to interpret religious teachings literally?

It is impossible to determine what a “literal” reading would consist of.
Such texts sometimes contradict themselves. (Correct answer)
If we read the texts literally, we are not permitted to do many things we'd like to do.
A literal reading would often challenge our ordinary assumptions.

Correct answer: Such texts sometimes contradict themselves.

Interpreting religious texts literally often presents problems because these texts, compiled over various periods and by different authors, can contain apparent contradictions or differing accounts. A strictly literal reading struggles to reconcile these internal inconsistencies without further contextualization or interpretive frameworks.

Question 11: According to this course's definition of Christian ethics, there are four reasons to study it:

The Church is weak, the family unit is all but extinc, marriage is no longer significant, youth no longer repect authority
Abortion is out control, euthanasia is common place, bioethics has no guidelines, sexual norms are without bounds
Homosexuality has become an alternative life style, the courts are condoning bad ethics, the work place is not Christ-centered, communities have lowered their morals
No absolute framework, the slipery slope, integrated nature of ethics, lack of defence of ethical issues (Correct answer)

Correct answer: No absolute framework, the slipery slope, integrated nature of ethics, lack of defence of ethical issues

According to this course, the study of Christian ethics is vital due to four specific contemporary challenges. These include the perceived absence of an absolute moral framework in society, the danger of the 'slippery slope' in moral decision-making, the integrated and interconnected nature of ethical issues, and a general lack of effective defense for Christian ethical positions in public discourse.

Question 12: The following three relativistic ethical choices are covered in this course:

Propositional truth, ethical framework, and absolute criteria
Godly perspective, Christian viewpoint, and moral absolutes
Ethical behavior, moral truths, and postmodern values
Cultural relativism, situation ethics, and behaviorism (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Cultural relativism, situation ethics, and behaviorism

This course identifies three specific relativistic ethical approaches that challenge absolute moral standards. Cultural relativism suggests that moral truths are dependent on cultural norms, situation ethics argues that moral decisions should be made based on the unique context of each situation, and behaviorism, while primarily psychological, can imply that moral actions are learned responses rather than based on inherent moral principles.

Question 13: John, a precursor of Jesus, declares that sins are forgiven and does:

Baptisms (Correct answer)
Miracles
Circumcisions
Weddings

Correct answer: Baptisms

John the Baptist, as a precursor to Jesus, was known for his ministry of baptism in the Jordan River. He administered these baptisms as a public sign of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, preparing people for the coming of the Messiah.

Question 14: The Christian must pay taxes, submit to pagan and Christian authority, and fulfill his or her obligations to the state.

TRUE (Correct answer)
FALSE

Correct answer: TRUE

This statement is true, reflecting New Testament teachings that instruct Christians to respect and submit to governing authorities, including paying taxes and fulfilling civic obligations. Passages like Romans 13 and Matthew 22:21 emphasize obedience to the state, provided it does not conflict with God's higher commands.

Question 15: There are three main perspectives on the issue of war among evangelicals. Recognize these positions.

Capital Punishment, Reconciliation, Restoration
Biblical Pacifism, Christian Activism, Just War Tradition (Correct answer)
Just Cause, Contradictory Position, Proportionate Means
Noncombatant Immunity, Right Intention, Right Authority

Correct answer: Biblical Pacifism, Christian Activism, Just War Tradition

Among evangelicals, the issue of war is typically approached from three distinct perspectives. These are Biblical Pacifism, which advocates for non-violence; Christian Activism (sometimes referred to as Holy War or Crusaderism), which supports war for religious causes; and the Just War Tradition, which provides criteria for the moral permissibility and conduct of war.

Question 16: Morality is described as what we should do, whereas ethics is defined as what we do.

TRUE
FALSE (Correct answer)

Correct answer: FALSE

This statement is false. While often used interchangeably, when distinguished, 'ethics' typically refers to the philosophical study of moral principles and values, or a system of moral principles. 'Morality,' on the other hand, usually refers to the actual practices, beliefs, and conduct of individuals or groups concerning right and wrong. Therefore, the definitions provided in the question are reversed or inaccurately simplified.

Free Bachelor of Theology Christian Ethics Questions and Answers

Which of the following assumptions was this chapter not concerned with?

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