Morality and Virtues: Cultivating Character

In This Chapter…  Virtues: Habits of the Heart  The Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity  The Cardinal Virtues: Hinges Holding Together the Moral Life  A Virtuous Person: A Person of Integrity  Creating Communities of Character  Conclusion: Become a Person of Integrity – Cultivate Character

Major terms  Morality: –Our decision making capacity as it affects ourselves and others; the way we lead our lives in response to God’s love  Moral: –Positive; promotes human welfare  Immoral: –Negative; harmful and destructive  Amoral: –No sense of right or wrong; insensitive to moral effects of actions

The Concept of Morality  Morality – a science of what ought to be done in order to become fully developed human beings;  Three sources of knowledge – human reason, human experience, divine revelation.

Morality as Science and Art Morality involves: * the science (critical thinking) * the science (critical thinking) * the art (creativity and imagination) * the art (creativity and imagination)

Virtues: Habits of the Heart  Character: Who we are, who we are becoming through our actions and our choices  Vices: –Patterns of behavior that are harmful to one’s self or others

Virtues –Character strengths manifested on a consistent basis in decision making –Habits of the heart that need to be cultivated and developed –Virtues empower us to grow, develop and fulfill our potential

Theological Virtues  Foundation of Christian moral activity; given to us by God; inner principles which must be strengthened  Faith – Hope – Charity (Love)

Faith – Seeking to Do God’s Will  Faith: –Enables us to believe in God; the virtue of seeking to know and to do God’s will –Requires openness and trust  Faith-in-Action: –Trying to discover what is God’s will and then acting accordingly

Hope – A Virtue of Responsibility  Enables us to trust that God is always working for our good –Trusting the promises made by Christ and the help of the Holy Spirit  Not wishful thinking: –Not passive – trusting in God and cooperating with his grace, hope intimately tied to responsibility  Having the vision to see things differently and trying to bring about change

Love – The Cornerstone of Virtues  Represents the core of the Christian moral life  Five characteristics of love –Giving / Caring / Responsibility / Respect / Knowledge  It is by loving that we are able to live moral lives

Cardinal Virtues  Practical common sense virtues: “hinges” to our moral life  Prudence: –Practical judgment  “what is the right thing to do in this particular situation?” –Common sense

Cardinal Virtues  Justice: –reminds us that others have rights and basic needs that need to be met  Fortitude: –Courage in the face of adversity  Standing up for what is right  Temperance: –Self-control; eliminating unnecessary distractions to living a good moral life

Virtuous Person - Integrity  Integrity: –Being faithful to what one believes; –Operating in an overall consistent pattern; –Manifesting wholeness in their behavior; –Being true to oneself and to God;

Four major aspects of Integrity –Genuineness  Not hiding behind a role or image; seeking honest communication with others –Consistency  Sticking to one’s values – turning stated values (claim as imp.) into lived values (demonstrate in our actions) –Openness - honest with ourselves –Empathy  Identifying the joys and sorrows of others as our own

Communities of Character  Community of good character: –A community that exhibits an environment where virtue is the norm among its members; –Promotes the common good and provides the conditions such as peace and respect that allow its people to grow and develop.

Steps of Living a Moral Life 1) Appreciating the gift of being human; 2) Using our intellect; 3) Looking to the law to guide one’s freedom 4) Imitating Jesus

Steps of Living a Moral Life 5) Forming, informing, and following one’s conscience; 6) Repenting and seeking forgiveness; 7) Loving God above all; 8) Loving oneself; 9) Loving one’s neighbor.