Journal 15

What is an Informed Conscience?

In order to make a decision doctor’s access a wide range of medical knowledge and patient history in order to diagnose a problem and treatment. The same principle can be applied to making moral decisions. We must be well informed regarding all the facts of the situation, moral values, virtues and laws in order to make our final decision. Therefore, an informed catholic conscience is an educated conscience that knows in any given situation.

Read the following scenario and answer the questions:

Roger Smith, a quite competent swimmer, is out for a leisurely stroll. During the course of his walk he passes by a deserted pier from which a teenage boy who apparently cannot swim has fallen into the water. The boy is screaming for help. Smith recognizes that there is absolutely no danger to himself if he jumps in to save the boy; he could easily succeed if he tried. Nevertheless, he chooses to ignore the boy’s cries. The water is cold and he is afraid of catching a cold — he doesn’t want to get his good clothes wet either. “Why should I inconvenience myself for this kid,” Smith says to himself, and passes on.

1.) There are always TWO sides to a conscience. What would Roger’s conscience be telling him?

Rogers conscience would be telling to save the boy no matter what the consequences to himself are.

2.) Think of an example of Jesus’ teaching and explain how his teachings can help us to make an appropriate decision?

Jesus taught us how to live our lives so that we would be happy and please god. This helps us to make appropriate decisions by making us think what option would make us happy and please god.

~ by ehab94 on May 6, 2008.