The concept of Conscience in Christianity
Conscience, in Christianity, is an inner sense of right and wrong that guides moral decisions and reflects individual moral awareness. It acts as a vital component of personal freedom and integrity, serving as a judge of actions and an internal guide. Both Protestantism and Catholic teachings emphasize its divine origin and significance in assessing one's guilt and moral conduct. Early Christianity warns against contaminating one's conscience through external influences. Overall, conscience is essential for discerning ethical choices and understanding the implications of one's actions.
Synonyms: Moral compass, Sense of right and wrong, Ethical awareness, Inner voice, Guilt, Scruples, Morality, Ethics
In French: Conscience; In Dutch: Geweten; In Finnish: Omatunto; In Spanish: Conciencia; In German: Gewissen; In Malay: Hati nurani; In Swedish: Samvete
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Christian concept of 'Conscience'
From: Expositions of Holy Scripture
(1) An internal sense of right and wrong, which testifies to the truth, experiencing guilt and remorse, often revealing the true nature of actions and their consequences.[1] (2) The inner sense of right and wrong, which is meant to govern the will, and its voice is but the echo of God's law, but it has no hands, and cannot always hold us back.[2] (3) The text discusses the state of a half-awakened conscience that is soothed by means that weaken it, which can worsen the person's condition.[3] (4) The text refers to an internal sense of right and wrong, acting as a voice that arises after an action is committed.[4] (5) Conscience is mentioned in the text as a faculty that speaks to us of demerit and proclaims guilt, and is an internal guide of right and wrong.[5]
From: Hymns for Christian Devotion
(1) Something helps maintain a clear and untainted state of the inner self.[6]
From: Summa Theologica (English translation)
(1) The conscience will bear witness in the day when God shall judge, and each person's thoughts will accuse and defend them, according to the provided text.[7] (2) An internal awareness of the moral implications of one's actions that the incontinent man often disregards.[8] (3) An individual's moral awareness, which can be disturbed by actions such as derision, leading to feelings of shame and confusion.[9] (4) An individual's moral compass that may play a role in both the correction process and the assessment of one's own guilt.[10] (5) The inner sense or faculty that applies knowledge to actions, often judged against right reason.[11]
From: Ante-nicene Fathers
(1) Conscience is mentioned as something that greatly curbs men if we believe that we are living in the sight of God and that our actions, thoughts, and words are heard by God.[12] (2) The conscience is referenced in the context of eating, and it is said that the conscience of the person who eats with doubt defiles them.[13] (3) Conscience refers to the inner sense of right and wrong, and the text advises opening the eyes of one's heart to the understanding of sin, acknowledging the gravity of one's actions.[14] (4) Conscience is mentioned in the text, and the author argues about the actions of others, and the idea of contaminating one's own conscience by their neighbour’s ignorance.[15]
From: The Existence and Attributes of God
(1) The inner sense of right and wrong given by God that guides the moral decision-making of individuals.[16] (2) An internal guidance system that reflects the moral law and serves as a reminder of the higher authority of God.[17]