Conscience. Final Thoughts on MLK’s Letter What three main points will you take away from reading MLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail?

ConscienceConscience

Final Thoughts on MLK’s LetterFinal Thoughts on MLK’s Letter

What three main points will you take away What three main points will you take away from reading MLK’s Letter from from reading MLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail?Birmingham Jail?

MLK’s Letter from Birmingham JailMLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail

“ “Moreover, I am cognizant of the Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. to justice everywhere. We are caught in an We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.single garment of destiny. Whatever Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.affects one directly, affects all indirectly.””

““Cheaters” by KavanaughCheaters” by Kavanaugh

Is it ever morally licit to lie?Is it ever morally licit to lie? If so, when?If so, when?

Is there a difference between lying and Is there a difference between lying and cheating?cheating?

““Cheaters” by KavanaughCheaters” by Kavanaugh

As a group, identify three main claims that As a group, identify three main claims that Kavanaugh makes in “Cheaters”Kavanaugh makes in “Cheaters”

Is there anything surprising about his Is there anything surprising about his points?points?

Do you agree with his claims or not? Do you agree with his claims or not? Why?Why?

““Cheaters” by KavanaughCheaters” by Kavanaugh

What are the three main points Kavanaugh What are the three main points Kavanaugh makes in the article?makes in the article? ““Small deceptions lead to a way of life”Small deceptions lead to a way of life”

Can become so second nature or habitualCan become so second nature or habitual

Moral ExceptionalismMoral Exceptionalism ““The reason why people don’t feel loved is because The reason why people don’t feel loved is because

they don’t know the truth about themselves.”they don’t know the truth about themselves.” To be happy you have to be honest with yourself.To be happy you have to be honest with yourself.

Is there anything surprising about his points?Is there anything surprising about his points?

The NegativeThe Negative

A culture of cheating?A culture of cheating? ““Human tendency to exempt one’s own Human tendency to exempt one’s own

party, nation, and oneself from moral party, nation, and oneself from moral standards”standards” Moral exceptionalismMoral exceptionalism

““I have only succeeded in being a fraud.”I have only succeeded in being a fraud.”

The PositiveThe Positive

““In every consequent [decision], I In every consequent [decision], I become the kind of person I am now become the kind of person I am now choosing.”choosing.”

““Whom do you admire? What kind of Whom do you admire? What kind of person do you want to be?”person do you want to be?”

Ezekiel 36:26-29Ezekiel 36:26-29

““I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. I will put my spirit within you you natural hearts. I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees. You shall live in the land I observe my decrees. You shall live in the land I gave your fathers; you shall be my people, and I gave your fathers; you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”will be your God.”

Conscience – 3-2-1Conscience – 3-2-1

Descriptors – Necessary, Influential, Right/Wrong, Descriptors – Necessary, Influential, Right/Wrong, Thought-Provoking, Guilt, Life-changing, Right-Thought-Provoking, Guilt, Life-changing, Right-Shoulder/Left-Shoulder, Jiminy Cricket, Format, Inner-Shoulder/Left-Shoulder, Jiminy Cricket, Format, Inner-Self, Good JudgmentSelf, Good Judgment

QuestionsQuestions How do you form a good conscience?How do you form a good conscience? Are we born with it or do we develop it?Are we born with it or do we develop it? Does everyone have a conscience?Does everyone have a conscience? Where does it come from?Where does it come from? What “controls” our conscience?What “controls” our conscience? Does everything living have a conscience?Does everything living have a conscience? Who came up with the idea of conscience?Who came up with the idea of conscience? Do we have to obey it?Do we have to obey it?

Conscience in ScriptureConscience in Scripture

What word does Scripture to refer to What word does Scripture to refer to conscience?conscience? HeartHeart

Conversion of the HeartConversion of the Heart MetanoiaMetanoia

Analogies Analogies Like a guilt tripLike a guilt trip Like a maggot, because it eats at themLike a maggot, because it eats at them Like the night sky, clear and cloudyLike the night sky, clear and cloudy Like a traffic lightLike a traffic light Like Dr. PhilLike Dr. Phil Like a womanLike a woman Like your mom, always inside your headLike your mom, always inside your head

Conscience – 3-2-1Conscience – 3-2-1

Descriptors – Self-Justice, Guidelines, Descriptors – Self-Justice, Guidelines, Boundary, Courage, Integrity, Awareness, Boundary, Courage, Integrity, Awareness, Helpful, Morals, Personal, Unclear, Moral Helpful, Morals, Personal, Unclear, Moral Insight, Decision-Making, Innate, Learned, Lax, Insight, Decision-Making, Innate, Learned, Lax, Erroneous, Erroneous,

QuestionsQuestions Is it innate or learned?Is it innate or learned? Where does it come from?Where does it come from? What was lose it or abuse it?What was lose it or abuse it? Does your conscience define who you are?Does your conscience define who you are? Is your conscience separate from yourself? (eg Jiminy Is your conscience separate from yourself? (eg Jiminy

Cricket)Cricket)

Conscience – 3-2-1Conscience – 3-2-1

AnalogiesAnalogies Like training a puppyLike training a puppy Like a parent, tells you what you shouldn’t doLike a parent, tells you what you shouldn’t do Like an internal guidebookLike an internal guidebook Like a mapLike a map Like the angel on your shoulderLike the angel on your shoulder Like a taperecording of your momLike a taperecording of your mom Like our own lawyer, judge, jury, and verdictLike our own lawyer, judge, jury, and verdict

What is Conscience?What is Conscience?

What it’s not…What it’s not… Not just a gut feeling – Recall LewisNot just a gut feeling – Recall Lewis Not an “Inner Voice”Not an “Inner Voice”

Not something we can turn on or turn offNot something we can turn on or turn off It is who we areIt is who we are

Not just our emotions (especially guilt)Not just our emotions (especially guilt) Not imposed from outside, by our family or Not imposed from outside, by our family or

surroundings (Superego)surroundings (Superego) We can feel guilty, but guilt does not equal We can feel guilty, but guilt does not equal

conscienceconscience

So, What is Conscience?So, What is Conscience?

2.2. DevelopmentDevelopment

(Conscience development)(Conscience development)

3.3. Judgment Judgment

Leading to Leading to

ActionAction

1.1. Awareness / consciousnessAwareness / consciousness

(Moral Sense)(Moral Sense)

The Church ProclaimsThe Church Proclaims

You You mustmust follow your follow your

Well-informedWell-informed Conscience Conscience Obligated to follow even if it causes conflicts Obligated to follow even if it causes conflicts

How do make sure your conscience is How do make sure your conscience is well-well-informed?informed?

What Influences?What Influences?

Factors in the development of Conscience?Factors in the development of Conscience? Seeing all sides of a situationSeeing all sides of a situation Parents’ valuesParents’ values Nature vs. NutureNature vs. Nuture Cultural ValuesCultural Values Ability to comprehend consequencesAbility to comprehend consequences Religious Values and Personal commitment to thoseReligious Values and Personal commitment to those Peer PressurePeer Pressure Experiences of your FriendsExperiences of your Friends

How Do We Develop our How Do We Develop our Conscience? Conscience?

Four SourcesFour Sources ScriptureScripture Official Church TeachingOfficial Church Teaching

Teachings of Popes, Councils (Vatican II), BishopsTeachings of Popes, Councils (Vatican II), Bishops Experience of OthersExperience of Others

Family, friends, other trustworthy companionsFamily, friends, other trustworthy companions Scientific Data & ResearchScientific Data & Research

What if the sources conflict with each What if the sources conflict with each other???other???

Kohlberg’s Moral MaturityKohlberg’s Moral Maturity

3 Stages3 Stages Pre-Conventional – avoid pain, gain pleasure Pre-Conventional – avoid pain, gain pleasure

and rewardand reward Conventional – Follow the guidelines of Conventional – Follow the guidelines of

societysociety Post-Conventional – Self-Chosen principlesPost-Conventional – Self-Chosen principles

Not egotistical, working in the service of higher Not egotistical, working in the service of higher moral ordermoral order

What’s the limitations of Kohlberg’s theory?What’s the limitations of Kohlberg’s theory? Focused on motivation of action, not on act itselfFocused on motivation of action, not on act itself Tested only on men; women mature differentlyTested only on men; women mature differently