Why Christian Ethics are Superior to Modern Humanism Ethics

ETHICS

Modern Humanism	Biblical Christianity
Foundations
Humanistic ethics is derived from, by, and for man. It is determined by both individual and collective human experience, reason and intelligence. Hence, *humanistic ethics*... 1. is based on naturalism, materialism, rationalism, etc. 2. is inherently contradictory as there is no single uniform standard in humanism. 3. can not and does not acknowledge a source of universal "ought" for ethics. 4. with no ultimate basis, there is no foundation for determining right from wrong; hence, sin is not realized, and there is no ultimate basis for law.	Christian ethics is derived from the character of God. It is apart from, but imposed upon man, both individually and collectively. Hence, *Christian ethics*... 1. is realized through natural and divine revelation. 2. is consistently harmonious as there is but a single uniform Divine standard. 3. can and does acknowledge a source of universal "ought" for ethics. 4. with an ultimate basis, there is a solid foundation for determining right from wrong, hence sin is realized, and there is an ultimate basis for law.
Requirements
1. Ethics requires tolerance of others’ ethical standards. 2. Because ethics is human, it has no standard by which it can require love, truth, justice, etc. 3. Ethics requires but a partial acceptance of Divine authority, choosing what to accept and what to reject as basis for human conduct. 4. Ethics cannot require repentance because it does not believe in personal sin and has no single standard by which all men are required to conform. 5. Ethics cannot require forgiveness because each determines his own will.	1. Ethics requires intolerance of all but Divine ethical standards. 2. Because ethics is Divine, it has a standard by which it requires love, truth, justice, etc. 3. Ethics requires full acceptance of Divine authority as basis for all human conduct, without personal choice. 4. Ethics requires repentance because it recognizes all men as sinners and has a single standard by which all men are required to conform. 5. Ethics requires forgiveness because God through Christ forgives men.
Characteristics
1. Ethics is relative, situational, autonomous, subjective, and utilitarian. 2. Ethics emphasizes rights. 3. Ethics seeks freedom from Divine authority. 4. Ethics expects man to decide for himself what is good and what is bad. 5. Ethics expects man to act according to his or society’ standard of righteousness. 6. Ethics constitutes a personal standard by which it absolves tyrants and criminals of all wrong doing. 7. Ethics has no essential purpose to human life, since ethics, like evolution, is constantly changing.	1. Ethics is absolute, constant, fixed by God, objective, and authoritarian. 2. Ethics emphasizes responsibilities. 3. Ethics finds freedom in Divine authority. 4. Ethics expects man to learn from God what is good and what is bad. 5. Ethics expects man to act according to God’s standard of righteousness. 6. Ethics constitutes a universal standard of "oughtness" by which all men are judged by fellow men and by God. 7. Ethics has an essential purpose to life, since ethics is grounded in the unchanging character of God.
Results:
1. Ethics produces constant tensions between individuals and their communities. 2. Ethics produces disagreements about aim of morality, nature of moral education, and nature of justice. 3. Ethics results in social permissiveness. 4. Ethics fails as a foundation for building a lasting society.	1. Ethics produces harmony between individuals and their communities. 2. Ethics produces agreement regarding the aim of morality, nature of moral education, and nature of justice. 3. Ethics results in social conformity. 4. Ethics succeeds as a foundation for building an abiding society.
Moral Confusion - Disorder - Death	Moral Stability - Order - Life