Catholic Church announces that the use of Condoms can sometimes be the right thing to do.

One of the more controversial teachings of the Catholic Church is that the use of artificial contraception, including condoms, is wrong. This is because they believe that the main God given purpose of sex is to reproduce. This is based on a Natural Law view of ethics, heavily influenced by St Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle who were both concerned with the purpose or Telos of an action.


This belief has, until now, been seen in an absolutist way so that the use of condoms would be seen as wrong in any circumstance.

There now appears to be a change of stance whereby the Pope has said that, in situations were a condom is being used to prevent the spread of HIV, and thus protect one's partner, that their use is the most repsonsible thing. This could still fit with a Natural Law approach under what is called 'double effect'. This is where, when one's primary intention is good, eg to save a life, a normally immoral action can be allowed.
This does not mark any significant change in the Church's view of sex or indeed contraception. It still holds that sex should only be within marriage and should always have the possibility of reproduction. It also still maintains that the proper way to combat HIV is not condoms but through a change of attitude and lifestyle with regards to sex.

It does seem to show though that there is some recognition of a 'grey area' in some ethical matters however which will be seen by some as very significant.

For more on this story click here.
For more on Natural Law click here.
For more on sexual ethics click here.

New Primate - Bad Design or Illogical Evolution?

I was very excited to see a new type of primate has been discovered in Burma. Such discoveries are incredibly rare.

The new primate, a type of snub nosed monkey, is very distinctive, with nostrils that point upwards. This unusual feature apparantly causes the animal some problems, with locals claiming that the monkey sneezes when it rains, due to rain drops falling into its nose. It seems that it puts it head between its legs to avoid this. (I am not making this up!).

So what would a Creationist have to say about this? Why would a perfect God create an animal with such an apparant flaw?

On the other hand a supporter of Darwinian evolution may also be faced with some difficulty here. Why would the upturned nose have survived as a characteristic when, again, it appears to be a negative trait?

A tragic side to this story is that the only known specimen of this monkey was killed by hunters and later eaten. It could be said that this human brutality is more fitting with evolution's 'survival of the fittest' idea than that of a species created and designed in the image of a loving God.

To read more about this incredible discovery click here.

How far can we trust our senses?

In his Cave Analogy Plato compares empirical knowledge to imperfect flickering shadows. He argues that our physical senses cannot be trusted and reveal the truth to us.

More modern Materialists, such as Richard Dawkins, have more sympathy with Aristotle's view that it is only through scientific empirical evidence that we can know anything.

The BBC documentary Is Seeing Believing explores how our senses can be misled and manipulated and, also, why this may not necessarily be a bad thing.



To watch more from this programme click here.
For more on Plato's Cave Analogy click here.

Black History Month and Theology

One of the most well known figures in Black history is Martin Luther King, who campaigned for equality in the U. S. A. His Christian beliefs were an inspiration in his belief that all people should equal and also in his insistence on non-violent protest.

Another hugely important figure was William Wilberforce who campaigned for he abolition of the slave trade. Again he was inspired by theological concepts.

The opposition to inequality is founded in the Creation account of Genesis. God created a male and female human in His image (Imagio Dei), and gave humanity dominion over the rest of creation, not over fellow humans (Genesis 1:26–28). Galatians 3:28 explicitly teaches the fundamental equality of human beings, claiming that, 'all are one in Christ'.

These are good examples of how theological ideas can have a real, practical impact on the world.

View the black History Month website here.

Killing in the name of Justice

The first woman in 5 years is to be executed in the U.S. Does the fact that she is a woman make it significant? There are certainly far fewer women than men executed.

When considering issues such as the sanctity of life the death penalty is very contentious. Does anyone, even the state, have the right to take away the life of another person?

Few people would argue that many who are executed have committed terrible crimes and need to be kept away from the general population, but what is the purpose of the justice system?

If it is to seek revenge thenthe death penalty may well be acceptable, but if it is about justice - about making things right, can the death penalty do this?

To read more about this case click here.

Professor Keith Ward discussing Materialism and Idealism

Keith Ward: "Why There Almost Certainly Is a God: Doubting Dawkins from Metanexus Institute on Vimeo.

Keith Ward is seen here challenging the claims of Hard Materialists like Richard Dawkins, that the universe and everything in it is purely physical.

Some good notes regarding the body and soul argument can also be found here.

This would be particulalry useful for the Body and Soul module and anyone taking part in the A2 essay competition.

Near Death Experience - Proof that we have a soul?