Agape

Agape: represents the highest form of love—selfless and sacrificial

Context:

Situation ethics is a teleological ethical system: An action is deemed morally correct or incorrect based on its consequences.

Legalism: ethics based on fixed laws.

Antinomianism: the idea that there should be no laws and people can do what they think is right based on their own personal opinions.

Fletcher's situation ethics aimed to be a compromise between legalism which was too rigid and antinomianism which provides too much flexibility.

Fletcher's Ethical Scenarios

1. Sacrificial Suicide: Fletcher supports a terminally ill patient ending life-extending medication for the financial security of his family. This action demonstrates love and prioritizes the well-being of loved ones over his own life.
2. Special Bombing Mission No. 13**:** Fletcher justifies the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as they led to the swift end of World War II, ultimately saving more lives. The immediate destruction is outweighed by the long-term peace achieved.
3. Patriotic Prostitution: Fletcher supports the young woman's decision to seduce an enemy spy for the greater good. The act of extramarital sex is justified as it serves the higher purpose of potentially ending a war, demonstrating love for her country and its people.
4. Sacrificial Adultery: Fletcher endorses Mrs. Bergmeier's decision to commit adultery to reunite with her family. Although morally questionable, her action is justified by the love and unity it brings to her family in a dire situation.

The concept of Agape in the New Testament

• Agape is rooted in God's love, especially as demonstrated by Jesus, it is distinct from other forms of love that are subjective and personal.
• Agape is represented by Jesus' sacrifice where he gave up his life in order to save humanity from sin. Agape is unconditional, urging humans to love God and each other in the same selfless manner.
• While traces of this love appear in the Old Testament, it is firmly established in the New Testament and quickly adopted by early Christians as their ethical guide, inspired by Jesus' example.

New Testament Evidence of Agape

1. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." • This verse illustrates the selflessness of agape, teaching humanity to prioritize others' needs, mirroring Jesus' willingness to incarnate and sacrifice Himself for the world's salvation.
2. John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." • These words of Jesus highlight the ultimate expression of agape through self-sacrifice.
3. Matthew 22:36-40: • Jesus declares loving God and one's neighbor as the greatest commandment, signifying that agape is central to all religious laws and ethical teachings.
4. Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37): • In this parable, Jesus teaches that agape transcends cultural and racial boundaries, showcasing a Samaritan helping a wounded Jew to emphasize that love should be universal and objective, not subjective or personal.
5. Matthew 12:1-14: • By healing on the Sabbath and declaring, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath," Jesus emphasizes that agape prioritizes human welfare over strict adherence to laws.
6. 1 Corinthians 13:13: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." • St. Paul underscores the preeminence of agape love above all virtues.

Archbishop William Temple claimed 'there is only one ultimate and enviable duty and its formula is to 'love your neighbor as you love yourself, how to do this is another question, but this is the whole of moral duty'.

Fletcher built on Temple's idea of an ethics that was personalist and love-centred. Temple himself had not concluded how this could be used to make moral decisions, it was Fletcher who went on to do this through his situation ethics.

Bultmann argued that Jesus did not want to establish a new ethical ideology based on laws, he only had one ethic and that was to show love, everything he did was in support of this. Fletcher used this when he decided that agape would be the only ruling factor in this ethics.

Barth claimed that 'God's commanding' is not rules to be followed legalistically, but applied to each situation separately, in some circumstances this would permit morally 'wrong actions', like allowing abortion. Fletcher took this on board when he decided that showing agape would allow actions that would otherwise be seen as wrong according to biblical law for example euthanasia should be allowed if it shows agape love, despite going against the rule of the 10 commandments.

Bonhoeffer stated that 'the will of God in any situation is based on the needs of one's neighbour and the model of Jesus' Fletcher enveloped this idea in his ethics as each circumstance should be based on its own merits, and in each case, the most loving thing should be done for those in question despite the personal sacrifice that this action may require.

Advantages of Agape-Based Moral Decisions:

• Situational Flexibility: Avoids rigid legalism, enabling compassionate and context-sensitive decisions.
• Clear Ethical Guidance: Provides a straightforward standard centered on love and self-sacrifice.
• Modern Relevance: Aligns with Christian principles while addressing contemporary moral issues.
• Universal Appeal: Promotes a loving society, encouraging individuals to adopt a more compassionate character.

Disadvantages of Agape-Based Moral Decisions:

• Subjectivity and Vagueness: Different interpretations of love can lead to ethical disagreements and inconsistencies.
• Potential for Harm: Situational decisions can justify actions that cause pain or conflict, such as adultery, or controversial moral decisions like euthanasia.
• Risk of Chaos: Without clear rules, subjective judgments can lead to social disorder and moral confusion.
• Rejection by Traditionalists: Critics argue for more structured ethical systems, emphasizing the need for clear definitions of right and wrong.

💡 While this approach offers significant advantages in terms of flexibility and compassion, it also faces challenges related to subjectivity and potential misuse. Nonetheless, agape remains a powerful and enduring principle in Christian moral thought, emphasizing love and sacrifice as central ethical imperatives.