Introducing Moral Theology

1. Morality is the path to true happiness, not just a set of obligations

"It makes no sense to say, 'this will make you truly happy, but the morally right thing to do is something else.'"

Happiness as the goal. Moral theology is not about following arbitrary rules, but about living a fulfilling, satisfying life. This perspective, rooted in classical thought and Christian tradition, sees virtuous living as constitutive of genuine human happiness. It contrasts with a "morality of obligation" view, which sees moral rules as external impositions that limit our desires.

Practical implications. This understanding of morality changes how we approach ethical decisions:

• We seek to understand the purpose and value behind moral guidelines
• We view virtuous actions as contributing to our well-being, not just avoiding punishment
• We recognize that what is truly good for us aligns with what is morally right

2. Our actions shape who we are, forming habits and virtues

"By free will one shapes one's own life."

Habits and character. Our repeated actions don't just impact the world around us; they shape our very selves. This "intransitive" effect of our actions forms habits – stable qualities that incline us to act in certain ways. Virtues are good habits that enable us to consistently do what is right with ease and pleasure.

Developing virtues. The process of forming virtuous habits involves:

• Overcoming contrary habits
• Repeating good actions
• Ingraining the habit until it becomes second nature

This understanding emphasizes the importance of our everyday choices in forming our character and the need for intentional practice in developing virtues.

3. Cardinal virtues guide innerworldly activities accessible to all

"The cardinal virtues may rightly be called the path to the good life, or happiness, in this world."

Universal relevance. The four cardinal virtues – prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance – govern activities that all humans engage in, regardless of culture or religious belief. They provide a framework for living well that is, in principle, accessible to human reason.

Areas of application:

• Prudence: Making good decisions
• Justice: Right relationships with others
• Fortitude: Facing difficulties
• Temperance: Moderating desires for pleasure

These virtues form a foundation for ethics that can be discussed across cultural and religious boundaries, while still allowing for deeper spiritual perspectives.

4. Theological virtues orient us towards God and our ultimate destiny

"Christian faith comes to meet them, offering the concrete possibility of reaching the goal which they seek."

Supernatural gifts. The theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity (love) are understood in Christian theology as gifts from God that enable us to participate in divine life. They complement and elevate the natural human capacities represented by the cardinal virtues.

Transformative power. These virtues:

• Orient our lives towards God as our ultimate end
• Enable us to know and love God in ways that exceed natural human capacities
• Transform how we understand and practice the cardinal virtues

This perspective sees the theological virtues as both fulfilling and transcending natural human longings, providing a deeper context for moral living.

5. Prudence enables us to see and act rightly in practical matters

"Prudence is the virtue that disposes us to see rightly, the way things are in the world around us, and to employ that truthful vision to act rightly."

Practical wisdom. Prudence is not mere caution, but the ability to perceive situations accurately and make good decisions. It involves:

• Accurately assessing circumstances
• Determining the best course of action
• Putting that decision into practice

Central role. Prudence is often called the "charioteer of the virtues" because it guides the application of all other virtues. Without prudence, good intentions may lead to harmful outcomes due to poor judgment.

6. Justice governs right relationships and the common good

"Justice is simply the habit of acting in a manner that nourishes right relations with others, and these relations are essential to our identities and thus essential to living a good life."

Relational focus. Justice is about giving others their due and maintaining right relationships at all levels of society. It recognizes that human flourishing is inherently social and interconnected.

Common good. Justice aims at the common good – the social conditions that allow all members of a community to thrive. This includes:

• Fair distribution of resources
• Respect for individual rights
• Creation of social structures that promote human dignity

Understanding justice in this way challenges individualistic notions of morality and emphasizes our responsibilities to one another and society as a whole.

7. Temperance orders our desires for pleasure reasonably

"Temperance is the virtue that inclines us to desire and enjoy pleasures well."

Balanced approach. Temperance is not about suppressing all desires for pleasure, but about ordering them reasonably. It enables us to enjoy good things in life without becoming enslaved to them.

Areas of application:

• Food and drink
• Sexual activity
• Entertainment and leisure

Temperance helps us maintain a healthy relationship with pleasurable activities, ensuring they enhance rather than dominate our lives.

8. Fortitude allows us to face difficulties and endure hardships well

"Fortitude is most basically defined as the virtue that enables one to face obstacles or difficulties well."

Courage and endurance. Fortitude involves both the courage to confront challenges and the endurance to persist in the face of ongoing hardships. It is not fearlessness, but the ability to act rightly despite fear.

Everyday relevance. While often associated with dramatic acts of bravery, fortitude is needed in daily life for:

• Persevering in long-term commitments
• Standing up for what is right in the face of social pressure
• Enduring physical or emotional suffering with dignity

Fortitude enables us to live our values consistently, even when doing so is difficult or costly.

9. Faith is believing in truths about God and our relationship to Him

"Faith is in a sense an 'exercise of thought'; and human reason is neither annulled nor debased in assenting to the contents of faith, which are in any case attained by way of free and informed choice."

Reasonable belief. Christian faith is not blind acceptance, but a reasoned trust in God's self-revelation, particularly in Jesus Christ. It involves:

• Intellectual assent to truths about God
• Personal trust in God
• Commitment to living according to those truths

Faith and reason. The Christian tradition sees faith and reason as complementary, not contradictory. Faith builds upon and perfects reason, while reason helps us understand and articulate our faith.

10. Sin corrupts human happiness but is not the end of the Christian story

"Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is a failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods."

Nature of sin. Sin is not merely breaking arbitrary rules, but a distortion of our relationship with God, others, and ourselves. It involves:

• Choosing lesser goods over greater ones
• Pridefully putting ourselves at the center of existence
• Damaging our capacity for true happiness

Hope for redemption. While the reality of sin is taken seriously in Christian thought, it is always seen in the context of God's offer of forgiveness and restoration through Jesus Christ.

11. Hope orients us towards eternal life while improving our earthly existence

"You made us for you, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."

Ultimate fulfillment. Christian hope is grounded in the belief that our deepest longings can only be fully satisfied in eternal union with God. This hope:

• Gives meaning to our earthly struggles
• Motivates us to live virtuously in the present
• Provides comfort in the face of suffering and death

Present impact. Far from encouraging neglect of this world, authentic Christian hope inspires greater engagement with earthly life, seeing it as preparation for and foretaste of eternal life.

Last updated: August 8, 2024