Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mrs. Rawbone, and I'm your RE teacher today.

I'd like to welcome you to this lesson on Christian teachings about good and evil.

In today's lesson, you will be able to describe what Christians believe about right and wrong and give examples of how they make moral decisions.

Three keywords that we'll be using today are morality, sin, and wrong.

Morality refers to the rules or principles that guide people's behaviour.

Sin is a deliberate immoral action, breaking a religious or moral law.

And wrong is something that is not morally right or acceptable.

Today's lesson will form two parts.

We'll be looking at morality and at sources of morality.

So let's get started on morality.

The word morality comes from Latin.

We have moralis, meaning custom or habit.

Morality refers to the rules or principles that guide people's behaviour, showing what is considered right and wrong within a society or by an individual.

It's closely related to ethics, which is the study and reflection on those moral principles and how they shape our understanding of right and wrong.

Alex, Lucas, and Laura are trying to make a decision.

Whose decision is moral? A, Alex says, "Should I let my friend copy my homework?" B, Lucas says, "Should I do my homework before or after dinner?" And C, Laura says, "What should I have for lunch?" So take a moment to think about your answer and also have a think about why you came to that conclusion.

Pause the video and come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you put a, Alex's question, "Should I let my friend copy my homework?" But why is this a moral decision? Well, it's a moral decision because it's about right and wrong and making a choice between them.

Alex and Sam are debating whether honesty is always good.

Sam says, "Honesty works for all of us.

If we lie, we're not just misleading ourselves but also breaking the trust of those who believe us." Sam is expressing the view that good is absolute.

Alex says, "I disagree, honesty is not always good.

If lying would protect someone's feelings or avoid causing them harm, then honesty might be bad." Alex is expressing the view that good is relative.

So the idea that good is absolute is the idea that it's unchanging and it's the same for everyone all the time in all places.

Relative is saying that good can change.

It might be dependent on a situation, or the person involved, or the results of a particular action.

Sam said, "Honesty works for all of us.

If we lie, we're not just misleading ourselves, but we're also breaking the trust of those who believe in us." Many Christians would agree with Sam, that goodness is absolute.

It's coming from God.

It applies equally to everyone all the time.

They might say that goodness is revealed in God's moral laws, things like the 10 Commandments, that goodness comes from God's nature, which is perfectly good and unchanging, that goodness can be seen in the created order, reflecting God's purpose and design for how people should live.

Alex said that he disagreed.

He said, "I disagree, honesty is not always good.

If lying would protect someone's feelings or avoid causing them harm, then honesty might be bad." Some Christians would agree with Alex, that goodness can be relative, shaped by the context, the relationships involved, the likely outcomes of a particular action.

They might say that goodness involves personal conscience guided by faith, that goodness depends on the most loving outcome as taught by Jesus, and that goodness may look different in different situations, following principles like compassion and mercy.

So which two of the following are examples of goodness as an absolute? A, it is always good to help the poor, b, it is forbidden to eat pork in Judaism and Islam but not in Christianity, c, it is good to bow to show respect in Japan but not in the UK, and d, honesty is right in every situation.

Take a moment, pause if you need to, and then come back when you're ready to check.

So well done if you spotted that it was a and d, honesty is right in every situation and it's always good to help the poor.

There are different ways of making moral decisions.

Alex asks Lucas and Laura for some advice about what to do.

He says, "Should I let my friend copy my homework? Lucas says, "No, because it's dishonest." And Laura says, "Yes, otherwise your friend might get a detention." Lucas believes that what's right or wrong depends on following certain rules or principles, like honesty or fairness.

Laura believes that what's right or wrong depends on the consequences.

She asks questions like, "What will happen if I do this?" Deontology is an approach to moral decision-making that focuses on following rules and duties regardless of the outcomes.

Lucas said, "No, because it's dishonest." His advice to Alex is therefore based on a deontological approach because he says Alex should not let his friend copy his homework because doing so will break a moral principle, in this case, honesty.

And a Christian might well agree with this, pointing to commandments like "Do not lie" in Exodus 20:16, and the belief that being truthful honours God.

Teleology is an approach to moral decision-making that focuses on the outcomes or goals of actions, judging whether something is right or wrong based on its consequences.

Laura said, "Yes, otherwise your friend might get a detention." Laura's advice to Alex is based on a teleological approach because she focuses on the consequences of the action, saying Alex should let his friend copy to help them avoid getting a detention." Now, it's possible that a Christian might agree with Laura if they believe it's the most loving action because you're helping someone in need, following Jesus' teaching to show compassion and care for others.

A deontological approach to moral decision-making is different from a teleological approach.

So deontological might be donating to charity because it's a moral duty to help those in need, so we should do it, or always keeping promises because breaking them is wrong.

Teleological, we might be donating to charity not because it's good in itself, but because it will reduce suffering in the community, or we might keep a promise because doing so will create trust and improve our relationship.

So the motivation for each of them is different.

Which of the following reflects a deontological approach to moral decision-making? Is it a, deciding if something is right or wrong based on principles you should follow, b, deciding what is right by looking at how happy it makes people, or c, deciding if something is right or wrong by how much it helps you reach a goal.

So take a moment, have a think, pause if you need to, and then come back when you're ready to check.

Well done if you put a.

It's deciding if something is right or wrong based on principles that you should follow.

For our Part A task, Aisha is explaining why she believes goodness is absolute.

I'd like you to use the sentence starters to help Lucas explain why he disagrees and thinks goodness is relative.

Aisha says, "I believe goodness is absolute.

It is the same for everyone no matter where they are.

For example, lying is always wrong whatever the situation.

What is good depends on moral rules which apply to us all." Lucas says, "I believe goodness is relative.

For example, what is good depends on.

." So remember, you're going to actually express Lucas' reply for him.

So pause the video, take your time to think about why someone might think that goodness is relative, write up your answer, and then come back when you're ready to see what you could have said.

You could have said, I believe goodness is relative.

It can change depending on the culture, situation, or individual.

For example, respecting elders might be very important in one culture, while in another, personal freedom is more valued.

What is good depends on the beliefs and values of the people involved.

So well done if you've managed to say what relative means, give an example, it's probably a different one from mine, and also to talk about what good depends on in the sense that it's relative.

Let's move on to the second part of our lesson, sources of morality.

In Christianity, virtue and sin represent the contrast between doing what is right and doing what is wrong.

The word virtue comes from the Latin virtus, originally from vir, meaning man.

Virtues came to mean good qualities, although originally they meant manly qualities.

In Christian thought, virtues are qualities that reflect God's character, so things like love and patience.

Now, for Christians, sin is a deliberate immoral action, so it breaks a religious or moral law.

This means that intention is crucial because sin involves knowingly and freely choosing to do what is wrong.

That's the definition of sin, intending to do wrong.

Matthew 5:22 says, "Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement ." Jesus here is teaching that intentions like anger or hatred matter, not just actions.

1 Samuel 16:7 says, "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Here we have a teaching that emphasises that God judges people by their inner motives, not just what they do.

Charlie is a Baptist Christian.

He's talking about the meaning of sin.

Charlie says, "Sin is more than mistakes.

It is choosing to go against God's commands.

God cares about our intentions, not just actions.

Jesus taught that sin begins in the heart, feeling anger towards someone is sinful, and acting on that anger by saying hurtful things to them is an even clearer sin.

I try to confess my sins and ask God to help me change, living in a way that honours him." So what does Charlie say about where sin begins? Pause the video, have a good look at what he said, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you spotted that Charlie says, "Sin begins in the heart." Is this statement true or false? The Bible teaches that God judges people only by their actions.

Take a moment to think about your answer and also have a think about why it's true or false.

Come back when you're ready to check.

Well done if you put false.

But why is this false? Well, it's false because the Bible teaches that God judges not only by what people do but also by their intentions.

For example, in Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus says that even anger is subject to judgement.

Alex, Lucas, and Laura are trying to agree on how Christians make moral decisions.

Alex says, "For Christians, right and wrong must be based on God's commands or rules." Lucas says, "Do Christians not believe that they can work out what is right and wrong for themselves?" Laura says, "Surely Christians think they have an inner guide which can help them make moral decisions." Fergus is an Anglican Christian who studied theology at university.

He's responding to Alex, Lucas, and Laura's comments.

Fergus says, "You're all partly right.

Christians often follow God's commands from the Bible or church teachings.

They also use reason and conscience, guided by the Holy Spirit, and they sometimes make decisions based on the situation.

This mix of fixed rules and flexible judgement is similar to how many non-religious people decide what is right or wrong." So what is the positive of having so many different ways to make moral decisions in Christianity? Can you see any negatives? Pause the video, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, or you can talk to me, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So let's have a look at teleological and deontological morality.

Deontological morality might be when a Christian uses their reason to find moral laws, the natural law, or follow God's commands, divine command theory, so following set principles.

A non-religious person such as a humanist might use reason to follow moral duties that apply universally, such as in Kantian ethics.

An example might be that both methods of finding a moral rule would end up with someone refusing to lie.

Teleological approaches.

Well, from a Christian point of view, they might use a theory known as situation ethics, which focuses on choosing the most loving outcome in each situation.

A humanist might use reason to choose the outcome that brings the most happiness, following a theory such as utilitarianism.

Now, a teleological approach could take you one way or another.

It really depends on the situation and the outcome.

But for example, it might lead to someone breaking an unjust law.

So which of the following describes how Christians make moral decisions? Is it a, Christians only follow God's commands from the Bible, b, mainly by relying on their conscience and what they personally feel is right, or c, by using a combination of sources, including commands, reason, conscience, and the situation.

So take a moment to think about which best describes how Christians make moral decisions.

Pause if you need to.

And then come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you put c, by using a combination of sources, including commands, reason, conscience, and the situation.

For many Christians, including Danielle, who is Roman Catholic, conscience is an important source of moral authority.

Danielle says, "As a Roman Catholic, I believe my conscience is where I hear God's voice guiding me.

The Catechism, paragraph 1,776, calls it the secret core and sanctuary where we're alone with God.

My conscience is formed through prayer, reason, and church teachings.

It shapes my personal convictions and leads me to take a stand.

For example, I volunteer for Pax Christi, a Catholic peace organisation, because of my conviction that it is wrong for countries to have nuclear weapons." So how is Danielle's work with Pax Christi informed by her conscience? Take a moment to reread what she said and to think about your answer.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

So you might notice that she volunteers with Pax Christi.

Conscience is also a source of authority for non-religious people, such as Diane.

Diane says, "As a humanist, I believe conscience is shaped by carefully reasoning about right and wrong.

It is not given by a god.

My personal convictions are based on evidence and a belief in human dignity.

Following my conscience means acting responsibly towards others.

One way in which I do this is by supporting Amnesty International because of my personal conviction that we should protect people from torture, discrimination, and injustice." So where does Diane think conscience comes from? Pause the video, have a look at what Diane has said, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

Diane says that in her view, conscience is shaped by reasoning about right and wrong.

For the Catholic church, natural law is an important source of moral authority.

Father Jason says, "As a Roman Catholic priest, I believe natural law is part of God's internal wisdom, written into creation and known through reason.

The Catechism says it expresses the original moral sense which enables man to discern by reason the good and evil, the truth and the lie.

That's in paragraph 1,954.

It underpins the church's moral teaching and includes the primary precept to preserve life.

That's why I wrote to my MP opposing the Assisted Dying Bill.

Euthanasia breaks this precept and undermines respect for human dignity." So how has Jason applied natural law to a current legal issue? Pause the video, have a reread of what he said, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So you might have noticed that he has expressed opposition to the Assisted Dying Bill.

For many Christians, including Asher, who's a Pentecostal Christian, morality comes from God's commands.

Asher says, "I believe moral truth comes from God's commands, revealed through the Bible.

For me, living morally means obeying what God has said, not relying on personal opinion.

Jesus taught, "Love your neighbour as yourself." Mark 12:31.

And numerous passages call us to care for those in need.

This is why I am part of the team who organised our church's food bank.

For me, following God's commands means providing practical support to people who are struggling." So what example does Asher give of living out God's commands? Pause the video, have a look at what he said, and come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you noticed that he helps organise his church's food bank.

Non-religious people such as Warren might want to avoid following fixed rules and instead use an ethical theory such as utilitarianism.

Warren says, "My approach to moral decision-making is shaped by utilitarianism, which teaches that the right action is the one that brings about the greatest good.

I believe we should act in ways that reduce harm and promote wellbeing for as many people as possible.

That's why I donate part of my salary to Oxfam.

Even though it means I have less to spend on myself, I know that the benefit it brings to others far outweighs the sacrifice on my part." So how does Warren put utilitarianism into practise? Pause the video, have a read of what he said, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you noticed that he donates part of his salary to Oxfam.

Some Christians, including Fergus, who is an Anglican Christian, might also want to avoid fixed rules in every situation.

Fergus says, "My approach to moral decision-making is shaped by situation ethics, which teaches that the right action is the one that shows the most love in each situation.

Jesus taught us to love God and love our neighbour, Matthew 22:37-39, and that's what I try to live by rather than following fixed rules.

That's why I moved my savings into an ethical investment fund that avoids companies who exploit workers." So what action has Fergus taken as a result of following situation ethics? Pause the video, have a look at what he said, come back when you're ready to move on.

You might have noticed that said he's moved his savings into an ethical investment fund.

So which two of the following approaches to moral decision-making might a non-religious person take? A, applying their conscience, b, acting on God's moral rules, c, working out which action produces the most happiness, or d, applying Jesus' teaching, "Love your neighbour," to each situation.

So remember, you're looking for two.

Pause the video, jot down your answer, and then come back when you're ready to check.

So well done if you put a and if you put c as well.

For Part 1 of our task, I'd like you to describe what religious believers mean by sin.

In your answer, you must refer to a source of wisdom and authority.

For guidance, you can use point, develop, point develop.

As you do that, you need to name and link in a relevant source and explain what it teaches in relation to your point.

So this is a source of wisdom and authority.

It could be a quotation or it could be more general, like a belief or teaching.

So pause the video.

Take the time to write your answer to that question.

Don't forget to follow the guidance provided.

Come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said, Christians believe that sin is a deliberate choice to do something wrong, going against God's moral or religious law.

It is more serious than a mistake because it involves intention, knowingly doing what is wrong.

And many Christians believe sin begins in the heart, not just in actions.

Jesus said, "Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement ," in Matthew 5:22.

This shows that inner thoughts and feelings like anger can be sinful even if no action is taken.

This is important because it means God cares about people's motives, not just what they do.

So Christians must try to be pure in both thought and action.

So well done if you've got the two points and you developed them, but also if you linked in that source of authorities I have done in that second paragraph when I talked about Jesus' teaching.

For Part 2 of our task, Asher, Danielle, Fergus, and Brandon are discussing the statement, fixed rules do not help with moral decision-making.

I'd like you to complete their points in the table below.

Asher, who's Pentecostal, starts with the point, I believe God's commands in.

Danielle, who's Roman Catholic, begins, rules matter, but conscience.

Fergus, who's a liberal Anglican says, "I think love matters more than.

." And Warren, who's an atheist, says, "I prefer to think carefully and weigh up.

." So pause the video.

Take your time to explain their point and also to develop it a little further.

Come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said for Asher, I believe God's commands in the Bible are fixed and should be followed.

And for developing that point, they give clear guidance on right or wrong, so we don't have to rely on our own opinions.

For Danielle, the Roman Catholic, rules matter, but conscience also plays an important role.

And for developing that point, conscience must be formed by church teaching and reason, but it helps apply rules to complex situations.

For Fergus, the liberal Anglican, I think love matters more than always following fixed rules.

And for developing it, situation ethics helps me to decide what to do based on compassion and what will help others most.

And finally, for Warren, the atheist, I prefer to think carefully and weigh up what will bring the greatest happiness.

And for developing that, fixed rules can be too rigid.

Utilitarianism means choosing actions that increase wellbeing.

So well done if you managed to develop each of those points, and if you've shown that you understand there's a variety of ways that Christians make moral decisions, and that non-religious people also have different ways of making those kinds of decisions too.

In today's lesson, we've learned that morality means knowing what is right or wrong, and views can be either fixed or flexible.

People, including Christians, use different approaches to moral decisions, such as following rules or looking at consequences.

Sin involves knowingly choosing to disobey God's law, and what someone intends is important.

Christians rely on sources like the Bible, conscience, reason, and church teachings to guide them.

And while some Christians stick to God's commands, others focus on what is most loving or brings the best result.

Thank you very much for your hard work today on this lesson.

I've really enjoyed working through it with you.