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Thomas More's STOP Method

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Thomas More’s demonstration of conscientious behaviour is exemplary. On top of that, it is also important to our class discussion of conscience. Early on, it’s easy to see how Thomas isn’t afraid to break the mould for sake of acting in a moral way. When he doesn’t know what to do or the correct path to choose in a situation, his next step is clear. Thomas’ first instinct is to pray. As we learned in class, the development and constant growth of our conscience is crucial to making moral decisions. When we are unable to come to a conclusion, the STOP method, particularly the last step, comes into play. The last method of the STOP method instructs us to pray when we don't know what to do. When tasked with a tough moral decision, St Thomas …show more content…

In addition, we learned how important it is to continue to inform your conscience. St Thomas More informs his conscience. He does this by having a good understanding of laws of morality and laws of the government. Thomas was clear in expressing his distaste with King Henry VIII's wish to get an annulment. He knew that an annulment would be an immoral decision, and wished not to defy moral laws. Later, Thomas had to recite an oath praising King Henry VIII as the leader of the Church of England. However, he was wise enough to know that this was unacceptable. St Thomas More had educated himself well enough to know what he could and couldn't do. Thomas knew that he could follow moral law without technically opposing King Henry VIII. To avoid agreeing to this immoral oath, St Thomas More stayed silent when asked to recite this oath. Later, St Thomas More was questioned about his motives. He argued that, in English law, silence is to be interpreted as consent. In doing this, St Thomas More followed the laws of the Church of England. Additionally, he didn't break his own moral laws by claiming the falsehood of King Henry VIII leading the …show more content…

Thomas was incomparable to any other man around at the time. He had no problem with opposing everyone around him if it meant doing what was morally good. During this unit, I learned that situations where everyone is against you can happen. Even so, it's possible to stay strong. I learned that your biggest defence in these situations is to trust in God to guide you and take care of you. And, even if it means giving up your life, fighting for moral truth is important. I think the thing I most enjoyed about St Thomas More was his sense of humour. Even under great duress, he seemed to have a good sense of humour about his situation. When in court, he was told that he held his own life in his hands. Without hesitation, Thomas responded, "I'll be sure to keep a good grip on it," much to the enjoyment of those in the courtroom. I like to think that I would've carried myself in a similar way as St Thomas More. He was serious and articulate, yet funny and personable just the same. At the same time, I can only hope that I would've had as strong a faith in God that Thomas did. Only this would allow me to follow the right

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Henry had his friend sentenced to death because of this opposition, to which More responded, “I die the king’s faithful servant, but God’s first.” Thomas More was martyred for the faith on July 6th in 1535. 
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One of the reasons Cromwell made reforms to England in the 1530s was that there was still opposition to Henry being Supreme Head of the Church. It was important to have everyone on the king’s side, because without that his ideas would be ignored. Contradicting views would be discussed and spread widely between friends and acquaintances who would spread the information even more. The largest problem was when public figures expressed their opinions. For example, Elizabeth Barton was a nun who was widely respected and believed to have apparitions of G-d.

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Thomas risks himself by going up to a fisherman with a knife. He reasons with him and tries his best to convince the fisherman to let the shark go. Thomas took this risk because he saw the helpless shark and wanted to help it. He felt that the shark didn’t deserve to die and be thrown into the ocean. He advocated and eventually saved the shark’s life.

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The friar explains that Thomas’s disease is “ from our having received too little” (192). This statement is beyond disgusting. Telling a sick man that he is only sick because the church hasn't received enough of his money is downright

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Sir Thomas More, a scholar, statesman, and later Lord High Chancellor of England, has to give his opinion on King Henry VIII’s divorce. He opposes to the divorce, but would rather stay quiet than give his opinion. At the end of the play Thomas gets executed, but he would rather die than forsake his conscious. “He could act, as he put it, against his conscience and lose his soul, or according to his conscience and lose his body.” (Merrigan, 2012:

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Relationships between authority figures and their lesser subjects can be fraught with the potential of harm. Thomas was highly respected by King Henry VIII. The King liked how Thomas was an honest man and someone whom he could trust to tell him the pure truth. Thomas’s opinions on important matters of state were vastly valued. Thomas is torn between pleasing the King by following his orders supporting him and doing what his conscience believes to be right.

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In some research I did from an article called “Sir Thomas More” from the Encyclopedia Britannica, I found that Thomas More was educated in the house of John Morton archbishop of Canterbury and also chancellor of England. John Morton predicted that Thomas More would be a very intelligent person and sent him to Oxford University to study. Thomas More looked up to John Morton and learned much of what he knew from John. This is important when determining what we know about Richard III because John Morton was a colleague of Henry VII, who Josephine Tey accuses of being the actual murderer of Richard III’s nephews, she was also the one who set up Richard to be accused of this.

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Thomas Wolsey was infamous for his character within the Henrician period. His efforts affected many aspects within this time, which were enforced to such a high standard due to the power of his positions within the Church and State. Due to this Wolsey, other than Henry VIII, was considered the most influential mind in England, which was all due to the infinite strings he managed as a puppeteer of Henry 's relations. Wolsey managed to carefully climb the ladder to his successes, eliminating threats along the way only leaving him with a easier and more obtainable goal. How Wolsey managed to obtain so much power and influence within such a short time helped discourage those who stood against him, but over time Wolsey had managed to curate his devotion

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His wife is completely opposed and angered by his light reaction to poverty, his refusal to accept the four thousand pounds and his overall refusal to condone to the Act of Supremacy. He doesn’t want it to “appear as a payment” which reminds the audience and the readers of Thomas More’s devotion to his religious faith and his commitment to the law. There is a successful use of foreshadowing when Thomas More says that it can all end up “very bad” or even “dangerous” when referring to the King. His calmness is again showed through the use of stage directions “calmly” when he is speaking to Alice about the

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The man who had transcended the slumber people call consciousness. It seemed impossible that the crimes Thomas had witnessed could be the work of his hand. Impossible and inevitable. Neil had always done this. Moving from rule to sanctity...”

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More put God at the center of his decisions for example when he refused to say that Henry VIII was the head of the church he neglected it and kept God as the center. He was then beheaded and then the Church blessed him in 1886 and became a saint in 1935. Even at his trial he always kept God’s role in his life. “I die the king’s good servant, and God’s first”-Thomas More. More would rather give himself up to the devil this is being said in the reading of “Thomas More as statesmen,” “More would give the devil himself benefit of law for the sake of justice and peace.”

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Somehow he knew he had to do it. It was such an odd thing to feel, especially after what he 'd just seen”(Dashner, 39).... “Thomas knew he was a smart kid- he somehow felt it in his bones. But nothing about this place made any sense. Except for one thing.

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