The Concept of Conscience in the Christian Paradigm: From the Old Testament to the Documents of the Second Vatican Council

Abstract

This article analyzes the concept of conscience within the Christian paradigm from the Old Testament to the Second Vatican Council. Since the phenomenon of conscience has been a subject of debate for centuries, it has numerous definitions and interpretations in moral philosophy. The complicated understanding of conscience is further contributed to by the relativistic concept of morality, which denies the objectivity of morality in ethical discourse and rejects viewing conscience as a natural moral ability. The article asserts that the clearest definition of conscience is provided by the teachings of the Catholic Church, based on Revelation, Tradition, and the Church’s teachers and theologians. Although the term ‘conscience’ is not present, its concept can already be found in the books of the Old Testament. Much has been written about conscience, its importance, and role in the letters of the apostles, especially St. Paul, in the New Testament. Jesus spoke about it through parables in the Gospel. Aurelius Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas conceptualized the Christian understanding of conscience, offering anthropological insights and a clear structure of conscience that revealed its dual nature – synderesis and conscientia. The documents of the Second Vatican Council present an updated perspective on the individual’s conscience and its dignity, emphasizing the necessity of properly forming it. The aim of the article is to analyze and present the development of the concept of conscience within the Christian paradigm, highlighting the essential structure of its nature. A thorough revelation of the origin of conscience clarifies its concept, enabling a better understanding of its role and guiding one to properly follow it in daily life.