Conscience
A conscience, or its accompanying convictions, is one thing that is commonly shared amongst all mankind. Believer or unbeliever, we all recognize its power over our actions and behavior. There are two distinct explanations given for the reality of the conscience. Below are two definitions that represent its respective ideology/worldview.
"The part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego." (Merrian Webster's Medical Dictionary 2002)
versus
"That faculty of the mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct. It is common to all men. Like all our other faculties, it has been perverted by the Fall (John 16:2; Acts 26:9; Rom. 2:15). It is spoken of as 'defiled' (Titus 1:15), and 'seared' (1 Tim. 4:2). A 'conscience void of offence' is to be sought and cultivated (Acts 24:16; Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 1 Pet. 3:21)." (Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary)
The latter definition, in its understanding of conscience, recognizes an inherent right and wrong, to which the conscience directs towards right conduct. Whereas, the former simply recognizes that the conscience directs conduct without recognizing that it is doing so on the basis of a right/wrong system of behavior.
The second definition rests on an assumption that God instilled in man an inherent recognition of the right and wrong, good and evil. This recognition has been distorted, no doubt, as a result of the fall. Even still, though, it is not completely non-existant, as is seen in the recognition of even small children.
The first definition rests on an assumption that the directives of the "superego" are premised upon social norms, which have no inherent right or wrongness. It is completely devoid of the notion of a Creator God from which the right and wrong that the conscience convicts and directs is derived from. Ultimately, these two definitions are representative of the city of God and the city of Man.
"There is nothing evil save that which perverts the mind and shackles the conscience." -- Saint Ambrose
"Every judgement of conscience, be it right or wrong, be it about things evil in themselves or morally indifferent, is obligatory, in such wise that he who acts against his conscience always sins." -- Thomas Aquinas
"Avoid lawsuits beyond all things; they pervert your conscience, impair your health, and dissipate your property." -- Jean de la Bruyere
"The torture of a bad conscience is the hell of a living soul." -- John Calvin
"It was expected of me that I was to bow to the name of Andrew Jackson... even at the expense of my conscience and judgement. such a thing was new to me, and a total stranger to my principles." -- Davy Crockett
"I believe that global warming is a myth. And so, therefore, I have no conscience problems at all and I'm going to buy a Suburban next time." -- Jerry Falwell
"A good conscience is a continual Christmas." -- Benjamin Franklin
"A clear and innocent conscience fears nothing." -- Elizabeth I
"He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure." -- Thomas Kempis
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." -- Thomas Jefferson
"Justice is a temporary thing that must at last come to an end; but the conscience is eternal and will never die." -- Martin Luther
"One who breaks an unjust law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
"When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society." -- Pope John Paul II
"I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death." -- Leonardo da Vinci
Soli Deo Gloria
A conscience, or its accompanying convictions, is one thing that is commonly shared amongst all mankind. Believer or unbeliever, we all recognize its power over our actions and behavior. There are two distinct explanations given for the reality of the conscience. Below are two definitions that represent its respective ideology/worldview.
"The part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego." (Merrian Webster's Medical Dictionary 2002)
versus
"That faculty of the mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct. It is common to all men. Like all our other faculties, it has been perverted by the Fall (John 16:2; Acts 26:9; Rom. 2:15). It is spoken of as 'defiled' (Titus 1:15), and 'seared' (1 Tim. 4:2). A 'conscience void of offence' is to be sought and cultivated (Acts 24:16; Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 1 Pet. 3:21)." (Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary)
The latter definition, in its understanding of conscience, recognizes an inherent right and wrong, to which the conscience directs towards right conduct. Whereas, the former simply recognizes that the conscience directs conduct without recognizing that it is doing so on the basis of a right/wrong system of behavior.
The second definition rests on an assumption that God instilled in man an inherent recognition of the right and wrong, good and evil. This recognition has been distorted, no doubt, as a result of the fall. Even still, though, it is not completely non-existant, as is seen in the recognition of even small children.
The first definition rests on an assumption that the directives of the "superego" are premised upon social norms, which have no inherent right or wrongness. It is completely devoid of the notion of a Creator God from which the right and wrong that the conscience convicts and directs is derived from. Ultimately, these two definitions are representative of the city of God and the city of Man.
"There is nothing evil save that which perverts the mind and shackles the conscience." -- Saint Ambrose
"Every judgement of conscience, be it right or wrong, be it about things evil in themselves or morally indifferent, is obligatory, in such wise that he who acts against his conscience always sins." -- Thomas Aquinas
"Avoid lawsuits beyond all things; they pervert your conscience, impair your health, and dissipate your property." -- Jean de la Bruyere
"The torture of a bad conscience is the hell of a living soul." -- John Calvin
"It was expected of me that I was to bow to the name of Andrew Jackson... even at the expense of my conscience and judgement. such a thing was new to me, and a total stranger to my principles." -- Davy Crockett
"I believe that global warming is a myth. And so, therefore, I have no conscience problems at all and I'm going to buy a Suburban next time." -- Jerry Falwell
"A good conscience is a continual Christmas." -- Benjamin Franklin
"A clear and innocent conscience fears nothing." -- Elizabeth I
"He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure." -- Thomas Kempis
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." -- Thomas Jefferson
"Justice is a temporary thing that must at last come to an end; but the conscience is eternal and will never die." -- Martin Luther
"One who breaks an unjust law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
"When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society." -- Pope John Paul II
"I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death." -- Leonardo da Vinci
Soli Deo Gloria
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