Christian Ethics Research Paper

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Recommended: Ethical issue of capital punishment

Explain how Christian ethical teachings influence the lives of adherents in Australia:
Ethics is a system of morals or what is and right and wrong. 'Christian ethics are based upon beliefs about God's relationship with the world and his people' (Bulmer & Doret) and it is through this and the Christian's definition of how to find this relationship that ethics are created. Ethics are an important guide to a Christian, these ethics give them purpose and value to life. This influential guide is useful when issues are difficult to agree upon or know exactly how to handle them. Issues such as capital punishment and euthanasia and suicide are both prime examples of this, with Christian’s looking to God, his scriptures and his teachings for the answers …show more content…

The Christian ethical teachings on this topic are that it goes against the words of God and Jesus as found in the one of the Ten Commandments ‘Do not kill’ - Exodus 20:13’ (The Bible Gateway). Capital punishment in the eyes of a Christian is seen as an offence against the right to a human life. ‘The use of the death penalty is incompatible with the message and practice of Jesus Christ who preaches forgiveness of all sins rather than upholding revenge’ (Norden, 2006). It is through these teachings that the belief of all human life should be respected and valued and never sacrificed and through this its influence on the lives of adherents is obtained and obeyed. Christian’s are influenced against capital punishment because it is against the will of God and his teachings. ‘Justification of capital punishment is often linked to a desire for revenge or through our fear (Clark, 2009)’, it is believed that Christian who do not fall into this trap, will be rewarded by God and through this gain a better knowledge of …show more content…

In particular these three passages state; ‘I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life’ - Deuteronomy 30:19-20, it is said that taking a life is evil and desrives from the demonic host who only came to ‘Steal, and to kill and to destroy’ - John 10:10 and for metally sick adherants if they ‘submit themselves to God, and resist the devil he shall flee from you and you will be free’ – James 4:7 (Miller, 2012). These passages influence adherents ‘that putting an end to life, handicapped, mentally sick or dying, is morally unacceptable’ (Bulmer & Doret) and should should choose life, be accepted, respected and that if this natural process is respected that you will be saved for respecting God’s wishes. Determining what is right and wrong is this situation, provdies comfort and knowing that the person in this situation will be with God and his love in the next life

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