Transcript Conscience - FJR Antonacci

CHAPTER FIVE
Conscience Formation
Conscience
Remember back to when you were six
years old!
What was your favourite toy? Favourite
snack?
Can you remember a time when you felt
a sense of guilt for doing something
wrong?
What was the incident?
Conscience
What is your definition of conscience?
With and Without Conscience
Conscience
A practical judgment of reason
that helps a person decide the
goodness or sinfulness of an
action or attitude. It is the
subjective norm of morality that
we must form properly and then
follow
Conscientious Decisions
A conscientious person is someone who possesses
a properly informed conscience that is guided by
good principles.
Judge whether the following principles are valid
views on what makes up a good conscientious way
to make moral decisions….
Conscientious Decisions
“If I have a good intention and am sincere, then
anything I do is okay.”
“No one can tell me what to do. I am the sole
judge of what is right or wrong.”
“There are objective standards of morality, for
example, the divine law. I must try to conform my
actions to these standards.”
“Something is all right if it feels good. Something
is wrong if it feels bad.”
Definition of Conscience
What Conscience Is Not:
Conscience as majority opinion.
Atticus Finch: “The one thing that
doesn’t abide by majority rule is a
person’s conscience.”
This view surrenders personal
responsibility to the group.
Example?
Definition of Conscience
What Conscience Is Not:
Conscience as a feeling.
If it feels good, do it.
Hemingway: “Everyone has his own conscience, and
there should be no rule about how a conscience should
function.”
The trouble with feels, whether good or bad, they might
be out of touch with reality and with what is truly right or
wrong.
EXAMPLE?
Definition of Conscience
What Conscience Is Not:
Conscience as superego.
Leftover rules from childhood we carry around in our
subconscious.
When we were little we followed rules because we
wanted approval not because we understood the values as
our own.
Christian conscience is a personal, self chosen response
to God.
EXAMPLE?
Definition of Conscience
What Conscience Is Not:
Conscience as gut-instinct.
Making decisions based on a hunch.
Can be a helpful start but intellect and judgment must be
applied.
EXAMPLE?
Definition of Conscience
What Conscience Is Not:
Conscience as “Jiminy Cricket”.
Separate voice inside of us dictating what we should do.
Metcalf: “Conscience is a walkie-talkie set by which God
speaks to us.”
EXAMPLE?
Definition of Conscience
What Conscience Is Not:
Conscience as a myth.
Belief that conscience is a fake concept; something that
organized religion created to control people through guilt.
This can lead to doing your own thing with little regard
for others though.
EXAMPLE?
Definition of Conscience
What misconception is present?
A mission collection is being taken up at
school for some orphans in hurricanestricken Guatemala. Louise decides she
must contribute $10 so her teacher thinks
she is generous.
Definition of Conscience
What misconception is present?
Carl is at work in a fast food restaurant
when some mentally challenged adults
come in to place an order. His co-workers
being to laugh at them. Carl joins in.
Definition of Conscience
What misconception is present?
Joe smokes pot regularly. He tells his
girlfriend that he doesn’t see anything
wrong with something that helps him
relax.
Definition of Conscience
Read: p. 124-125 together
Definition of Conscience
What Conscience Is (rd. p.124):
1. Conscience is awareness of God’s call
to be.
2. Conscience is awareness of God’s call
to know and do the good, that is, to
love.
3. Conscience is a practical judgment of
the intellect.
How Conscience Works
virtue
A bad habit,
that inclines us
to choose the
evil rather than
the good
vice
A good habit
that empowers
us to do good
with ease
How Conscience Works
Study, Elect, Execute, Review:
Study the facts
Elect a course
of action
SEER –
a person in
tune with truth,
a prophet
Review the
Execute the
decision
action
How Conscience Works
Study, Elect, Execute, Review
You must always form and
keep informing your
conscience.
You must follow your
conscience.
How Conscience Works
Study, Elect, Execute, Review
1. Study
 Gather information about the moral object, the
motives, and the circumstances involved in
particular decisions.
 Review the fundamental principles of morality and
consider how best to apply essential moral rules.
 Sources to consider include: essential moral rules,
trusted moral mentors, and the Magesterium of the
Church.
How Conscience Works
Study, Elect, Execute, Review
2. Elect
 Decision should be based on whether the
proposed action is consistent with who
you are as God’s creation made in his
image.
 An essential part of making this decision
is to pray.
 Choosing the right course of action
through the help of the Holy Spirit.
How Conscience Works
Study, Elect, Execute, Review
3.
Execute
 This involves responsibility.
 You must do what your conscience tells
you is right.
 Be an actor, not a reactor. Take control of
your own actions and own them.
 Putting into action what you have
decided.
How Conscience Works
Study, Elect, Execute, Review
4. Review
 Evaluate and reflect on the actions already
performed.
 If we have taken the steps to form a good
conscience, then our conscience will be
clear.
 If we have gone against what we know we
should have done and sinned, then our
conscience can help us repent and reform.
How Conscience Works
STOP SIGN SCENARIO!
p.127
What are the things you would need to
know in connection with this case if you
had to make a decision about it?
Would a person be wrong if he or she chose
not to something about this situation?
*Having the relevant facts is the first step in
forming or informing your conscience.
How Conscience Works
1) Before we being class….. it’s Advent, so
we’re going to do something different.
Advent: Prayer and Activity
2) Conscience in Action Scenario on p. 128
What would you do??
FAQ on Conscience
With your group, read your section of the
FAQ on Conscience on p. 129-131 and
summarize 2-3 key points about each
section.
Put the two main points on the board.
Copy these points into your notes.
FAQ on Conscience
Review p. 129-131 and answer the three
questions on p.131 as well as the “For Your
Journal” reflection question.
You will be handing in these questions for me
to mark so make sure your name is your
answer sheet.
Peer Pressure and Conscience
fortitude
“The moral virtue
that ensures
firmness in
difficulties, and
constancy in the
pursuit of the good”
(CCC1808).
Peer Pressure and Conscience
martyr
A witness ready to
suffer and even die
for truth and virtue;
martyrdom is the
ultimate act of
fortitude.
Peer Pressure and Conscience
Fortitude
 How to resist negative peer pressure:
 Resolve to be your own person.
 Know your own standards.
 Use humor and grace to say “no.”
 Stay away from situations that might
tempt you.
Vocabulary
Conscience
Virtue
Vice
Seer
Fortitude
Martyr