Year 9 - Religious education
Situation ethics of Jesus
Religious law: What is the social context and relevance today?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils examine how religions have created rules to live by. They will investigate how the ethics of Jesus reframed the Jewish law of the time and how Muslims may use the concept of ijtjihad to make moral decisions.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain what is meant by situation ethics and describe examples from the life of Jesus that might encourage Christians to take this approach.
Key Notes
- Situation ethics determines what is right based on a specific situation, rather than by strict adherence to laws.
- Christians can use the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament as a source of authority on how to apply the law.
- Jesus emphasised doing the most loving thing in any situation, which can be called situation ethics.
- Agape love is prioritised above other considerations and impacted the example of Jesus on how the law should be applied.
- Examples can be found in the Bible where Jesus recommended going against the law to do the most loving thing.
Vocabulary To Learn
- agape: a type of non-romantic love, characterised by selfless and unconditional giving
- ethical: relating to beliefs about what is morally right and wrong
- law: the system of rules which a particular country or community recognises, which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties
- situation ethics: an ethical theory which argues that the most loving action should guide decisions in each situation
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Jesus did not believe people should follow the law.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Situation ethics determines what is right based on a specific situation, rather than by strict adherence to laws. Christians can use the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament as a source of authority on how to apply the law.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'agape'
a type of non-romantic love, characterised by selfless and unconditional giving.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Jesus did not believe people should follow the law. Correction: Jesus believed strongly in the importance of laws and commandments, but that agape love should be used when deciding how to apply those laws and punishments.
More Lessons In This Unit
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