Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-5-2-bible-church-and-reason [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [Religious Studies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies.md) › [OCR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr.md) › Bible, Church & Reason # Bible, Church & Reason Religious Studies: OCR A Level, topic 3.5.2 ## Bible, Church & Reason as Authority for Christian Ethics Christian ethics must be a combination of biblical teaching, Church teaching and human reason. Catholic ethics largely centre around the ideas of Sacred Tradition and natural law. ### Liberal Christians ![Liberal Christians](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/4f30056e-a649-4336-ab08-8f618b345d9f/writing-.jpg) - Liberal Christians believe that the Bible is inspired by God but written by humans. - Because humans wrote the Bible, they believe that it may contain some errors. Some parts may also be metaphorical. - They may also say that the Bible was written a long time ago and society has since changed since. - So, parts of the Bible may well be out of date and reflect the time that it was written in. ### Sacred Tradition ![Sacred Tradition](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/20fdc049-5276-4af4-884d-a96f7c855cac/cave-jesus-ressurection.jpg) - Catholics refer to tradition and Sacred Tradition. - They see tradition as having a precedent over the Bible. - This is because it was the Church community that decided what texts should be sacred and form the Bible. - Sacred Tradition is a means of coming to know the revelation of Jesus. - It follows the oral tradition handed down by Jesus to the first Christian leaders in an unbroken chain of Apostolic Succession. ### Sacred Tradition - origins ![Sacred Tradition - origins](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-06/4b60802e-b808-4b5e-9c60-a115e1d88a4c/st-peter-.jpg) - The sacred chain of Apostolic Succession chain begins with St Peter. - Jesus appointed St. Peter as the first Bishop of Rome. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus says the following to Peter: - **'And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'** ### Sacred Tradition - Holy Spirit ![Sacred Tradition - Holy Spirit](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/77b7a387-ac2f-4d36-b3a8-c8663a1538b3/shutterstock_264641516.jpg) - Tradition is seen as the way in which the Holy Spirit works in the world. - The task of interpreting the Bible is given to the Church. - The Church is the only authority that can give authentic interpretation of scripture. - This is because Church leaders are seen to be inspired by the Holy Spirit. - The council of Vatican II formally declared that Sacred Tradition is seen as binding authority on moral life. ### Natural law ![Natural law](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/f7b438db-c749-43b8-b70a-01ec77b6381e/gavel-law-civil-court.jpg) - The Catholic Church also draws on natural law as a method of ethical decision-making. - **‘To the Church belongs the right always and everywhere to announce moral principles'.** (Catechism of the Catholic Church, para. 2032) - With this authority comes the assertion that there are moral absolutes: some things are simply wrong or right. - Humans are weak and sinful and so cannot rely on themselves to make moral decisions properly. The Bible and Church are required. - Catholics use reason alongside the Bible and Sacred Tradition in natural law ethics. ### Reason & conscience ![Reason & conscience](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-06/e8228069-a2d0-4870-bacb-aa7bbaca3cbf/thomas-aquinas-.jpg) - Reason is understood as a gift from God to enable humanity to access God’s revelation. - The most important area in ethics is understanding natural law as put forward by St. Thomas Aquinas. - Aquinas said that we use the conscience to reason what is right to do. In doing so, we identify the secondary precepts of natural law. - In the 19th century, John Henry Newman said that conscience has more authority than even the Pope (i.e. the Church). - This is because having a conscience predates the Church’s existence. ## Bible, Church & Reason as Authority for Christian Ethics The common understanding of the Anglican Church is that Church tradition relates both to the practices and beliefs of the first Christians to current traditions in the Church. ### Bible & Church ![Bible & Church](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-06/1e74c1d0-1e86-4375-8af4-7f3463783aee/the-bible-.jpg) - In Anglican ethics, the Bible comes first but it is not the only source of understanding. - Influences from the Bible and Church tradition are often combined. - This may be when making moral decisions, or decisions about practices within the Church. ### Church & moralilty ![Church & moralilty](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/cf102ef1-a336-4edd-9e9d-715278c42974/church-england.jpg) - Over 2,000 years, the Church has interpreted the Bible and this interpretation should guide people in their moral lives. - Churches are often governed by councils or synods that guide people in how to live. - The Church is the bridge between the 1st century and today and its journey is as important as the journey of the 1st Christians. ### Reason ![Reason](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/biology/5.2.2%20-%20The%20brain/thought-2123970_640-min.jpg) - Reason is also required to understand the Bible in an ever-changing world. - But, it is also important to understand reason as trying to establish what would be in the Bible if it were being written today. - The Bible can speak into current situations if appropriately analysed. - Many protestants emphasise the importance of both: - Studying the Bible through Bible study groups. - Engaging in private reflection and listening to preaching. ## Test yourself on Bible, Church & Reason - Complete the liberal Christian beliefs about the Bible. - What do many protestants emphasise in terms of understanding religious authority? - Why must Christians use reason to interpret the Bible? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/cec01fd1-7f1f-4a01-a60e-235c0527cf3e/section/c93c1d7c-956a-4b81-b9bf-2484603aaccd/session) - Previous topic: [3.5.1 The Bible & Love](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-5-1-the-bible-and-love.md) - Next topic: [3.5.3 Discussion Points: Christian Ethics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-5-3-discussion-points-christian-ethics.md) ## Religious Studies: OCR A Level contents ### 1 Philosophy of Religion - 1.1 Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato - [1.1.1 Plato's Understanding of Reality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-1-1-platos-understanding-of-reality.md) - [1.1.2 Plato's Theory of Forms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-1-2-platos-theory-of-forms.md) - [1.1.3 Plato's Analogy of the Cave](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-1-3-platos-analogy-of-the-cave.md) - [1.1.4 The Purpose of Plato's Analogy of the Cave](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-1-4-the-purpose-of-platos-analogy-of-the-cave.md) - [1.1.5 Evaluation of Plato's Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-1-5-evaluation-of-platos-theories.md) - 1.2 Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle - [1.2.1 Aristotle's Understanding of Reality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-2-1-aristotles-understanding-of-reality.md) - [1.2.2 Aristotle's Four Causes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-2-2-aristotles-four-causes.md) - [1.2.3 Aristotle's Prime Mover](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-2-3-aristotles-prime-mover.md) - 1.3 Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body - [1.3.1 Plato & Aristotle's Views of the Soul](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-3-1-plato-and-aristotles-views-of-the-soul.md) - [1.3.2 Metaphysics of Consciousness](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-3-2-metaphysics-of-consciousness.md) - [1.3.3 Materialism - Ryle’s Philosophical Behaviourism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-3-3-materialism-ryles-philosophical-behaviourism.md) - [1.3.4 Materialism - Identity Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-3-4-materialism-identity-theory.md) - 1.4 The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation - [1.4.1 The Teleological Argument - Aquinas' Fifth Way](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-4-1-the-teleological-argument-aquinas-fifth-way.md) - [1.4.2 The Teleological Argument - Paley & Evolution](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-4-2-the-teleological-argument-paley-and-evolution.md) - [1.4.3 The Cosmological Argument](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-4-3-the-cosmological-argument.md) - [1.4.4 Hume's Criticisms: Teleological & Cosmological](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-4-4-humes-criticisms-teleological-and-cosmological.md) - 1.5 The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason - [1.5.1 The Ontological Argument](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-5-1-the-ontological-argument.md) - [1.5.2 Criticisms of the Ontological Argument](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-5-2-criticisms-of-the-ontological-argument.md) - 1.6 Religious Experience - [1.6.1 Introduction to Religious Experience](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-6-1-introduction-to-religious-experience.md) - [1.6.2 Mystical Experience](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-6-2-mystical-experience.md) - [1.6.3 Conversion Experience](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-6-3-conversion-experience.md) - [1.6.4 Understanding Religious Experience](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-6-4-understanding-religious-experience.md) - [1.6.5 Issues Relating to Religious Experience - Validity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-6-5-issues-relating-to-religious-experience-validity.md) - [1.6.6 Issues Relating to Religious Experiences - People](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-6-6-issues-relating-to-religious-experiences-people.md) - 1.7 The Problem of Evil - [1.7.1 Presentations of the Problems of Evil](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-7-1-presentations-of-the-problems-of-evil.md) - [1.7.2 Discussion Points -](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-7-2-discussion-points.md) - 1.8 The Nature & Attributes of God - [1.8.1 Omnipotence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-8-1-omnipotence.md) - [1.8.2 Omniscience](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-8-2-omniscience.md) - [1.8.3 Boethius - Divine Knowledge, Free Will & Eternity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-8-3-boethius-divine-knowledge-free-will-and-eternity.md) - [1.8.4 (Omni)benevolence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-8-4-omnibenevolence.md) - [1.8.5 Eternity & Free Will](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-8-5-eternity-and-free-will.md) - 1.9 Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic - [1.9.1 Apophatic & Cataphatic Way](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-9-1-apophatic-and-cataphatic-way.md) - [1.9.2 Symbol](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-9-2-symbol.md) - [1.9.3 Discussion Points: Religious Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-9-3-discussion-points-religious-language.md) - 1.10 Religious Language: 20th Century Perspective - [1.10.1 Logical Positivism & Verification Principle](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-10-1-logical-positivism-and-verification-principle.md) - [1.10.2 Wittgenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-10-2-wittgenstein.md) - [1.10.3 Falsification Symposium: Flew & Hare](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-10-3-falsification-symposium-flew-and-hare.md) - [1.10.4 Falsification Symposium: Mitchell](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-10-4-falsification-symposium-mitchell.md) - [1.10.5 Discussion Points: Verification & Falsification](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-10-5-discussion-points-verification-and-falsification.md) - [1.10.6 Discussion Points: Aquinas vs Wittgenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/1-10-6-discussion-points-aquinas-vs-wittgenstein.md) ### 2 Religion & Ethics - 2.1 Natural Law - [2.1.1 St Thomas Aquinas - Telos & Four Tiers of Law](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-1-1-st-thomas-aquinas-telos-and-four-tiers-of-law.md) - [2.1.2 St Thomas Aquinas - Precepts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-1-2-st-thomas-aquinas-precepts.md) - [2.1.3 St Thomas Aquinas - Real & Apparent Goods](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-1-3-st-thomas-aquinas-real-and-apparent-goods.md) - [2.1.4 Discussion Points - Natural Law & Doing Good](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-1-4-discussion-points-natural-law-and-doing-good.md) - [2.1.5 Discussion Points - Telos & Double Effect Doctrine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-1-5-discussion-points-telos-and-double-effect-doctrine.md) - 2.2 Situation Ethics - [2.2.1 Fletcher's Situation Ethics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-2-1-fletchers-situation-ethics.md) - [2.2.2 Fletcher's Concept of Conscience](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-2-2-fletchers-concept-of-conscience.md) - [2.2.3 Discussion Points: Moral Decision-Making](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-2-3-discussion-points-moral-decision-making.md) - [2.2.4 Discussion Points - Agape](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-2-4-discussion-points-agape.md) - 2.3 Kantian Ethics - [2.3.1 Introduction to Kantian Ethics & Duty](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-3-1-introduction-to-kantian-ethics-and-duty.md) - [2.3.2 Hypothetical & Categorical Imperative](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-3-2-hypothetical-and-categorical-imperative.md) - [2.3.3 Summum Bonum & Three Postulates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-3-3-summum-bonum-and-three-postulates.md) - [2.3.4 Discussion Points: Kantian Ethics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-3-4-discussion-points-kantian-ethics.md) - 2.4 Utilitarianism - [2.4.1 The Utility Principle](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-4-1-the-utility-principle.md) - [2.4.2 Act & Rule Utilitarianism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-4-2-act-and-rule-utilitarianism.md) - [2.4.3 Discussion Points: Utilitarianism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-4-3-discussion-points-utilitarianism.md) - 2.5 Euthanasia - [2.5.1 Key Concepts for Euthanasia Debates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-5-1-key-concepts-for-euthanasia-debates.md) - [2.5.2 Discussion Points: Natural Law & Situation Ethics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-5-2-discussion-points-natural-law-and-situation-ethics.md) - [2.5.3 Discussion Points: Sanctity of Life](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-5-3-discussion-points-sanctity-of-life.md) - [2.5.4 Discussion Points: Autonomy & Medical Intervention](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-5-4-discussion-points-autonomy-and-medical-intervention.md) - 2.6 Business Ethics - [2.6.1 Corporate Social Responsibility & Whistle-Blowing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-6-1-corporate-social-responsibility-and-whistle-blowing.md) - [2.6.2 Good Ethics & Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-6-2-good-ethics-and-globalisation.md) - [2.6.3 Discussion Points: Utilitarianism & Kantian Ethics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-6-3-discussion-points-utilitarianism-and-kantian-ethics.md) - [2.6.4 Discussion Points: CSR, Globalisation & Capitalism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-6-4-discussion-points-csr-globalisation-and-capitalism.md) - 2.7 Meta-Ethical Theories - [2.7.1 Naturalism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-7-1-naturalism.md) - [2.7.2 Intuitionism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-7-2-intuitionism.md) - [2.7.3 Emotivism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-7-3-emotivism.md) - [2.7.4 Meta-Ethics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-7-4-meta-ethics.md) - 2.8 Conscience - [2.8.1 Aquinas' Theological Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-8-1-aquinas-theological-approach.md) - [2.8.2 Freud's Psychological Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-8-2-freuds-psychological-approach.md) - [2.8.3 Comparing Aquinas & Freud](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-8-3-comparing-aquinas-and-freud.md) - 2.9 Sexual Ethics - [2.9.1 Sexual Ethics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-9-1-sexual-ethics.md) - [2.9.2 Development of Religious Beliefs on Sexual Ethics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-9-2-development-of-religious-beliefs-on-sexual-ethics.md) - [2.9.3 Application of Sexual Ethics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-9-3-application-of-sexual-ethics.md) - [2.9.4 Examining Sexual Ethics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/2-9-4-examining-sexual-ethics.md) ### 3 Developments in Christian Thought - 3.1 Saint Augustine's Teachings - [3.1.1 Human Nature](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-1-1-human-nature.md) - [3.1.2 Original Sin & God's Grace](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-1-2-original-sin-and-gods-grace.md) - 3.2 Death & the Afterlife - [3.2.1 Heaven, Hell, & Purgatory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-2-1-heaven-hell-and-purgatory.md) - [3.2.2 Different Interpretations of the Afterlife](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-2-2-different-interpretations-of-the-afterlife.md) - [3.2.3 Election](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-2-3-election.md) - [3.2.4 The Final Judgement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-2-4-the-final-judgement.md) - [3.2.5 Discussion Points: Heaven, Hell & Purgatory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-2-5-discussion-points-heaven-hell-and-purgatory.md) - 3.3 Knowledge of God's Existence - [3.3.1 Natural Knowledge](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-3-1-natural-knowledge.md) - [3.3.2 Revealed Knowledge in Faith, Grace, & Jesus Christ](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-3-2-revealed-knowledge-in-faith-grace-and-jesus-christ.md) - [3.3.3 Revealed Knowledge in the Bible & Church](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-3-3-revealed-knowledge-in-the-bible-and-church.md) - [3.3.4 Discussion Points: Reason & Belief in God](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-3-4-discussion-points-reason-and-belief-in-god.md) - [3.3.5 Discussion Points: The Fall & Trust in God](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-3-5-discussion-points-the-fall-and-trust-in-god.md) - 3.4 The Person of Jesus Christ - [3.4.1 Jesus Christ’s Authority as the Son of God](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-4-1-jesus-christs-authority-as-the-son-of-god.md) - [3.4.2 Jesus Christ’s Authority as a Teacher of Wisdom](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-4-2-jesus-christs-authority-as-a-teacher-of-wisdom.md) - [3.4.3 Jesus Christ’s Authority as a Liberator](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-4-3-jesus-christs-authority-as-a-liberator.md) - 3.5 Christian Moral Principles - [3.5.1 The Bible & Love](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-5-1-the-bible-and-love.md) - [3.5.2 Bible, Church & Reason](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-5-2-bible-church-and-reason.md) - [3.5.3 Discussion Points: Christian Ethics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-5-3-discussion-points-christian-ethics.md) - [3.5.4 Discussion Points: Love & the Bible](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-5-4-discussion-points-love-and-the-bible.md) - 3.6 Christian Moral Action - [3.6.1 Dietrich Bonhoeffer & the Confessing Church](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-6-1-dietrich-bonhoeffer-and-the-confessing-church.md) - [3.6.2 Bonhoeffer & Civil Disobedience](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-6-2-bonhoeffer-and-civil-disobedience.md) - [3.6.3 Bonhoeffer's Teaching on Ethics as Action](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-6-3-bonhoeffers-teaching-on-ethics-as-action.md) - [3.6.4 Discussion Points: Civil Disobedience & Bonhoeffer](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-6-4-discussion-points-civil-disobedience-and-bonhoeffer.md) - 3.7 Development - Pluralism & Theology - [3.7.1 Pluralism & Theology: Exclusivism & Inclusivism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-7-1-pluralism-and-theology-exclusivism-and-inclusivism.md) - [3.7.2 Pluralism & Theology: Pluralism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-7-2-pluralism-and-theology-pluralism.md) - [3.7.3 Discussion Points: Salvation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-7-3-discussion-points-salvation.md) - [3.7.4 Discussion Points: Pluralism Undermining Beliefs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-7-4-discussion-points-pluralism-undermining-beliefs.md) - 3.8 Development - Pluralism & Society - [3.8.1 Development of Multi-Faith Societies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-8-1-development-of-multi-faith-societies.md) - [3.8.2 Responses to Inter-Faith Dialogue](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-8-2-responses-to-inter-faith-dialogue.md) - [3.8.3 The Scriptural Reasoning Movement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-8-3-the-scriptural-reasoning-movement.md) - [3.8.4 Discussion Points: Social Cohesion & Scripture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-8-4-discussion-points-social-cohesion-and-scripture.md) - [3.8.5 Discussion Points: Conversion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-8-5-discussion-points-conversion.md) - 3.9 Gender & Society - [3.9.1 Waves of Feminism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-9-1-waves-of-feminism.md) - [3.9.2 Traditional Christian Views on Gender Roles](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-9-2-traditional-christian-views-on-gender-roles.md) - [3.9.3 Christian Views on Gender Roles & Family](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-9-3-christian-views-on-gender-roles-and-family.md) - [3.9.4 Discussion Points: Secular Views of Gender](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-9-4-discussion-points-secular-views-of-gender.md) - [3.9.5 Discussion Points: Motherhood & Family](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-9-5-discussion-points-motherhood-and-family.md) - 3.10 Gender & Theology - [3.10.1 Rosemary Radford Ruether](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-10-1-rosemary-radford-ruether.md) - [3.10.2 Mary Daly](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-10-2-mary-daly.md) - [3.10.3 Discussion Points: Ruether & Daly](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-10-3-discussion-points-ruether-and-daly.md) - [3.10.4 Discussion Points: Male Saviour & Female God](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-10-4-discussion-points-male-saviour-and-female-god.md) - 3.11 Challenges - [3.11.1 Secularism - Sigmund Freud](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-11-1-secularism-sigmund-freud.md) - [3.11.2 Secularism - Richard Dawkins](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-11-2-secularism-richard-dawkins.md) - [3.11.3 Christianity & Public Life](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-11-3-christianity-and-public-life.md) - [3.11.4 Discussion Points: Spiritual Values](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-11-4-discussion-points-spiritual-values.md) - [3.11.5 Discussion Points: Social Values & Opportunities](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-11-5-discussion-points-social-values-and-opportunities.md) - [3.11.6 Karl Marx](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-11-6-karl-marx.md) - [3.11.7 Liberation Theology](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/religious-studies/ocr/3-11-7-liberation-theology.md)