Slide 1:1995


Culture of Life vs. Culture of Death :Culture of Life vs. Culture of Death “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living… It was the wicked who with hands and words invited death.” Wisdom 1:13, 18 “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25


Culture of Death: Origin :Culture of Death: Origin


Human Questions :Human Questions Whatisthe meaningof life?


Rich Young Man Approaches Christ :Rich Young Man Approaches Christ


Christ Reveals Man to Himself :Christ Reveals Man to Himself “Keep theCommandments” “Come,follow me.”


Christian View of Man :Christian View of Man Christ Reveals Man to Himself Teacher Reconciler Obedient Son Just judge/Peacemaker Self-Giver


Modern View of Man :Modern View of Man Pleasure Seeker Consumer Individual Relativist (no moral absolutes) Skeptic (no knowledge is possible)


The Modern Age :The Modern Age


Freedom: Distorted View :Freedom: Distorted View


Freedom Defines the Human Person :Freedom Defines the Human Person Instinctual Action Free Action


Freedom to Do What is Good :Freedom to Do What is Good


Modern Fixation on the Individual :Modern Fixation on the Individual


Christian Community: Love & Sacrifice :Christian Community: Love & Sacrifice “God is love, andwhoever remains in love remains in God, and God in him.” I John 4:16


Slide 16:Christian Generosity vs. Modern Materialism


Modern Skepticism: All Opinions are EqualPilate said to Him, “What is Truth?” (John 19:38) :Modern Skepticism: All Opinions are EqualPilate said to Him, “What is Truth?” (John 19:38)


Christ: Splendor of Truth :Christ: Splendor of Truth “I amthe Waythe Truthand the Life.”


Moral Relativism :Moral Relativism


Inalienable Rights :Inalienable Rights “We holdtheseTruths tobe self-evident… …Life,Liberty,and thepursuit ofHappiness.”


Moral Absolutes :Moral Absolutes Reason Revelation


Values :Values Modern View “Freedom;” Doing what I want, when I want Individualism Materialism Skepticism Moral Relativism Christian View “Freedom;” Being free from sin and doing what is good Community Generosity Truth Moral Absolutes


Unlimited Choices? :Unlimited Choices?


The Heart of Liberty? :The Heart of Liberty? Y “At the heart of libertyis the right to define one’s ownconcept of existence, ofmeaning, of the universe,and the mysteryof human life.” Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)


A Connection :A Connection Griswold vs. the State of Connecticut (1965):legalizes sale of contraceptives Roe vs. Wade (1973): legalizes abortion Compassion in Dying vs. the State of Washington (1996): legalizes assisted suicide Lawrence v. Texas (2003): legalized sodomy


Crimes Against Life: New Rights :Crimes Against Life: New Rights


A Progression :A Progression


Further Differences :Further Differences


The Modern Tragedy: Godlessness :The Modern Tragedy: Godlessness “In seeking the deepest roots of the struggle between the ‘culture of life’ and the ‘culture of death,’ we cannot restrict ourselves to the perverse notion of freedom….We have to go to the heart of the tragedy being experienced by modern man: the ‘eclipse of the sense of God and of man.’” Evangelium Vitae 21


Man: A Highly Developed Animal :Man: A Highly Developed Animal


Man: An Immortal Creature :Man: An Immortal Creature


“You Will Be with Me in Paradise” :“You Will Be with Me in Paradise” “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”John 11:25-26