3.11.5
Discussion Points: Social Values & Opportunities
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Is There Proof that Christianity Causes Social Problems?
Here are arguments for and against the idea that Christianity causes social and personal issues, and that, as a result, Christianity should or should not contribute to societal values and culture.
For - causes warfare
- Some people argue that Christianity has caused wars when it has tried to gain supremacy over other traditions, such as in the Crusades.
For - rejects science
- Dawkins argues that certain denominations of Christianity reject the indisputable advances of science and hold society back — for example, beliefs about Creationism.
For - old-fashioned views
- Some Christian ethical stances are at odds with modern, progressive society.
- E.g. views about homosexuality, women having rights over their bodies and people being allowed to decide when they want to die.
- You could argue that any absolutist approach to life is intolerant of the views of others and damaging to society. Mary Daly argues that Christianity is patriarchal and sexist.
Against - good work of Church
- Christians might point to all the good that the Church has offered the world: educating the poor, working abroad, supporting the civil rights movement (for example, Martin Luther King), food banks — as well as the work churches do on a local level.
- Christianity has been a major contributor to art, architecture, literature and music.
- Christians are called to work for the good of society and to be distinctive within society — to challenge where injustice is seen.
Against - drive Charity values
- Ethical messages based on Jesus’ teaching, like ‘love your neighbour’, are driving forces behind many charities, both Christian and non-Christian charities.
Has Secularism Caused Christian Thought to Develop?
This debate looks at whether or not secularism has provided Christians with opportunities to develop new or different ways of acting and thinking.
For - updated Church teachings
- Christianity has had to develop new ways of thinking and acting over the 2,000 years of its existence.
- The Church has brought in new teachings to be more in line with societal advancements and has reasserted Church teachings and beliefs (such as the dignity and importance of women as written about in Mullieris Dignitatem).
- So you could argue that Christianity has evolved in an increasingly secular society.
For - technological advances
- The Church has begun to use social media to evangelise. This is a recent advancement.
- The Pope now has a Twitter account to interact with followers and react to current global issues.
- Secularism has given Christians the opportunity to look at what makes their religion distinctive in its values and what makes Christianity stand out from secular ideologies, such as valuing the sanctity and dignity of every human life.
Against - need to resist change
- But some Christians might argue that now, more than ever, Christians need to stand up for the truth revealed through Christ and the Bible and resist the move towards change.
- They might argue that if Christianity is side-lined, religion might be able to affect the lives of far fewer people.
1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
2.6Business Ethics
2.7Meta-Ethical Theories
2.8Conscience
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
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1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
2.6Business Ethics
2.7Meta-Ethical Theories
2.8Conscience
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
Practice questions on Discussion Points: Social Values & Opportunities
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1
- 2
- 3Which of these values is distinctively Christian? Multiple choice
- 4What has the Church most recently adopted to evangelise? Multiple choice
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