Harold Fallding

Morals without Religion

Morality is possible without religion, as Margaret Knight asserted. However such a position is based on experiencing perfect love from perfect parents. The further question arises: are people as moral as they ought to be? Standards of morality are determined by how correctly people know the natural environment, society, history, culture and their Maker. Non-religious moral standards tend to shrink to in-group loyalties, whereas Christian moral standards are universalized, and are applied even to enemies. Christianity embraces bringing our own conduct under review (repentance); cancelling offences (forgiveness); and imagination on behalf of others (love). Further, Christian morality provides strength for what it requires. Its enabling grace is Gods love through Jesus Christ.

Modern Christians in a Christianized Society

There have been “Christianized” societies where Christian faith and standards are seen as the authentic guides for life. “Confrontation” is the Christians principle of action. This entails ‘flying ones colours in all situations, and probably encountering suffering by proclaiming broad moral principles with universal applicability. There is the need to cultivate a six-fold work: Feeding the flock and sending them out. Evangelizing. Pronouncing publicly on true moral standards. Supporting and challenging the governing authority. Pioneering social reform and relief, and Providing for sociability. In addition, there is the need for church reorganization over time.

The Marxist and Christian Views of the Nature of Man

Comparing the Marxist and Christian views of man is a fascinating exercise because of the parallelism between them. If we explore them via that parallelism we are made to realize how far apart they are. Yet in one popular estimate Marxism and Christianity are taken to be just about bedfellows! This presentation therefore is planned to lead up to that question. The basic parallel between the views is that both consider that man, at the point where they each discover him, is not truly himself. Something has got in the way of his fulfilment in authentic selfhood. Yet both are optimistic about the outcome, for they consider that a way to that is open. Man is fallen, but may be restored—and, indeed, shall be.