Key Idea: Four sources of Christian ethical authority: the Bible, the Church, ecumenism, the role of conscience. Every church begins from scripture; they differ over what stands beside it — a teaching office, tradition, reason, or the believer's conscience. That sentence frames any Theme 5 essay.
Tested as
- Where ethical guidance comes from, and who interprets
- Peace and conflict: pacifism and just war
- Poverty, stewardship, and the contested questions
Watch for
- Giving conscience without formation, or formation without conscience
- Writing "Christians believe" on a contested question
- Offering a verdict where the syllabus asks for the range
Use
- Ecumenism; encyclicals; conscience
- Pacifism and just war; stewardship; agape
- Focus on poverty; ethical banking and business practice
| Source | What it contributes | Its limit |
|---|---|---|
| The Bible | The Ten Commandments, the two great commandments, the Beatitudes, Jesus's teachings | Does not address embryo research or genetic engineering |
| The Church | Application to new questions — encyclicals, synods, assemblies | Binds only where a teaching office is recognised |
| Ecumenism | Shared statements where the churches can agree | Cannot remove the differences; persuades rather than obliges |
| Conscience | Obliges the individual | Must be formed by scripture, teaching and reflection |
Important: The guide's Theme 5 list includes euthanasia, embryo research, genetic engineering, abortion, family law, and homosexuals in ministry; homosexual marriages. What is asked for is the range of church teaching and the reasoning each gives, attributed by name. Traditionalist arguments run from scripture and from the tradition's reading of marriage; affirming arguments run from the same scriptures and from conscience. Report both, rank neither, and write about people as people.
Examine why Christianity produced both pacifism and just war theory.
🔒 Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Justify the claim that conscience is a source of authority in Christian ethics rather than an exception to it.
🔒 Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Name the four sources of Christian ethical authority. The authority of the Bible, the authority of the Church, ecumenism, and the role of conscience.
State the Christian position on conscience precisely. A person is obliged to follow their conscience, and conscience is to be formed by scripture, the Church's teaching and reflection. Both halves are required.
What does stewardship mean? That creation is entrusted rather than owned, so caring for it is owed to God. The guide lists it under both religious experience and environmental ethics.
Why is ecumenism listed under ethical authority? Because the churches have issued common statements on poverty, peace and the environment more readily than they have resolved doctrine — so Christian ethics is less fragmented than Christian doctrine.
Exam tips
- "Every church begins from scripture; they differ over what stands beside it." Use it as your opening.
- Conscience obliges AND must be formed. Give both or the answer misreports the teaching.
- Just war conditions are restrictions. Pair them with Sikh dharam yudh.
- On contested questions, attribute every position and rank none. That is what earns the band.