You are created in God’s image and likeness - truth and goodness penetrate your being. As a human person, you are good. You are beautiful. Your value is infinite in the eyes of God because you’re destined to share in his own blessed life. But it's important to remember, everyone experiences disordered desires at some point in their life and to some degree. It’s in this that we find the idea of keeping the monster within caged as an apt description of the struggles of human nature.

It’s often the case that we face various temptations. We might be tempted to eat or drink too much. We might be tempted to steal, cheat on a test or entertain lustful thoughts. We might be tempted to lie or make use of some situation to a sinful advantage. Although we know we should resist temptations and choose according to what is truly good, it’s not always so easy to do that. And it is here, in the concept of temptation, that we arrive at the intersection between these two approaches to morality.

There are two essentially different views or approaches people take in making moral decisions. Each is governed by a different set of motivating factors with distinct ends or goals in mind. The two approaches examined here are the “morality of obligation approach” and the “morality of happiness approach.”

Objective: In this course, students will learn about our human nature, in both its dark side and instinctive goodness, and the two approaches we take in making moral decisions. 

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Course curriculum

  • 01

    Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 1 - The Morality of Obligation Approach

    • Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 1 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 1 - The Morality of Obligation Approach - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 1 - The Morality of Obligation Approach - VIDEO

    • Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 1 - The Morality of Obligation Approach - Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (12/2/20)

    • Lesson 1 - The Morality of Obligation Approach - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer
  • 02

    Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 2 - The Morality of Happiness Approach

    • Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 2 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 2 - The Morality of Happiness Approach - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 2 - The Morality of Happiness Approach - VIDEO

    • Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 2 - The Morality of Happiness Approach - Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (12/3/20)

    • Lesson 2 - The Morality of Happiness Approach - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer
  • 03

    Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 3 - The Ring of Gyges Story

    • Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 3 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 3 - The Ring of Gyges Story - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 3 - The Ring of Gyges Story - VIDEO

    • Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 3 - The Ring of Gyges Story - Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (12/4/20)

    • Lesson 3 - The Ring of Gyges Story - QUIZ
  • 04

    Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 4 - The Dark Side of Human Nature

    • Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 4 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 4 - The Dark Side of Human Nature - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 4 - The Dark Side of Human Nature - VIDEO

    • Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 4 - The Dark Side of Human Nature - Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (12/8/20)

    • Lesson 4 - The Dark Side of Human Nature - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer
  • 05

    Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 5 - The Goodness of The Human Person

    • Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 5 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 5 - The Goodness of The Human Person - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 5 - The Goodness of The Human Person - VIDEO

    • Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 5 - The Goodness of The Human Person - Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (12/9/20)

    • Lesson 5 - The Goodness of The Human Person - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer
  • 06

    Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 6 - Apparent Goods vs. True Goods

    • Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 6 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 6 - Apparent Goods vs. True Goods - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 6 - Apparent Goods vs. True Goods - VIDEO

    • Two Approaches To Morality - Lesson 6 - Apparent Goods vs. True Goods - Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (12/10/20)

    • Lesson 6 - Apparent Goods vs. True Goods - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

Instructor(s)

Instructor Bio:

Deacon Frederick Bartels is a member of the Catholic clergy who serves the Church in the diocese of Pueblo, CO. He received an MA in Theology and Educational Ministry from Catholic Distance University, where he is currently employed as an adjunct professor of theology. He is founder and editor of Joy In Truth (joyintruth.com), an online magazine dedicated to the New Evangelization. As a Catholic educator, public speaker and evangelist, Deacon Bartels strives to infuse culture with the saving principles of the gospel. He lives in Colorado with his wife, Shelly, and the youngest two of their six children. Professor Bartels is Chairman of the Theology Department.

Deacon Frederick Bartels

Professor of Theology, Department Chair