What is an overview of moral theories in Christianity?
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What is an overview of moral theories in Christianity? From my own research, I know of at least three:
1. [Divine Command Theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_command_theory) . Wikipedia presents the following summary:
> Divine command theory (also known as theological voluntarism) is a meta-ethical theory which proposes that an action's status as morally good is equivalent to whether it is commanded by God. The theory asserts that what is moral is determined by God's commands and that for a person to be moral he is to follow God's commands. Followers of both monotheistic and polytheistic religions in ancient and modern times have often accepted the importance of God's commands in establishing morality.
2. [Divine Motivation Theory](https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-1-4020-8265-8_1523) , by Linda Zagzebski. Here is an excerpt from the paper:
> Divine Motivation Theory (DMT) is a form of
theologically based moral theory proposed by
Linda Zagzebski. The theory defines all moral
properties of persons, acts, and outcomes of acts
in terms of God’s motives. God’s motives are
states such as love and compassion, states that
are motivating, and that are emotions or similar to
emotions. She proposes that these states constitute the metaphysical and conceptual basis for
moral value. Given traditional assumptions
about the nature of God, the theory combines
moral realism with divine noncognitivism.
>
> According to DMT, persons and their qualities
are good in so far as they are like God or imitate God
in the relevant respect. Human motives are good in
so far as they are like the divine motives as those
motives would be expressed in finite and embodied
beings. Human virtues are those traits that imitate
God’s virtues as they would be expressed by human
beings in human circumstances. Outcomes get their
moral value by their relation to good and bad motivations. For example, a state of affairs is a merciful one or a compassionate one or a just one because the
divine motives that are constituents of mercy, compassion, and justice respectively aim at bringing them about. Acts get their moral value from the
acts that would, would not, or might be done by a being who imitates God in the relevant circumstances. God’s own goodness and the rightness of
God’s own acts follow immediately from the theory
since God himself is the supreme standard of all
moral value
3. [Christian Hedonism](https://www.desiringgod.org/topics/christian-hedonism) , by John Piper, which to me sounds a bit like a Christianized version of Utilitarianism:
> Christian Hedonism is the conviction that God’s ultimate goal in the world (his glory) and our deepest desire (to be happy) are one and the same, because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Not only is God the supreme source of satisfaction for the human soul, but God himself is glorified by our being satisfied in him. Therefore, our pursuit of joy in him is essential.
>
> Christian Hedonism claims that the Christian life should be the pursuit of maximum joy in God — joy both in quality and quantity. Fullness of joy and joy forevermore (Psalm 16:11) are found only in him.
Are there other moral theories in Christianity?
Asked by user61679
Jun 14, 2023, 12:13 PM