What is the relevance of Christian morality to students?

Answer 1

A:First we need to think about what we mean by Christian morality.

Some say thatChristian morality is defined by the Ten Commandments. The relevant commandments tell us not to steal, murder, commit adultery, bear false witness or covet that which belongs to a neighbour, including his wife and slaves (euphemistically translated into English as 'manservant' and 'maidservant'). As students, you would not be planning to murder anyone, commit perjury (the original context of 'false witness') or covet a neighbour's slaves. Few students would seriously covet a neighbour's wife, but this would be relevant, as would the commandment against stealing. The relevance of the commandment against adultery depends on your definition of adultery. Those who interpret it as prohibiting all extra-marital sex would find it very relevant, as it seems that college and university students frequently engage in pre-marital sex.

Saint Augustine saw the commandment against false witness as prohibiting all forms of lying. It was not even permissible to tell a lie to prevent a greater evil, even rape or murder. This form of Christian morality is not considered relevant by most students today.

The greatest commandment of all is to love one another. But this is only relevant if we even understand what it means, or can practise it in any meaningful way. If it includes loving your enemies, it would certainly mean, as Voltaire did, defending the rights of your opponents to express religious views quite contrary to your own. It would mean acceptance and tolerance of other moral codes with which you might disagree. If a Christian student can not follow these ideals, he would regard this commandment as not relevant to him.

Christian morality is part of a greater morality, which we recognise through our conscience. What our conscience tells us ought to be very relevant to students.