extra christianity

• Encyclicals


  Documents introduced by the Pope
• Destruction of sacred aged forests for timber and paper industries

  Goes against the teaching that humans are stewards of creation
• Revealed law


  Ethical teachings that have been revealed by God
• Christian ethics


  Ethics that are informed by biblical teachings as well as one's own conscience
• Ecological conversion


  A transformation of heart and mind, restoring one's relationship with creation and with God
• Encyclical


  A papal letter sent to all bishops of the Roman Catholic Church
• Stewardship


  To have care over
• Ethics are a system of moral principles by which human behaviour can be judged as right or wrong
• Ethics are a demonstration of a person's beliefs in action
• Christian ethical teachings are founded on an understanding of who the human person is and the belief that every person is capable of good
• Christian ethical actions are focused on maintaining right relationship with God, one's neighbour and oneself
• The Beatitudes


  Jesus' positive attitudes for being
• The Beatitudes are built on the positive principles of the Decalogue
• "Blessed are the peacemakers"


  The Christian is to be one who works to create environments of peace and harmony
• Jesus' actions are the model for all Christian ethics - the model of Christ as giving his life in service is a key guide to action
• Jesus' treatment of others was based on

  • Love
  • The Kingdom of God was for everyone
  • All people have an inherent dignity
  • Advocate peace
  • Concern for the poor and oppressed
• The Decalogue


  The Ten Commandments revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai during the Exodus, establishing who God is and what is required to live in right relationship with God
• The Decalogue is considered to be the foundations of all Christian ethics
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church: 'The revealed law provides the solid foundation on which man can build the structure of moral rules to guide his own choices.'
• Natural Law


  An inherent set of rules in human behaviour and human reasoning that governs human contact, derived from St Thomas Aquinas
• Natural Law is rooted within Catholic theology and is specific to Catholicism, it is often referred to as informed conscience
• Conscience


  One's understanding and inner intuition of right and wrong
• Informed conscience


  One's conscience being developed through advice and through examining the teachings of the Church
• Dignitatis Humanae (document from Vatican II): 'Nor must he be prevented from acting according to his conscience, especially in religious matters.'
• Many Christians look to their Church leaders for guidance, who provide teachings and guidelines on how Christians should live their lives individually and as members of a community
• Environmental Ethics in regards to christian ethics

  Fundamental principles and ethics that are applied to the relationship between humans and the environment
• Environmental concerns are substantially a modern concept
• Major religions have embedded in their faith, instructions of how people can coexist with their natural environments
• Morals and ethics as they exist between people are extended to include the Environment
• The creation stories of Genesis 1-2 provide the accounts of creation and provide a number of important insights concerning creation and the relationships and responsibilities that exist between God, humankind and the rest of the created order
• Genesis 2:15: 'The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it'
• Religious truths drawn from Genesis 1-2

  • God is the creator of all things
  • There is a close relationship between God and the created world
  • The created world is a good thing
  • Human beings have a particular responsibility, known as stewardship, for the created world
  • Failure to fulfil this responsibility of stewardship will inevitably lead to undesirable consequences for humankind
• Agape


  Selfless love (as modelled by Jesus). Compassion/Justice/ Peace. Care for others (and the environment)
• Imago Dei


  Latin for "image of God", teaches Christians that they are made in the likeness of God and hence should act God-like, working towards building the Kingdom of God on earth
• Kingdom of God


  Fulfilment on earth of God's will
• Christians are instilled with the mission to create the kingdom of God here on earth, "as earth as it is in heaven" Matt 6:10, by remembering and acting in accordance with Jesus' teachings including the virtues of respect, consideration, harmony and balance with not other human beings but creation as well
• Right relationship


  Decisions are inherently based on trying to achieve what is good and right with themselves, others and God
• Pope Francis' second encyclical, Laudato Si', states that ecological conversion is "transformation of hearts and minds toward greater love of God, each other, and creation"
• Pope John Paul II: 'In a world that is increasingly interdependent, peace, justice and the protection of creation must be the fruit of the common effort of all in pursuing the common good together.'
• Laudato Si', 2015, subtitled 'on care for our common home', calls all people of the world to take "swift and unified global action"