How trustworthy is 'Moral Certainty'?

[BenSinner]

I keep hearing that we can’t infallibly know if we are in a state of grace, but we can have moral certainty we are.

How ‘certain’ is moral certainty? I’m not sure what is the difference between moral certainty and absolute certainty.

 

[Benadam]

I think it means, If we have practiced due diligence to examine our conscience , remember past mortal sins, If our conscience is clear, there is no reason to believe we are not in a state of Grace, no moral impediment, we can have moral certainty that we are. But that isn’t absolute certainty. I don’t know if that is possible

 

[BenSinner]

But, if we don’t have absolute certainty of whether we are in a state of grace or not…how would it be possible for one to commit a mortal sin?, since the requirements are 1) Full knowledge and 2) Deliberate consent.

 

[Benadam]

Knowledge and freedom are measure our disposition. Determines how much we should know better and how difficult to resist following through with it.

 

[exnihilo]

Moral certainty is less than absolute certainty. Moral certainty is the level of certainty man is able to have in most matters due to our lack of omniscience.

This article on certainty from the Catholic Encyclopedia may help:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03539b.htm

 

[Gorgias]

But, if we don’t have absolute certainty of whether we are in a state of grace or not…how would it be possible for one to commit a mortal sin?, since the requirements are 1) Full knowledge and 2) Deliberate consent.

Hang on a second, though: “full knowledge” only means that you know that the act is gravely sinful. It doesn’t mean you’re omniscient.

Nothing that any individual does in the context of his conscience is “infallible”. That’s an unreasonable standard. However, as humans, we can be certain.