MORALITY - Section 1 Part 3 - REVIEW
Vocabulary
anger (wrath): A desire for revenge that prevents reconciliation, one of the capital sins.
capital sins: Seven sins that are particularly harmful because they lead to and reinforce other sins and vices. The seven are traditionally called pride, covetousness (greed), envy, anger (wrath), gluttony, lust, and sloth.
circumstances: The specific conditions or facts affecting a moral decision. Circumstances can increase or decrease the goodness or evil of an action.
common good: Social conditions that allow for all citizens of the earth, individuals and families, to meet basic needs and achieve fulfillment.
elect: Adults preparing to receive Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil who have been affirmed by the Church in the rite of election on the first Sunday of Lent.
envy: Resentment or sadness because of another person’s good fortune. It is one of the capital sins and contrary to the Tenth Commandment.
gluttony: Excessive eating or drinking; a capital sin.
greed (covetousness): The desire to accumulate earthly goods beyond what we need. It is one of the capital sins and contrary to the Tenth Commandment.
intention: The intended outcome or goal of the person choosing the object when making a moral decision.
lust: Intense and uncontrolled desire for sexual pleasure. It is one of the seven capital sins.
mortal sin: An action so contrary to the will of God that it results in a complete separation from God and his grace. As a consequence of that separation, the person is condemned to eternal death. For a sin to be a mortal sin, three conditions must be met: the act must involve grave matter, the person must have full knowledge of the evil of the act, and the person must give his or her full consent in committing the act.
object: In moral decision making, the object is the specific thing—an act, word, or thought—that is being chosen.
pride: Believing one is better than others, often resulting in despising or disrespecting other people; one of the capital sins.
scrutinies: Rituals for the elect that are meant to “uncover, then heal, all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect” (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, 141); celebrated on the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent.
sin: Any deliberate offense, in thought, word, or deed, against the will of God. Sin wounds human nature and injures human solidarity. The Bible reveals sin as rebellion against God (Old Testament); missing the goal of living in harmony with God’s Eternal Law (Old Testament); a trespass or transgression against God’s Law (New Testament).
sin of commission: A sin that is the direct result of a freely chosen thought, word, or deed.
sin of omission: A sin that is the result of a failure to do something required by God’s moral Law.
sloth: Habitual laziness; failing to put forth effort and take action; one of the capital sins.
social justice: The defense of human dignity by ensuring that essential human needs are met and that essential human rights are protected; to fight against social sin.
social sin: The collective effect of many personal sins over time, which corrupts society and its institutions by creating “structures of sin.”
venial sin: A less serious offense against the will of God that diminishes one’s personal character and weakens but does not rupture one’s relationship with God.
vice: A practice or habit that leads a person to sin.
virtue: A habitual and firm disposition to do good.
Sin and Its Consequences - Section 1, Part3
1.Briefly describe two key understandings of sin found in the OldTestament.
One idea of sin found in the Old Testament is that sin is rebellion against God. We may rebel againstGodbecause we want life to be different. We may even want God to be different, because we want to betheones incontrol. Another Old Testament view of sin is the idea of missing the mark, that is, missing the goal of livinginharmony with God’s Eternal Law. In this idea, we may desire to do what is right and to live accordingtoGod’s will, yet we still fail in some of our attempts to do so. (Article 10, pp.52–55)
2.What are some of the consequences of sin taught in the OldTestament?
The Old Testament teaches the following consequences of sin. First, sin affects people’s children andthepeople in their community. Second, God punishes people directly for their sin. Third, God withdrawshisfavor as a consequence of sin. (Article 10, p. 53,sidebar)
3.Why does Jesus say that sin is about lies anddarkness?
First, Jesus explains that every sin is a lie against the truth of what really will bring God’s saving loveandjoy into the world. People lie to themselves that a sinful action will make them happy or fulfilled, wheninfact it cannot lead them to beatitude, or true and lasting happiness found in the union with God.Second,Jesus explains that sinful acts are done in the darkness. This is a metaphorical darkness—he meansthatpeople tend to keep their sinful acts secret out of shame and in the deep knowledge that theseactionsare lies against God’s truth. (Article 11, pp.58–59)
4.Name three things that Jesus teaches aboutforgiveness.
(The students may name any three of the following teachings from Article 11, pp. 59–61.) Jesusteachesthat we need to practice generous forgiveness. He teaches the importance of forgiveness throughtheparables of the Lost Sheep, the Unforgiving Servant, and the Prodigal Son. In the Sermon on theMounthe teaches that we must also practice loving forgiveness, explaining that we will be judged in thesameway we judge others. Jesus tells Peter that we must forgive seventy-seven times—by which he meansanunlimited number of times. Above all, Christ wants us to understand that God is primarily waitingto forgive us, not to condemn us. (Article 11, p.61)
5.Give a definition ofsin.
Sin is an offense against God as well as a fault against reason, truth and right conscience. Sin is a deliberate thought, word, or deed, or omission contrary to the Eternal Law of God. In judging the gravity of sin, it is customary to distinguish between mortal and venial sins.CCC 1850 “Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.”Sin sets itself against God’s love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become “like gods,” knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus “love of oneself even to contempt of God.” In this proud self-exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.
6.What three things determine whether a human act is asin?
Three elements determine whether an act is morally good or sinful: the object (the specific action),theintention of the person acting, and the circumstances of the action. All three elements mustbedetermined together. (Article 12, p.64)
7.What is the difference between a mortal sin and a venialsin?
Mortal sin is a serious offense against God that results in a complete separation from him and hisgraceand condemns the sinner to eternal death. It destroys the virtue of charity, which helps us to loveGod and our neighbor. Venial sin is a less serious offense against God’s will. Unlike mortal sin, venial sindoesnot destroy our relationship with God, but it does diminish our personal character, damageourrelationship with God, and hurt our ability to love. (Article 13, pp.67–68)
8.What is the relationship between personal sin and socialsin?
Social sin is the collective effect of the personal sin of many people. The personal sins of manycancreate a social condition in which injustice is accepted and tolerated and individual sinful attitudesoractions become so commonly accepted that they go unchallenged by society.(Art.14,pp.72–73)
9.Give three examples of socialsin.
(The students may give a broad range of personal examples, historical or contemporary, so long astheyare appropriate examples of social sin as described in Article 14, pp.69–74.)
Ten commandments – KNOW THESE!!
1. I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery;
7. You shall not steal;
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.