On the Genealogy of Morals

Following the death of Jesus, Christians adhered to a series of ethical laws, including abstaining from eating the blood of animals and certain sexual practices. These laws persisted for centuries. The Christian moral tradition refers to the values and principles outlined in the Bible, which have been synthesized and interpreted by different Christian denominations and individuals throughout history. The Bible encompasses many moral directives, and the interpretation and application of those directives has evolved with cultural and historical shifts. The pervasive influence of Christian ethics continues in contemporary societal attitudes and concepts of morality. However, the principles of Christian morality have changed as new understandings and problems emerged throughout history.

The dissemination of the Christian religion led to the evolution and adaptation of its moral framework. As Christianity spread outward from the Middle East to all parts of Europe, many thinkers and translators worked together to reconcile classical teachings, such as those of Aristotle and Plato, and the Bible. Classical views of ethics and the morality of the Bible were brought together to form a philosophical foundation upon which the Roman Catholic Church continues to utilize in the 21st century. During the Middle Ages, Catholic theologians also developed complex moral theories, such as the relationship between virtuous and charitable conduct (often called “good works”) and salvation, and the categorization of various types of sin, including the seven deadly sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride.