Religious ethics Books

Book SynopsisA milestone in the history of popular theology, The Screwtape Letters' is an iconic classic on spiritual warfare and the power of the devil.This profound and striking narrative takes the form of a series of letters from Screwtape, a devil high in the Infernal Civil Service, to his nephew Wormwood, a junior colleague engaged in his first mission on earth trying to secure the damnation of a young man who has just become a Christian. Although the young man initially looks to be a willing victim, he changes his ways and is lost' to the young devil.Dedicated to Lewis's friend and colleague J.R.R. Tolkien, The Screwtape Letters' is a timeless classic on spiritual conflict and the invisible realities which are part of our religious experience.Trade Review‘The book is sparkling yet truly reverent, in fact a perfect joy, and should become a classic.’ The Guardian ‘Excellent, hard-hitting, challenging, provoking.’ The Observer

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Book SynopsisIntroducing Christian Ethics 2e, now thoroughly revised and updated, offers an unparalleled introduction to the study of Christian Ethics, mapping and exploring all the major ethical approaches, and offering thoughtful insights into the complex moral challenges facing people today. This highly successful text has been thoughtfully updated, based on considerable feedback, to include increased material on Catholic perspectives, further case studies and the augmented use of introductions and summaries Uniquely redefines the field of Christian ethics along three strands: universal (ethics for anyone), subversive (ethics for the excluded), and ecclesial (ethics for the church) Encompasses Christian ethics in its entirety, offering students a substantial overview by re-mapping the field and exploring the differences in various ethical approaches Provides a successful balance between description, analysis, and critique Structured so tTable of ContentsPreface viii Introduction 1 Part One The Story of Christian Ethics 3 1 The Story of God 5 2 The Story of the Church 34 3 The Story of Ethics 64 4 The Story of Christian Ethics 90 Part Two The Questions Christian Ethics Asks 123 5 Universal Ethics 127 6 Subversive Ethics 159 7 Ecclesial Ethics 200 Part Three The Questions Asked of Christian Ethics 233 8 Good Order 235 9 Good Life 270 10 Good Relationships 303 11 Good Beginnings and Endings 343 12 Good Earth 369 Timeline 396 Glossary of Names 398 Glossary of Terms 409 Name Index 417 Subject Index 422

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Book SynopsisC.S. Lewis's famous work on the nature of love divides love into four categories: Affection, Friendship, Eros and Charity. The first three are loves which come naturally to the human race.Charity, however, the Gift-love of God, is divine in its source and expression, and without the sweetening grace of this supernatural love, the natural loves become distorted and even dangerous.Trade Review‘He has never written better. Nearly every page scintillates with observations which are illuminating, provocative and original.’ Church Times

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Book SynopsisThis introductory textbook establishes theatrical improvisation as a model for Christian ethics, helping Christians embody their faith in the practices of discipleship. Clearly, accessibly, and creatively written, it has been well received as a text for courses in Christian ethics. The repackaged edition has updated language and recent relevant resources, and it includes a new afterword by Wesley Vander Lugt and Benjamin D. Wayman that explores the reception and ongoing significance of the text.Table of ContentsContentsPreface to the 2018 EditionIntroductionPart 1: Plowing1. Ethics as Theology2. Theology as Narrative3. Narrative as Drama4. Drama as ImprovisationPart 2: Planting5. Forming Habits6. Assessing Status7. Accepting and Blocking8. Questioning Givens9. Incorporating Gifts10. Reincorporating the LostPart 3: Reaping11. A Threatening Offer: Human Evil12. A Threatening Offer: Flawed Creation13. A Promising Offer: Perfectible Bodies14. A Promising Offer: Unlimited FoodEpilogueAfterword Wesley Vander Lugt and Benjamin D. WaymanIndexes

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Book SynopsisAs ecological degradation continues to threaten permanent and dramatic changes for life on our planet, the question of how we can protect our imperiled Earth has become more pressing than ever before. In this book, Daniel Scheid draws on Catholic social thought as the foundation for a new type of interreligious ecological ethics, which he calls the cosmic common good, that sees humans as just a part of the greater whole of the cosmos. The cosmic common good emphasizes the instrumental and intrinsic value of nature and the integral connection between religious practice and the pursuit of the common good.Scheid begins his analysis by rooting his vision of the cosmic common good in the classical doctrines of creation found in the works of Augustine and Thomas Aquinas and in Thomas Berry''s interpretation of the evolutionary cosmic story. He goes on to explore conceptions of a cosmic common good in other traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and American Indian religion. Scheid demonstraTrade ReviewThe Cosmic Common Good will be a fine addition to academic libraries and highly appropriate for use in undergraduate courses on ethics, ecological studies, world religions, and comparative religions. The mix of primary and secondary sources Scheid engages competently provide excellent beginnings for scholarly research. Also helpful for advancing research are his informative endnotes, extensive bibliography, and index. * Jame Schaefer, Journal of Religion *This volume will be a valuable addition to the undergarduate, graduate, and seminary courses in ecological ethics, potentially opening the way towards more robust interreligious converstion about ecological concerns and providing the necessary methodological tools. * Margaret R. Pfeil, Journal of Catholic Social Thought *Scheid creates an innovative amalgam of ancient and modem theological insights and is to be lauded for attempting to overcome some of the inherent difficulties of hammering out a common interreligious ecological ethic by proposing a theoretical framework for a worldview that is centered on the cosmic common good. This kind of unity is precisely what the world needs if humanity is going to overcome the ecological crisis that threatens its existence. * Jeremiah Vallery, Religious Studies Review *Given the suffering caused by ecological degradation to humans and other creatures alike, theology is tasked in our day to bring the natural world back into view as a subject of religious and moral importance. In this broadly researched and clearly written book, Scheid sets out to do just that with one keystone element of Catholic social teaching: the common good. Not only does he rethink features of this principle, expanding it in an ecological direction, but he places this principle in dialogue with Hindu, Buddhist, and American Indian traditions. The point of arrival is an interreligious vision of the cosmic common good which can serve as a basis for ethical action to protect the planet, or 'to care for God's creation' in Catholic language... Toward that end this book makes a superb contribution. * Elizabeth A. Johnson, Theological Studies *Table of ContentsPreface ; Acknowledgements ; Chapter One: The Cosmic Common Good as a Ground for Interreligious Ecological Ethics ; Part I: A Catholic Cosmic Common Good ; Chapter Two: A Catholic Cosmic Common Good: Overview and Prospects ; Chapter Three: Classical Sources for a Catholic Cosmic Common Good: Augustine and Thomas Aquinas ; Chapter Four: Thomas Berry and an Evolutionary Catholic Cosmic Common Good ; Chapter Five: Earth Solidarity ; Chapter Six: Earth Rights ; Part II: The Cosmic Common Good and Interreligious Ecological Ethics ; Chapter Seven: Comparative Theology and Ecological Ethics ; Chapter Eight: Hindu Traditions: Dharmic Ecology ; Chapter Nine: Buddhist Traditions: Interdependence ; Chapter Ten: American Indian Traditions: Balance with All Our Relations ; Conclusion: An Interreligious Cosmic Common Good ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisThis book walks readers through relevant Scripture passages on the topic of conciencea largely neglected topic in the church todayto offer guiding principles and practical advice for aligning our consciences with God's will.

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Book SynopsisThe relationship between spirituality and healthcare is historical, intellectual and practical, and it has now emerged as a significant field in health research, healthcare policy and clinical practice and training. Understanding health and wellbeing requires addressing spiritual and existential issues, and healthcare is therefore challenged to respond to the ways spirituality is experienced and expressed in illness, suffering, healing and loss. If healthcare has compassionate regard for the humanity of those it serves, it is faced with questions about how it understands and interprets spirituality, what resources it should make available and how these are organised, and the ways in which spirituality shapes and informs the purpose and practice of healthcare? These questions are the basis for this resource, which presents a coherent field of enquiry, discussion and debate that is interdisciplinary, international and vibrant.There is a growing corpus of articles in medical and healthcare journals on spirituality in addition to a wide range of literature, but there has been no attempt so far to publish a standard text on this subject. Spirituality in Healthcare is an authoritative reference on the subject providing unequalled coverage, critical depth and an integrated source of key topics. Divided into six sections including practice, research, policy and training, the project brings together international contributions from scholars in the field to provide a unique and stimulating resource.Trade ReviewThis book is remarkable in its range and in its depth. The contributors are all leading experts in their particular fields, and anyone who masters the richness and detail of the 64 chapters will have acquired a genuinely comprehensive knowledge of the increasingly important area of the intersection between spirituality and healthcare. * Brendan Callaghan, SJ, from The Way, Vol. 55, No. 1, Jan 2016 *Table of ContentsForward ; Preface ; I Traditions ; 1. Medicine and Religion: A historical perspective ; 2. Buddhism: Perspectives for the contemporary world ; 3. Chinese Religion: Taoism ; 4. Christianity ; 5. Feminist Spirituality ; 6. Indian Religion and the Ayurvedic Tradition ; 7. . The Western Humanist Tradition ; 8. Indigenous Spiritualties ; 9. Islam ; 10. Judaism ; 11. 'New Age' Spirituality ; 12. Philosophy ; 13. Secularism ; 14. Sikhism ; II Concepts ; 15. Healthcare spirituality: A question of knowledge ; 16. Personhood ; 17. Belief ; 18. Hope ; 19. Meaning Making ; 20. Compassion: Luxury or Necessity? ; 21. Dignity: A Novel Path into the Spiritual Landscape of the Human Heart ; 22. Cure and Healing ; 23. Suffering ; 24. Ritual ; 25. Culture and Religion ; III Practice ; 26. Models of Spiritual Care ; 27. Healthcare Chaplaincy ; 28. Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine ; 29. Restorative Medicine ; 30. Nursing ; 31. Faith Community (Parish) Nursing ; 32. Psychiatry and Mental Health Treatment ; 33. Social Work ; 34. Care of Children ; 35. Care of elderly people ; 36. Palliative Care ; 37. Spirituality and the arts: Discovering what really matters ; 38. Care of the Soul ; 39. Counselling ; 40. Dignity Conserving Care ; 41. Pastoral Theology in healthcare settings: Blessed irritant for holistic human care ; 42. Next Steps for spiritual assessment in healthcare ; IV Research ; 43. Methodology ; 44. Measures ; 45. On the links between religion and health: What has empirical research taught us? ; 46. Quality of Life ; 47. Cognitive Sciences: A perspective on spirituality and religious experience ; 48. Spiritual Well-Being Scale: Mental and Physical Health Relationships ; 49. Prayer and Meditation ; 50. Resiliency and Coping ; 51. Spiritual experience, practice and community ; 52. Policy ; 53. Healthcare Organizations: Corporate spirituality ; 54. Utility and Commissioning of Spiritual Carers ; 55. Social Care ; 56. Curriculum Development, Courses and CPE ; 57. Competences in spiritual care education and training ; 58. Guidance from the Humanities for Professional Formation ; 59. Training and Formation: A case study ; 60. Interdisciplinary teamwork ; 61. Ethical Principles for Spiritual Care ; VI Challenges ; 62. Contemporary Spirituality ; 63. The Future of Religion ; 64. The Future of Spirituality and Healthcare

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Book SynopsisReveals how a distrust of learned and habituated virtue shaped both early modern Christian moral reflection and secular forms of ethical thought. This book traces a path from suspicion of virtue to its secular inversion, from confession of dependence to assertion of independence.Trade Review"Jennifer Herdt's book is, far and away, the best recent work in Christian ethics that we have." - John R. Bowlin, Princeton Theological Seminary"

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Book SynopsisDescribes the dilemma of modern man and points a way to the conquest of the problem of anxiety. This title includes a foreword that situates the book within the theological conversation from which it emerged and conveys its continued relevance in the present century.Trade Review“The brilliance, the wealth of illustration, and the aptness of personal application . . . make the reading of these chapters an exciting experience.”—W. Norman Pittenger, New York Times Book Review“A lucid and arresting book.”—Frances Witherspoon, New York Herald Tribune“Paul Tillich is the most profound theologian of post-fundamentalist religion. As Harvey Cox makes clear in his new introduction, this book is a classic awaiting re-discovery by a new generation.”—Tom F. Driver, Paul J. Tillich Professor of Theology and Culture Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary in New York“The Courage to Be changed my life. It also profoundly impacted the lives of many others from my generation. Now Harvey Cox’s fresh introduction helps to open up this powerful reading experience to the current generation.”—Robert N. Bellah, University of California, Berkeley“The essential character of courage, for Tillich, is ‘in spite of.’ We must go on striving for freedom, justice, and our faith in spite of oppositions. In this age of late capitalism, globalization, and terrorism, we all need the virtue of courage, as Harvey Cox admirably argues in the foreword.”—Nimi Wariboko, Andover Newton Theological School“Tillich struggled with the existential question how we may overcome the demoralizing effects, on the individual and society, of our Age of Anxiety. In this, his most popular book, Tillich gives us his deeply thought answers, and Harvey Cox provides a helpful new introduction.”—Gerald Holton, Harvard University

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Book SynopsisIn engem exegetischen Anschluß an das Markusevangelium - ergänzt durch Bergpredigt, Vaterunser und Seligpreisungen (Mt) - erarbeitet Joachim Ringleben ein systematisch-theologisches Verständnis von Jesu Weg von der Taufe bis zur Passion. Dabei finden Jesu Sohnesbewußtsein, seine Reich-Gottes-Verkündigung, sein Verhältnis zum Alten Testament, die Heilungen, sein Gebet und seine Gleichnisse sowie seine Selbstverortung zwischen Schöpfung und Eschatologie (mit Ausblick auf die Auferstehung) besondere Berücksichtigung.Joachim Ringleben stellt drei systematische Hauptthesen auf und stellt deren Ergebnisse dar: Jesu sprachlich vermitteltes Selbstverständnis dient der Erschließung seines Gottesbewußtseins und führt zu einer radikalen Neufassung des überlieferten Gottesgedankens. In der Perspektive von Gott als dem 'Gott des Sohnes' wird Gottes Verhältnis zu diesem Menschen systematisch nachvollziehbar. Und schließlich lässt sich Jesu Gottesverhältnis theologisch als der Ort begreifen, an dem Gott sich selber hervorbringt und zu sich kommt. Damit eröffnet der Autor eine neue Anschlußmöglichkeit für die dogmatische Christologie.

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Book SynopsisEach chapter of The New Asceticism concentrates on a contentious issue in contemporary theology - the role of women in the churches, homosexuality and the priesthood, celibacy and the future of Christian asceticism - in an original thesis about the nature of desire which may start to heal many contemporary wounds. Professor Coakley is as familiar with the Bible and the Early Fathers as she is with the writings of Freud and Jung, and she draws heavily on Gregory of Nyssa''s theology of desire in what she proposes. She points the way through the false modern alternatives of repression and libertinism, agape and eros, recovering a way in which desire can be freed from associations with promiscuity and disorder, and forging a new ascetical vision founded in the disciplines of prayer and attention.Trade ReviewThis theological excavation argues that a fallen world can be redeemed, if it can find ways, in the light of Christ, to chasten and purify all of its desires before God. * Church of Ireland Gazette *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Pleasure Principles: A theology of desire 2. The Woman at the Altar 3. Other Voices Other Worlds: Homosexuality 4. Trinity Prayer and Sexuality 5. Deepening Practices: Ascetial and Mystical Theology

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1985 as Les sources de la morale chrétienne, this work has been recognised by scholars worldwide as one of the most important books in the field of moral theology. It’s now available for the first time in an English translation, which includes a new preface.Trade ReviewPinckaers' wonderful book is characterized by a return to the centrality of the virtues for how one thinks about the moral life. . . ." ―First Things"This work provides a succinct overview of the history of moral theology, written with a sureness of touch developed by long years of research. . . . There is no comparable single work in English which explains what moral theology is and what it is about."―Brian V. Johnstone, C.Ss.R., Alphonsian Academy, Rome"A very readable translation of Pinckaers's award-winning work in foundational ethics...." ―Religious Studies Review

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Book SynopsisA complete, newly translated edition of al-Adab al-Mufrad, the most famous collection of Prophetic traditions on manners and morals, with a pioneering commentary by Adil Salahi.Trade Review"Extraordinarily well written and presented" -Midwest Book Review on Muhammad: His Character and Conduct"Written in good, easy English. . . . I personally recommend [this book]." -Nouman Ali Khan, author of Revive Your Heart on Muhammad: Man and Prophet

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Book SynopsisBiblical scholar Wayne Grudem offers thought-provoking analysis of what the Bible saysand doesn't sayabout divorce, bringing much needed clarity to the discussion and guidance to those stuck at a crossroads.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction to this Edition by Fr. Alfred Wierzbicki Author's Introduction Part I. Morality as the Field Proper to Ethics 1. The Problem of the Experience of Morality 2. Experience and understanding 3. From a Pre-scientific to a Philosophical Understanding 4. Understanding and Interpretation 5. The Debate about the Interpretation of Morality 6. The Interpretation of Morality as the Uncovering of its Aspects Part II. The Normativity of Ethics & the Responsibility of the Person 1. The Understanding of Morality and the Questions of Ethics 2. The World of Norms—Their Analogical Character 3. An Attempt at a Closer Determination of Moral Norms 4. Utilitarianism: Is it only a debate about the foundations of the norms of morality? 5. Utilitarianism & Teleology 6. Norms as Truths about Goodness 7. Norms and Exemplarism 8. Ethics—A Normative Science or a Practical One? Part III. The Natural Law & Personalist Norms 1. The Full Profile of Ethics 2. The Limits of a Practical Science 3. The Limits of a Normative Science

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Book SynopsisThis short, accessible, but theologically substantive volume unfolds the significance of the Ten Commandments for the Christian life. Gilbert Meilaender, one of today's leading Christian ethicists, places the commandments in the larger context of the biblical history of redemption and invites readers to wrestle with how human loves should relate to the first commandment: to love God above all else. As he approaches the Decalogue from this perspective, Meilaender helps Christians learn what it means to say, "Thy will be done."Table of ContentsContents1. The Law of Christ2. The Marriage Bond3. The Family Bond4. The Life Bond5. The Possessions Bond6. The Speech Bond7. The Great and First CommandmentIndex

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Book SynopsisDer Skandal des Kreuzes kann als eine theologische Leitkategorie des (evangelischen) Gottesdienstes verstanden werden. Diese These vertritt Johannes Michael Modeß im vorliegenden Buch in Auseinandersetzung mit kreuzestheologischen Entwürfen, mit der theologischen Begriffsgeschichte von "Skandalon" bei Melanchthon, Kierkegaard und anderen mit interdisziplinär erarbeiteten Ergebnissen der sogenannten Skandalforschung und auf der Basis liturgiewissenschaftlicher Forschungen. Der "Skandal des Kreuzes" wird als eine Figur ausgearbeitet, mit deren Hilfe religiöses Zeichenhandeln in seiner theologischen wie auch ästhetischen Dimension verstanden und begründet werden kann. Dadurch ist eine kreuzestheologische Fundamentalliturgik entstanden, die kulturwissenschaftliche Forschungen in ihre theologische Argumentation aufnimmt.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface xiii Acknowledgment vii 1 Reading the Parables through the Lens of Social Justice 1 1. Introduction 1 2. What Are Parables? 8 3. Why Parables? 13 4. The Parables as They Were Originally Heard 17 5. Parables and Mercy: An Entry Point into Social Justice 20 6. Exploring the Ethical Implications of the Parables through a Social Justice Lens 24 7. Reading the Parables through the Lens of Social Justice: A Proposal 32 2 Encountering the World and Words of Jesus 39 1. Introduction 39 2. Exploring Other Worlds: Some Key Concepts 41 3. The World of Jesus 42 Religious Context: Early Judaism 42 Sociopolitical Context: An Advanced Agrarian Society within the Roman Empire 54 4. The Words of Jesus 60 5. Words about Jesus 73 The Actions and Example of Jesus 74 Death and Resurrection 75 6. Postscript: Jesus and Crucified Peoples Today 78 3 The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) 83 1. Introduction 83 2. The Text: Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) 85 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Story 85 4. Our Second Step: Going Deeper through Asking Questions 87 What Can We Know about the Characters? 87 Good Samaritan … and Bad Jews? 90 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 92 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 94 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 98 8. Our Final Step: Consider Implications 102 Physical Care for Those in Need: The Corporal Works of Mercy 103 The Natural World 105 The Humanity of Our Enemies 106 4 Lost Sheep, Lost Coin (Luke 15:4–10) 109 1. Introduction 109 2. The Text: Lost Sheep, Lost Coin (Luke 15:4–10) 110 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Stories 110 4. Our Second Step: Ask Questions to Gain Understanding 112 What Glimpse Does Each Parable Give Us into Economic Realities in the First Century? 113 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 115 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 118 Lost and Found 123 Communal Rejoicing 124 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 126 8. Our Sixth Step: Consider Implications 129 5 The Lost Sons (Luke 15:11–32) 136 1. Introduction 136 2. The Text: The Lost Sons (Luke 15:11–32) 136 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Story 137 4. Our Second Step: Ask Questions to Gain Understanding 142 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 151 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 153 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 157 8. Our Sixth Step: Consider implications 163 6 The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30–32) 174 1. Introduction 174 2. The Text: The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30–32) 176 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Story 176 4. Our Second Step: Ask Good Questions 178 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 183 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 184 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 187 8. Our Sixth Step: Consider Implications 192 7 The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9–14) 202 1. Introduction 202 2. The Text: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9–14) 203 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Story 203 4. Our Second Step: Ask Questions to Gain Understanding 207 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 214 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 215 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 219 8. Our Sixth Step: Consider Implications 221 8 The Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16) 232 1. Introduction 232 2. The Text: The Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16) 233 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Story 233 4. Our Second Step: Ask Questions to Gain Understanding 235 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 238 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 240 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 245 Jon Sobrino and Ignacio Ellacuría 246 8. Our Sixth Step: Consider Implications 248 9 The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31) 257 1. Introduction 257 2. The Text: The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31) 258 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Story 259 4. Our Second Step: Going Deeper through Asking Questions 261 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 266 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 268 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 274 8. Our Final Step: Consider Implications 277 Conclusion: Living into Our Humanity and Cultivating an Ethic of Love, Mercy, and Justice 282 1. Introduction 282 2. Summary of the Parables 285 3. Shared Themes throughout the Parables of Jesus 288 4. Conversation Partners 294 5. An Ethic of Love, Mercy, and Justice 302 Appendix 1: Sisters of Mercy Reflections on the Parables 309 Appendix 2: Questions for Individual Study and Group Discussion 326 Bibliography 333 Index 341

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Book SynopsisAn introduction to Christian ethics that provides a new, constructive framework for Christian moral and political thought. It draws on and integrates classic sources and approaches with contemporary liberationist and critical voices while making the ethical relationship between human and nonhuman life a central concern.Table of Contents1. Christ and the struggle to live well; I. Describing Well: 2. Listening to creaturely life; 3. Listening to Scripture; 4. Listening to strangers; 5. Listening to cries for liberation; 6. Listening to ancestors; II. Acting Well: 7. Finitude and fallenness; 8. Call and commands; 9. Rules and regulations; 10. Virtues and vision; 11. Deliberation and judgment; III. Living Well with Others: 12. Intimacy; 13. Work; 14. Politics.

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Book SynopsisIn dieser Studie entfaltet Tom Kleffmann den gedanklichen Grundzusammenhang des christlichen Glaubens als eine Theologie der Kommunikation. Er begründet die Relevanz der Rede von Gott und erörtert die Frage, was eine Offenbarung Gottes heißen kann. Zudem bestimmt er den Sinn von Glauben, die Vernunft des Glaubens und die Aufgabe der Theologie. Die materiale Ausführung beginnt er mit der christlichen Auffassung des unwahren Lebens und findet die Mitte im Gedanken der Offenbarung Gottes als Mensch, die die Gottesgemeinschaft begründet. Es folgen das christliche Verständnis der Welt als Äußerung Gottes, das auch das Verhältnis von Schöpfungsglauben und Naturwissenschaft reflektieren muss, sowie der vom Geist jener Gemeinschaft ausgehende Gedanke des wahren Lebens und seiner Ewigkeit. Im Schlussteil versucht der Autor, die Antwort auf die Frage "wer ist Gott" zu geben und fasst sie im Gedanken des dreieinigen Lebens Gottes zusammen.

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Book SynopsisWhat did Jesus really say about divorce and remarriage? Challenging the evangelical near-consensus that Jesus permitted divorce and remarriage in certain circumstances, Gordon Wenham argues that while Jesus permitted separation in cases of sexual immorality, he did not permit divorce and remarriage. Presenting a revisitation and expansion of several decades of thought and debate on the topic, Wenham builds his case from a close reading of Jesus' teaching in the Gospels, showing how his teaching pushed against the culture of his day. In addition, Wenham brings in insights from ancient Near Eastern marriage laws, the Old Testament, the writings of Paul, and the earliest Christian interpreters of the Gospel divorce texts. Readers will be challenged by a careful biblical argument that provides a counterpoint to the majority view. No study on divorce and remarriage will be complete without considering Jesus, Divorce, and Remarriage.

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Book SynopsisWayne Grudem offers a biblical and ethical guide to controversial issues surrounding abortion and euthanasia, defining his terms clearly and exploring science, politics, and opposing arguments.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Clear and accessible. . . . Topics include the right to life, gender, sexuality, marriage and family, the environment, slavery, violence, and social justice. Collins effectively demonstrates how such issues are morally complex.”—David Atkinson, Church Times“A wise, insightful, and often surprising discussion of the relevance (and sometimes irrelevance) of the Bible for significant ethical debates of our day.”—Bart D. Ehrman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill“In this engaging study of the conflicting and discordant values found in the Bible, one of the world’s foremost scholars of the Hebrew Bible confronts us with hard truths. Brimming with promise for ecumenical and inter‑religious conversations, his book offers a constructive program for wrestling with this tradition.”—Candida Moss, author of Divine Bodies“This remarkable volume takes on the considerable task of determining what the Bible actually says about various issues of contemporary concern apart from the facile and tendentious rhetoric that surrounds them. The author examines these topics in an evenhanded way, then turns to the text itself, its context, and other relevant authorities. This is an excellent, balanced, and important book.”—Randall Balmer, Dartmouth College“Too many people think they know what biblical values are without actually having read the Bible. In this wise and insightful book, John Collins shows us what it really says on contested moral issues.”—John Barton, University of Oxford“With accessible prose and provocative conclusions, What Are Biblical Values? offers a concise account of how to read (and not read) biblical texts in relation to a host of contested issues. It challenges readers to transcend the division between historical studies and normative ethics.”—Eric Gregory, Princeton University

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Ben Shapiro combines a sophisticated intellect and wide erudition with the skills of a really gifted mud wrestler. You’ll find all of him in this book: the deep seriousness, the ardor in combat, the sly wordplay, and the love of country—above all, the love of country. How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps is Ben Shapiro at his best. Which is to say: glorious.” — Peter Robinson, Murdoch Distinguished Policy Fellow at the Hoover Institution and former speechwriter and special assistant to President Ronald Reagan "Most Americans still embrace our free-enterprise system—today. But will they in the future? Ben Shapiro shows that it depends on the commitments we make to our common philosophy, culture, and history. Read this book and you will be prepared to defend, confidently and joyfully, the system that changed the world for the better." — Arthur Brooks, Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School, and author of Love Your Enemies "Facing much more trying times than our own, Abraham Lincoln insisted, ‘We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.’ Ben Shapiro reminds us that this friendship has a foundation, that it is the American idea, and that we still are responsible as citizens for the work of building that more perfect union." — Kevin Willliamson, author of The Smallest Majority "Conservatism is grounded in gratitude—gratitude for what we love and want to conserve for future generations. Ben Shapiro’s How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps is a valuable and passionate expression of gratitude for what makes this country great and why we should be grateful for what it is, not angry at it for falling short of some ideological fantasy of perfection." — Jonah Goldberg, author of Suicide of the West

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Book SynopsisFor many Westerners, the most appealing teachings of the Buddhist tradition pertain to ethics. Buddhist ethical views have much in common with certain modern ethical theories, and contain many insights relevant to contemporary moral problems. In Consequences of Compassion, Charles Goodman illuminates the relationship between Buddhism and Western ethical theories. Buddhist texts offer an interesting approach to the demands of morality and a powerful critique of what we would identify as the concept of free will-a critique which leads to a hard determinist view of human action. But rather than being a threat to morality, this view supports Buddhist values of compassion, nonviolence and forgiveness, and leads to a more humane approach to the justification of punishment. Drawing on Buddhist religious values, Goodman argues against the death penalty and mandatory minimum sentences.Every version of Buddhist ethics, says Goodman, takes the welfare of sentient beings to be the only source of mTable of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Fundamental Buddhist Teachings ; 2. Main Features of Some Western Ethical Theories ; 3. Theravada Ethics as a Rule-Consequentialism ; 4. Mahayana Ethics before Santideva ; 5. Santideva and After ; 6. Transcending Ethics ; 7. Buddhist Ethics and the Demands of Consequentialism ; 8. Buddhism on Moral Responsibility ; 9. Punishment ; 10. Objections and Replies ; 11. A Buddhism Response to Kant ; Conclusion ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisThoughtful observers agree that the planetary crisis we now face-climate change; species extinction; the destruction of entire ecosystems; the urgent need for a more just economic-political order-is pushing human civilization to a radical turning point: change or perish. But precisely how to change remains an open question.In Earth-honoring Faith, Larry Rasmussen answers that question with a dramatically new way of thinking about human society, ethics, and the ongoing health of our planet. Rejecting the modern assumption that morality applies to human society alone, Rasmussen insists that we must derive a spiritual and ecological ethic that accounts for the well-being of all creation, as well as the primal elements upon which it depends: earth, air, fire, water, and sunlight. He argues that good science, necessary as it is, will not be enough to inspire fundamental change. We must draw on religious resources as well to make the difficult transition from an industrial-technological age Trade ReviewIn many ways Earth-Honoring Faith resembles an intricate, colorful song played by a vast collection of deft instrumentalists. Rasmussen is a master at tying together a large number of resources and perspectives, each carefully tuned to play the right notes. Persuasively, even lyrically, he has assembled a grand orchestra to inspire deep reflection and animate meaningful practice. * The Christian Century *This book is important, timely, sorely needed and deeply prophetic- delivering a hard, truthful indictment of the world as it is, but also suggesting visionary, hopeful Earth-honoring ways forward... yes, you should, you need , to read this. * Journal of Lutheran Ethics *Larry Rasmussen has once again penned a masterwork uniting ecological ethics and religious practices broadly envisioned. If the Earth is to survive, ethical theory and spiritual praxis are equally vital. Science informs. Religions motivat. A transformation combining these concepts is urgently needed at this moment in time on our planet. * Catholic Books Review *He [Rasmussen] writes extremely well, with elegance and eloquence, and weaves poetry, narrative, and personal stories into a tapestry informed by keen ethical insight and analysis. His treatment of power relations in the economy and of consumerism is masterful. This book is a must for anyone interested in the environment who is not willing to settle for lazy aphorisms and superficial panaceas. * CHOICE *This book is a tour-de-force, bringing together theological reflection and ethical persuasion to argue for the transformation of religions into their ecological phase. Larry Rasmussen is eloquent, comprehensive, and compelling in his articulation of a vision that is sorely needed for our emerging Earth Community. * Mary Evelyn Tucker, Co-Director of the Forum on Religion and Ecology, Yale University *Larry Rasmussen's new work on religious ethics moves from a lyrical homage to the sacred web of life to a searing indictment of the utilitarian use of nature by both capitalist and socialist industrialization. Drawing on mystical, prophetic, and wisdom traditions, Rasmussen shows that a paradigm shift to an ecologically conscious civilization is possible. Inspired by local communities, an earth-honoring faith becomes a song of songs. * Aruna Gnanadason, author of Listen to the Women, Listen to the Earth *Rasmussen argues persuasively that religion needs to stop perceiving nature as the stage for the human salvation drama and view it instead as the locus for experience of the divine. His scholarship is impeccable and his ability to weave together insights from various fields and scholars is exemplary. Earth-honoring Faith is a grand intellectual endeavor that reflects interdisciplinary thinking at its best. * Jim Martin-Schramm, Professor of Religion, Luther College *By writing so lyrically and in open conversation with so many others struggling to create language for this civilizational transition, Larry Rasmussen shows the awkwardness of inherited language and ideas for discussing the new moral world that humanity needs to learn to inhabit. He demonstrates how to make sense of ancient moral traditions in a new context, and how to bend them into a new imagination of the world. This book is a serious contribution to religious ethics. It will be appreciated not only by scholars in the field but by many thinking readers worried about sustainability crises and looking for cultural resources to reshape our shared moral imagination. * Willis Jenkins, author of Ecologies of Grace *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ; Prelude ; PART I ; 1 The Creature We Are ; 2 The World We Have ; 3 The Faith We Seek ; 4 The Ethic We Need: Change and Imagination ; 5 The Ethic We Need: Good Theory ; 6 The Ethic We Need: Community Matrix ; 7 The Ethic We Need: Tilling and Keeping ; Interlude ; PART II ; 8 Asceticism and Consumerism ; 9 The Sacred and the Commodified ; 10 Mysticism and Alienation ; 11 Prophetic/Liberative Practices and Oppression ; 12 Wisdom and Folly ; 13 Closing ; Postlude ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisFor thousands of years the Jewish tradition has been a source of moral guidance, for Jews and non-Jews alike. As the essays in this volume show, the theologians and practitioners of Judaism have a long history of wrestling with moral questions, responding to them in an open, argumentative mode that reveals the strengths and weaknesses of all sides of a question. The Jewish tradition also offers guidance for moral conduct by individuals, communities, and countries and shows how to motivate people to do the good and right thing.The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Ethics and Morality is a collection of original essays addressing these topics--historical and contemporary, as well as philosophical and practical--by leading scholars from around the world. The first section of the volume describes the history of the Jewish tradition''s moral thought, from the Bible to contemporary Jewish approaches. The second part includes chapters on specific fields in ethics, including the ethics of medicine, buTrade ReviewThis book is an excellent addition to libraries at academic institutions; it offers specialists in subdisciplines of Jewish ethics accessible entry into the broader field and also provides a way for scholars of other ethical discourses or traditions to begin to engage with the field of Jewish ethics. Individuals or organizations engaging in interfaith work with Jewish partners are also likely to find the essays in this collection useful. The essays function as concise and generally clear introductions to a host of topics under the umbrella of Jewish ethics. * Alyssa A. Henning, Religious Studies Review *The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Ethics and Morality addresses what has long been a major lacuna in the field of Jewish studies. No one who studies the history of Judaism would deny that ethics has always occupied a central place in Jewish thought and practice... Elliot Dorff and Jonathan Crane have given us the most definitive and encyclopedic presentation of Jewish ethics ever assembled. * Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics *Table of ContentsContributors Acknowledgments Introduction - Jonathan K. Crane and Elliot N. Dorff I. Jewish Ethical Theories 1. Introduction: Why Study Jewish Ethics? - Elliot N. Dorff and Jonathan K. Crane 2. Ethical Theory and Practice in the Hebrew Bible - Elaine Goodfriend 3. Ethical Theories in Rabbinic Literature - Charlotte Elisheva Fonrobert 4. Ethical Theories in Jewish Mystical Writings - Joseph Dan 5. Ethical Theories Among Medieval Jewish Philosophers - Warren Zev Harvey 6. Spinoza and Jewish Ethics - David Novak 7. Mussar Ethics and Other Nineteenth Century Jewish Ethical Theories - Ira Stone 8. Ethical Theories of Hermann Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig and Martin Buber - Jonathan K. Crane 9. Ethical Theories of Mordecai Kaplan and Abraham Joshua Heschel - Matthew LaGrone 10. Ethical Theories of Abraham Isaac Kook and Joseph B. Soloveitchik - Lawrence Kaplan 11. Ethical Implications of the Holocaust - Michael Berenbaum 12. Jewish Ethical Theories in the Reform Movement - Michael Marmur 13. Jewish Ethical Theories in the Conservative Movement - Shai Cherry 14. Jewish Ethical Theories in the Orthodox Movement - David Shatz 15. Jewish Ethical Theories in the Reconstructionist Movement - David Teutsch 16. Feminist Jewish Ethical Theories - Judith Plaskow 17. Postmodern Jewish Ethical Theories - Martin Kavka II. Topics in Jewish Morals 18. Introduction - Elliot N. Dorff and Jonathan K. Crane 19. Bioethics: The Beginning of Life - Elliot N. Dorff 20. Bioethics: The End of Life - Daniel Sinclair 21. Bioethics: The Distribution of Health Care - Aaron Mackler 22. Bioethics: Current and Future Issues in Genetics - Laurie Zoloth 23. Jewish Business Ethics - Barry Leff 24. Jewish Sexual Ethics - Danya Ruttenberg 25. Jewish Environmental Ethics - Arthur Waskow 26. Jewish Animal Ethics - Aaron Gross 27. Jewish Ethics of Speech - Alyssa Gray 28. Jewish Political Ethics in America - Jill Jacobs 29. Jewish Political Ethics in Israel - Reuven Hammer 30. Judaism and Criminal Justice - Laurie Levenson 31. Jewish Ethics and War - Asa Kasher List of Abbreviations Biblical, Rabbinic, and Medieval Sources Index Subject Index

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Book SynopsisAs a religion concerned with eternal salvation, Zen is based on and grew out of a Buddhist worldview very different from the currently prevalent scientific materialism. Indeed, says Taigen Dan Leighton, Zen cannot be fully understood outside of a worldview that sees reality itself as a vital, ephemeral agent of awareness and healing. In this book, Leighton explicates that worldview through the writings of the Zen master Eihei Dogen (1200-1253), considered the founder of the Japanese Soto Zen tradition, which is now spreading in many places in the West. Broader awareness of Dogen''s worldview and its implications, says Leighton, is helpful for a modern understanding of Zen and Mahayana praxis, and is relevant to contemporary environmental and ethical concerns.Trade Review"Leighton's clear, articulate prose renders Dogen's writings alive, accessible, and relevant to life in the twenty-first century."-Philosophy East and WestTable of ContentsI. THE PIVOTAL LOTUS STORY AND DOGEN'S WORLDVIEW ; II. . Hermeneutics and Discourse Styles in Study of the Lotus Sutra and Dogen ; III. . Selected East Asian Interpretations of the Story ; IV. . Dogen's Interpretations of this Lotus Sutra Story ; V. . Dogen's View of Earth, Space, and Time Seen in Mahayana Context ; AFTERWORD: IMPLICATIONS OF DOGEN'S MAHAYANA WORLDVIEW

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Book SynopsisThe concept of 'human dignity' has become central to politics, law and theology but is little understood. This book presents a wide-ranging collection of edited essays from specialists in law, theology, politics and history and seeks to define the main areas of current debates about the concept in these disciplines.Trade ReviewThe genesis of this truly remarkable collection of essays and papers ... [draws] together a stellar, multidisciplinary group including historians, legal academics, judges, political scientists, theologians and philosophers, to discuss the concept of human dignity from their various disciplinary perspectives ... It is that interdisciplinary flavour which gives the book its greatest strength * David Turner, QC, Ecclesiastical Law Journal *Understanding Human Dignity is a highly recommendable transdisciplinary book, which provides both a good overview and in depth analysis of contemporary debates about dignity. What makes it particularly valuable and enriching is the constant dialogue between theory and practice in mutually illuminating ways, where conceptual analyses of various ways of grounding and approaching dignity interact with analyses of a rich variety of concrete material from law cases or historical cases. * Iben Damgaard, Theologische Literaturzeitung *Table of ContentsPART I: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ; PART II: DIGNITY CRITIQUES ; PART III: THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ; PART IV: PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ; PART V: JUDICIAL PERSPECTIVES ; PART VI: APPLICATIONS ; PART VII: WAYS FORWARD?

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Book SynopsisPlease note this book is suitable for any student studying:Exam board: OCRLevel: A LevelSubject: Religious EducationFirst teaching: September 2016First exams: June 2018Oxford A Level Religious Studies for OCR is a brand new course developed by renowned authors Libby Ahluwalia and Robert Bowie for the 2016 OCR specification. This textbook supports a deep engagement with philosophy, ethics and the study of Christianity using language and an approach accessible to all students. Key terms are clearly defined, and case studies and scenarios are used to give students a practical understanding of key theories and how they might be applied to the big ethical and philosophical questions of the day. The book includes a section on ''Developments in Christian Thought'' to support the new requirement for a systematic study of a religious tradition. There is also dedicated support for developing students'' essay-writing skills, as well as revision summaries and practice questions to ensure students

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Book SynopsisOxford A Level Religious Studies for OCR is a brand new course developed by renowned authors Libby Ahluwalia and Robert Bowie for the 2016 OCR specification. This textbook has been endorsed by OCR and supports a deep engagement with philosophy, ethics and the study of Christianity using an approach accessible to all students.

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Book SynopsisPacifism is popular. Many hold that war is unnecessary, since peaceful means of resolving conflict are always available, if only we had the will to look for them. Or they believe that war is wicked, essentially involving hatred of the enemy and carelessness of human life. Or they posit the absolute right of innocent individuals not to be deliberately killed, making it impossible to justify war in practice. Peace, however, is not simple. Peace for some can leave others at peace to perpetrate mass atrocity. What was peace for the West in 1994 was not peace for the Tutsis of Rwanda. Therefore, against the virus of wishful thinking, anti-military caricature, and the domination of moral deliberation by rights-talk In Defence of War asserts that belligerency can be morally justified, even though tragic and morally flawed.Trade ReviewThere is a serious disconnect between scholars exploring just war theory and those engaging the Christian just war tradition. The language of religion is foreign to many in the secular camp thereby leaving us bereft of a rich and sometimes compelling perspective. Provocatively titled, In Defence of War brings this tradition to the fore. It is well worth the read. * Michael L. Gross, Mind *In Defence of War is an excellent book ... Combining deep understanding of the just-war tradition with impressive knowledge of military history, this book makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate. I highly recommend it * James Anderson, Expository Times *Nigel Biggars In Defence of War is, in my judgment, the best contemporary theological exploration of the ethics of war since the work of Paul Ramsey ... A robust book like In Defence of War, which has its own internal dialogues among different ethical frames, is a contribution that should be respected and taken seriously across the range of all who address military ethics * James Turner Johnson, Journal of Military Ethics *a well argued and worthy read ... [Biggar] has a forensic eye for detail and argues persuasively, yet, given the emotions that are triggered during any debate on war, this book will, as any good book should, divide opinion. * Daniel Fiott, Politics and Governance *This is a significant book. It provides a defense and clarification of just war theory within the Christian tradition through a series of extended engagements with Christian and secular critics of that theory. Biggar makes a clear and important case, and does so with impressive learning and literary style * Kenneth R. Himes, Theological Studies *In Defence of War is a searching, challenging book. It deserves much discussion * John Kelsay, Studies in Christian Ethics *There are many fine books on the morality of war, but every so often a book comes along that really distinguishes itself in the field. Paul Ramsey's The Just War (1968) was certainly one. Appearing as it did in the midst of the Vietnam conflict, it served as a kind of bellwether of Christian moral reflection on a host of complex issues surrounding a controversial war. Nigel Biggar's new book is the same sort of text that comes to us in the aftermath of another very controversial conflict, the invasion of Iraq by the United States and Britain. Biggar's book is a veritable tour de force in Christian ethical reflection on war and surely the best such text that has appeared since Ramsey's work. * Darrell Cole, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *Passionately provocative and meticulously researched ... a special and splendid read ....[t]his is a significant volume that by its scope and depth moves beyond many recent publications and in so doing shows the utility of a properly constituted just-war tradition in today's uncertain and volatile world. * The Journal of Theological Studies *Combining deep understanding of the just-war tradition with impressive knowledge of military history, this book makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate. I highly recommend it. * James Anderson, The Expository Times *Its detailed elaboration of just war theory and the application to recent international conflicts make it very useful reading for anyone interested in the ethics of war. It is also provocative, which in applied ethics is a virtue rather than a vice. * Goran Collste, Philosophical Quarterly *This is a book that everyone interested in peace should read. * Dr Peter Howson, Methodist Recorder *This is a major contribution to the literature on the morality of war, written in two voices, one argumentative, the other reflective and open to other perspectives... a rich reflection on a wealth of literature, historical and contemporary, addressing the justifications for making war. * George Wilkes, Scottish Journal of Theology *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Against the Virus of Wishful Thinking ; 1. Against Christian Pacifism ; 2. Love in War ; 3. The Principle of Double Effect: Can it Survive Combat? ; 4. Proportionality: Lessons from the Somme and the First World War ; 5. Against Legal Positivism and Liberal Individualism ; 6. On Not Always Giving the Devil Benefit of Law: Legality, Morality, and Kosovo ; 7. Constructing Judgement: The Case of Iraq ; Conclusion ; Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThis authoritative Handbook features 38 chapters placing Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) in his historical context to offer readers an appreciation of his insights and how he was received by his contemporaries.Trade ReviewThis handbook is a worthy predecessor of Kegley's and Bretall's important 1956 volume Reinhold Niebuhr: His Religious, Social, and Political Thought...it enriches the literature and allows younger students and scholars to get an impression of the width and depth of Niebuhr's life and work. * Christoph Rohde, Religion and the Liberal State in Niebuhr's Christian Realism *As K. Healan Gaston says, studying Niebuhr will continue "to engage those who care about religion, politics, and the quest for earthly justice." This book serves as a terrific springboard for such study. * Barbara Ridpath, Christian Century *The editors describe this handbook as "an attempt to set Niebuhr in his own context and consider the relevance of his thought for our world today" — and this it does very well. * Rt Revd Dr John Saxbee, The Church Times *This handbook is a worthy predecessor of Kegley's and Bretall's important 1956 volume Reinhold Niebuhr: His Religious, Social, and Political Thought. * Christoph Rohde, Foreign Affairs and Security Policy *Table of ContentsList of Contributors Robin Lovin and Joshua Mauldin: Introduction PART I: NIEBUHR AND HIS TIMES 1: K. Healan Gaston: Niebuhr's Background: Family, Church, and Society 2: Jeremy Sabella: The 1930s: Economic Crisis and 'The End of an Era' 3: Graeme Smith: The 1940s: Global War and Global Responsibility 4: Andrew Finstuen: The 1950s: The Ironies of American Power 5: Gary Dorrien: The 1960s: The Struggle for Justice and the 'View from the Sidelines' PART II: ALLIES AND ADVERSARIES 6: William Stacy Johnson: H. Richard Niebuhr 7: Joshua Mauldin: Karl Barth 8: William Inboden: George Kennan 9: Daniel Rice: John Dewey 10: Adam Pryor: Paul Tillich 11: Francesca Cadeddu: John Courtney Murray 12: Susannah Heschel: Abraham Heschel 13: Peter J. Paris: Martin Luther King, Jr. PART III: THEOLOGICAL STARTING POINTS 14: Douglas F. Ottati: God 15: Richard Crouter: Sin 16: Frederick V. Simmons: Love 17: D. Stephen Long: Christology 18: David True: Ecclesiology 19: Jodie L. Lyon: Eschatology PART IV: ETHICS 20: Kevin Carnahan: Moral Realism 21: Gerald McKenny: Human Nature and Moral Norms 22: Robin Lovin: Justice 23: William Schweiker: Responsibility 24: Daniel A. Morris: Tragedy and Irony 25: Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty: Feminism 26: Eric Gregory: Democracy PART V: POLITICS AND POLICY 27: G. Scott Davis: Violence, Pacifism, and the Use of Force 28: C. Melissa Snarr: Economic Justice 29: Alda Balthrop-Lewis: Nature and Environment 30: Traci C. West: Racial Justice 31: Rebekah Miles: Family, Sexuality, and Society 32: Heather A. Warren: American Foreign Policy 33: Richard J. Hoskins: International Relations Theory 34: Scott Paeth: Nations and Nationalism PART VI: NIEBUHR'S LEGACY 35: Stanley Hauerwas: Reinhold Niebuhr: An Insightful Theologian 36: Jeffrey Stout: The Ironies of Proximate Justice 37: John Bew: The Art of Imperial Politics and the Interminable Frustrations of History 38: Robin Lovin: Two Students: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Kiyoko Takeda

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Book SynopsisCatholic Social Teaching and Labour Law explores the contribution that religious ethics makes to debates on justice in working life. Many faiths include beliefs about the significance of work to human development and the need for work to be performed under conditions that uphold dignity, equality, and solidarity . This book considers how the substantive provisions of labour law reflect prior ethical choices about how workers should be treated, and how beliefs from Catholicism influence these.This book provides a thorough account of the principles found in Catholic Social Teaching (CST), and how these impact human work and labour rights . It tests the contemporary relevance of its principles by applying them to current debates, using EU labour law as a case study. Specifically, it examines CST on the right to a just wage, the right to rest, worker participation, and equality and discrimination. The book finds that CST offers fresh insights on long-standing injustices in the labour markeTable of Contents1: Religion, Theology, and Labour Law 2: Catholic Social Teaching: An Introduction 3: Human Work and Catholic Social Teaching 4: Labour Rights and Catholic Social Teaching 5: The Right to a Just Wage 6: The Right to Rest 7: Worker Participation 8: Equality and Discrimination 9: The Contribution of Catholic Social Teaching to Labour Law

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Book SynopsisDistant Harms, Distant Markets looks at moral complicity in markets, employing resources from sociology, early Christian history, feminism, legal theory, and Catholic moral theology today. The authors skillfully explore the causal and moral responsibilities which consumers bear for the harms that markets cause to distant others.Trade ReviewThis set of essays, individually and as a group, offer a very strong, diversified yet coherent treatment of a crucial question for economic ethics - moral causality in complex market relationships. I would find this volume very helpful for my own research and writing in economic ethics, and could foresee assigning it to advanced undergraduates or graduates in courses on economic ethics, or Catholic/Christian social thought. * Christine Firer Hinze, Fordham University *Table of ContentsTable of Contents ; List of Contributors ; Introduction ; Sociological Resources ; 1. Who is Responsible? Critical Realism, Market Harms, and Collective Responsibility ; Douglas Porpora ; 2. Structural Conditioning and Personal Reflexivity: Sources of Market Complicity, Critique, and Change ; Margaret Archer ; 3. Morality of Action, Reflexivity, and the Relational Subject ; Pierpaolo Donati ; 4. Global Warming: A Case Study in Structure, Agency, and Accountability ; John Coleman, S.J. ; Historical Resources ; 5. Early Christian Philanthropy as a <"Marketplace>" and the Moral Responsibility of Market Participants ; Brian Matz ; 6. How a Thomistic Moral Framework Can Take Social Causality Seriously ; Mary Hirschfeld ; Analytical Resources ; 7. Facing Forward: Feminist Analysis of Care and Agency on a Global Scale ; Christina Traina ; 8. The African Concept of Community and Individual in the Context of the Market ; Paul Appiah Himin Asante ; 9. Individuating Collective Responsibility ; Albino Barrera, O.P. ; Implications ; 10. Social Causality and Market Complicity: Specifying the Causal Roles of Persons and Structures ; Daniel K. Finn

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Book SynopsisNatural law theory is controversial today because it presumes that there is a stable ''human nature'' that is subject to a ''law.'' How do we know that ''human nature'' is stable and not ever-evolving? How can we expect ''law'' not to constrict human freedom and potential? Furthermore if there is a ''law,'' there must be a lawgiver. Matthew Levering argues that natural law theory makes sense only within a broader worldview, and that the Bible sketches both such a persuasive worldview and an account of natural law that offers an exciting portrait of the moral life. To establish the relevance of biblical readings to the wider philosophical debate on natural law, this study offers an overview of modern natural law theories from Cicero to Nietzsche, which reverse the biblical portrait by placing human beings at the center of the moral universe. Whereas the biblical portrait of natural law is other-directed, ordered to self-giving love, the modern accounts turn inward upon the self. DrawingTrade ReviewMatthew Levering brings his customary high level of research and insight to an entangled and prickly topic...a clearly thought-out consideration of an important, practical subject that will serve its readers well. * Mark McDowell, Themelios *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. The Bible and Natural Law ; 2. Anthropocentric Natural Law ; 3. Natural Law and Natural Inclinations ; 4. Natural Law and the Order of Charity ; Conclusion

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Book SynopsisIn the context of growing concern over climate change and other environmental pressures, Biblical Prophets and Contemporary Environmental Ethics explores what an ecological reading of the biblical text can contribute to contemporary environmental ethics. The Judaeo-Christian tradition has been held partly to blame for a negative attitude to creation - one that has legitimised the exploitative use of the earth''s resources. Hilary Marlow explores some of the thinking in the history of the Christian tradition that has contributed to such a perception, before discussing a number of approaches to reading the Old Testament from an ecological perspective. Through a detailed exegetical study of the texts of the biblical prophets Amos, Hosea and First Isaiah, Marlow examines the portrayal of the relationship between YHWH the God of Israel, humanity and the non-human creation. In the course of this exegesis, searching questions emerge: what are the various understandings of the non-human creaTrade ReviewThe book provides excellent background for anyone working or teaching in the area of Bible and ecology. It covers much groundhistorically, theologically, and exegeticallywith admirable brevity and great clarity; the superb bibliography points the way for further work * Ellen F. Davis, Interpretation *anyone working in the field of the Bible and environment will welcome this addition to the scholarly literature. * J. W. Rogerson, Journal of Theological Studies *Marlow offers a biologically rich and morally sensitive account of the themes of the earth ... The book is beautifully produced, clearly and engagingly written and richly researched and makes an important contribution to the ongoing reocvery of the Old Testament as a source of ecological wisdom rather than of odium. * Michael Northcott, Expository Times *Table of ContentsForeword by John Barton ; Introduction ; 1. Creation in Church History ; 2. Nature Versus History: An Artificial Divide ; 3. Ecological Hermeneutics: Meaning and Method ; 4. Who Can But Prophesy? Creation Dialogue in the Book of Amos ; 5. The People do not Know: Covenantal Failure in the Book of Hosea ; 6. The Vineyard of the Lord of Hosts: YHWH, the People and the Land in Isaiah 1-39 ; 7. The Old Testament Prophets and Environmental Ethics: A Dialogue

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Book SynopsisChristianity is commonly held to have introduced an entirely new and better morality into the ancient world, a new morality that was decidedly universal, in contrast to the ethics of the philosophical schools which were only concerned with the intellectual few. Runar M. Thorsteinsson presents a challenge to this view by comparing Christian morality in first-century Rome with contemporary Stoic ethics in the city.Thorsteinsson introduces and discusses the moral teaching of Roman Stoicism; of Seneca, Musonius Rufus, and Epictetus. He then presents the moral teaching of Roman Christianity as it is represented in Paul''s Letter to the Romans, the First Letter of Peter, and the First Letter of Clement. Having established the bases for his comparison, he examines the similarities and differences between Roman Stoicism and Roman Christianity in terms of morality.Five broad themes are used for the comparison, questions of Christian and Stoic views about: a particular morality or way of life asTrade ReviewIn this excellent study, Runar M. Thorsteinsson adds significantly to our knowledge of the similarities and possible interactions between Roman Stoicism and what he defines as Roman Christianity in the realm of ethics and morality Its conclusions will be controversial to many, but as they clearly emerge from a process of careful and well conducted historical research, they must be taken into account by anyone seriously engaged with ancient philosophy and early Christian studies. * Stefan Nordgaard, Review of Biblical Literature *Table of ContentsI: MORAL TEACHING IN ROMAN STOCISM; II: MORAL TEACHING IN ROMAN CHRISTIANITY; III: ROMAN CHRISTAINITY AND ROMAN STOCISM: A COMPARISON

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Book SynopsisIn this novel exploration of Reformed spirituality, Belden C. Lane uncovers a green theology that celebrates a community of jubilant creatures of all languages and species. Lane reveals an ecologically sensitive Calvin who spoke of himself as ''''ravished'''' by the earth''s beauty. He speaks of Puritans who fostered a ''''lusty'''' spirituality in which Christ figured as a lover who encouraged meditation on the wonders of creation. He presents a Jonathan Edwards who urged a sensuous ''''enjoyment'''' of God''s beauty as the only real way of knowing God.Lane argues for the ''''double irony'''' of Reformed spirituality, showing that Calvinists who often seem prudish and proper are in fact a people of passionate desire. Similarly, Reformed Christians who appear totally focused on divine transcendence turn out at times to be closet nature mystics, exulting in God''s glory everywhere. Lane also demonstrates, however, that a spirituality of desire can be derailed, ending in sexual excess anTrade ReviewLane scores on every shot . . . In addition to rich quotes from others, Lane offers his own memorable thoughts, his words elegant as brocade in color and texture, scholarly but never stultifying. * Publishers Weekly *Table of ContentsPrologue: Ring Lake Ranch, Wyoming ; Chapter One: The Double Irony of Reformed Spirituality: Nature, Desire and the Easily-Diverted Quest for God's Beauty ; Landscapes of Desire: The Whole World Singing: A Journey to Iona and Taize ; Chapter Two: John Calvin on the World as a Theater of God's Glory ; Landscapes of Desire: Can We Chant Psalms with All God's Creatures? ; Chapter Three: Nature and Desire in Seventeenth-Century Puritanism ; Landscapes of Desire: Open the Kingdom for a Cottonwood Tree ; Chapter Four: The Schooling of Desire: Nature's Purifying Role in Affliction ; Landscapes of Desire: Biodiversity and the Holy Trinity ; Chapter Five: Jonathan Edwards on Beauty, Desire, and the Sensory World ; Landscapes of Desire: On Pilgrimage with Jonathan Edwards ; Chapter Six: Transformed by Beauty: Environmental Ethics and the Wildness of God ; Epilogue: Dead Creek, East Saint Louis

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Book SynopsisAugustine - for all of his influence on Western culture and politics - was hardly a liberal. Drawing from theology, feminist theory, and political philosophy, this title offers a liberal ethics of citizenship, one less susceptible to anti-liberal critics because it is informed by the Augustinian tradition.Trade Review"Gregory has shaped the parameters of future discussion and offers a compelling argument that must be taken seriously." - Choice "Eric Gregory is the most sophisticated and subtle Christian ethical and political thinker of his generation. He also is a major voice in contemporary discourse on love and justice, freedom, and democracy. His powerful defense of Augustinian civic liberalism is a tour de force!" - Cornel West "A joy to read.... A return to an Augustine that Augustine himself would have recognized." - Christian Century"

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Book SynopsisAugustine - for all of his influence on Western culture and politics - was hardly a liberal. Drawing from theology, feminist theory, and political philosophy, this title offers a liberal ethics of citizenship, one less susceptible to anti-liberal critics because it is informed by the Augustinian tradition.Trade Review"Gregory has shaped the parameters of future discussion and offers a compelling argument that must be taken seriously." - Choice "Eric Gregory is the most sophisticated and subtle Christian ethical and political thinker of his generation. He also is a major voice in contemporary discourse on love and justice, freedom, and democracy. His powerful defense of Augustinian civic liberalism is a tour de force!" - Cornel West "A joy to read.... A return to an Augustine that Augustine himself would have recognized." - Christian Century"

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Book SynopsisAugustine famously claimed that the virtues of pagan Rome were nothing more than splendid vices. This title reveals how a distrust of learned and habituated virtue shaped both early modern Christian moral reflection and secular forms of ethical thought.Trade Review"This first-rate work deserves wide reading.... By demonstrating a keen command of theological and philosophical issues, it easily finds a place among the finest works on theological ethics. Essential." (Choice)"

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA very impressive book; a visionary synthesis of the most important issues concerning the intersection of science, religion, politics, and philosophy. Bauman weaves a complex and powerful narrative in his constitution of a planetary community. Religion and Ecology is a unique contribution to a growing body of work that critically rethinks our ideas of nature to vitalize the possibilities of material and ecological thinking. -- Clayton Crockett, University of Central Arkansas Scholarship has needed this book for quite a while, one that boldly synthesizes new materialism, queer theory, ecology, and spirituality. -- Tim Morton, Rice University If I could send Obama, Xi Jinping, and Angela Merkel a book (and they would promise to study it), this would be it. These powerful politicians need to understand that their ethical obligations in the twenty-first century will not be toward globalized beings but rather planetary Being, that is, people, animals, and plants who perform their identities rather than submit to them. These are also Beings who know there is no certainty when it comes to performance because, as Bauman says, 'the only certainty is that when certainty is imposed on the world love is impossible and violence is inevitable.' This is a book philosophers, theologians, and scientists will debate for a very long time. -- Santiago Zabala, ICREA Research Professor at the University of Barcelona and coautho,r with Gianni Vattimo, of Hermeneutic Communism Any self-respecting earthling will love this book. Bauman invites us to the 'polyamoury of place' for a new powow of science, religion, and nature. His dazzlingly engaging investigation does not close in our possibilities; deftly subversive, queerly erudite, it does not just analyze, it activates our 'becoming with earth others.' -- Catherine Keller, Drew University Bauman's book [is] the best available book on the subject. -- Andrew J. Spencer Environmental Ethics Because this book brings together so many different perspectives and issues, it is especially helpful for religion scholars and theologians who are not familiar with environmental issues, but it will also be of interest to environmental ethicists and ecotheologians, who will find Bauman's use of queer theory and his critique of bioregionalism both original and constructive. -- Anna Peterson Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and EcologyTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: The Emergence of Planetary Identities 1. Religion and Science in Dialogue 2. Destabilizing Nature: Natura Naturans, Emergence, and Evolution's Rainbow 3. Destabilizing Religion: The Death of God, a Viable Agnosticism, and the Embrace of Polydoxy 4. Destabilizing Identity: Beyond Identity Solipsism 5. The Emergence of Ecoreligious Identities 6. Developing Planetary Environmental Ethics: A Nomadic Polyamory of Place 7. Challenging Human Exceptionalism: Human Becoming, Technology, Earth Others, and Planetary Identities Notes Glossary Works Cited Index

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