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This ULC course was based on a book by Georgia Elma Harkins (21 April 1891- 21 August 1974). With an original copyright of 1957 some of the chapters contained very dated material giving the reader older narratives and some outdated history. Because a revision was not possible. it does leave out more modern problems that the church and the world are now facing. Ms. Harkins was an ordained Methodist cleric and considered as a leader in Christian Theology. The book Christian Ethics was one of thirty she wrote over the years. She wrote with a hope that all peoples would obtain an understanding of the Christian faith. The questions at the end of chapters added to the text by the Reverend Johnny Erato made one think about the given material and do additional research.

Christian Ethics. One thinks of Jesus as the source of anything Christian but he left little to go on, He never wrote and those who did lived long after he was on earth. Much of what we call Christian Ethics is a compilation of many ideas given by multiple people, local tradition, and thoughts over the years. When you stop to think of all the writings they are but the thoughts and ideas of the authors who may or may not have taken in ideas from outside sources and teachings. Even Jesus relied heavily on the Old Testament teachings, although he expanded them in most areas. If one believes that all in the Bible is the word of God, and that what it says Jesus taught is the basis of Christian Ethics, would be Old Testament based alone. All three of the religions that were grounded in the Old Testament ideas taken from Egyptian monotheism and tradition by Moses have the same teachings and thought on ethically treatment of people. Time has changed some but there are areas that have not grown away from what was the original warrior nomadic way of thought.

We can not, without doubt, state that the Church used only strictly Christian ideals over the years as there were numerous leaders of the faith in the beginning that added to the tenants of the church, in some cases to further their own selves. The original idea of community, love for all, and helping your fellow man was not always the idea of those in high office. Even after the Reformation there was not much change in the teachings of the churches. Today there are Apologists that are working on the theology of the church and trying to explain away any contradiction of what is expected of followers. It has become a situation that if something doesn’t work we will try this to please the congregants not this is what we are to believe, teach, and follow to be good Christians.

So what are Christian Ethics? It has been written by some that Christian Ethics tend to stress a need for love, grace, mercy and forgiveness because of sin. It is thought that with divine assistance, the Christian is called to become increasingly virtuous in both thought and deed. Church now is not conducted like it was. It is almost a multimillion dollar production. It is everything to everyone and must provide glitz and glamour. The music must be just so and the church teachings and sermons must be what people want to hear. It reminds me of a mall with a little something for everyone. In this day and age I am not sure that people understand what Christian Ethics means. I’m not sure they understand what “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself” means. It is sad to see and it is sad to write.

There are some great people out there who are working very hard to help others, and there are people who are trying very hard to help the world. We need to get back to basics and teachings. If Jesus came right now and preached his Sermon on the Mount and asked that we love one another, he would not be listened to by those who need to listen most. We are not an ethical people -- we are a group of self-indulged people in need of good moral ethical training given with tough love. --Rev Sharon J. Mayer