Religious ethics Books

Book SynopsisThis enlightening book steers readers through the challenges and moral issues, providing a clear and decisive history of the main figures and texts in Christian ethics. A short and lively history of Christian ethics, exploring how Christianity has always had to grapple with complex moral problems - from questions about the status of early Christians who renounced their religion under Roman torture, through to current debates about euthanasia Engages with the main texts and figures in Christian ethics, including Augustine, Benedict, Aquinas, Luther and Barth Considers questions such as human will, the proper form of Christian life, natural law, and whether human nature is at odds with Christian ethics Concludes with a thought-provoking chapter considering the role that Christian ethics can play in contemporary moral debates and ethical dilemmas Trade Review"One might expect such a history to begin with the Bible, but Banner starts with a small work from the early Church: the Rule of St. Benedict (550 C.E.), which he claims is the paradigmatic framework with which to understand Christian ethics. . . Although Banner states that he does not intend to defend Christianity, his positive opinion of it emerges (which is not of itself a short-coming)." (Philosophy in Review, August 2010) "For a book so short, it is disproportionately powerful, and far from being an 'idiot's guide' it has its own distinctive voice and case to offer." (Regent's Reviews, April 2010) "As the title of the present volume indicates, the aim of the book is to provide a brief history of Christian ethics. The author does this by engaging with key figures and their thought, including Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Martin Luther, which allows him to draw out the challenges to Christian ethics, which Nietzsche and other nineteenth-century thinkers as well as contemporary relativism have presented." (Journal of Contemporary Religion) "This book is part of a series that aims to present 'brief, accessible, and lively accounts of key topics within theology and religion.' This history of Christian ethics succeeds in all three aims." (CHOICE, October 2009)Table of ContentsPreface. Introduction. 1. Benedict and the Practice of the Christian Life. 2. Augustine, God, and Human Nature: The Theory of the Christian Life. 3. Thomas Aquinas: The Natural Law and the Loss of Christian Ethics. 4. Martin Luther: Against Ethics. 5. Butler, Kant, and Kierkegaard: The Turn to the Subject. 6. Nietzsche and the Genealogists: Suspecting the Subject. 7. Barth and John Paul II: The Rediscovery of Christian Ethics. 8. History in the Present: Genetics, Philosophy, and Christian Life. Suggestions for Further Reading. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisReligion is one of the most powerful forces running through human history, and although often presented as a force for good, its impact is frequently violent and divisive. This provocative work brings together cutting-edge research from both evolutionary and cognitive psychology to help readers understand the psychological structure of religious morality and the origins of religious violence. Introduces a fundamentally new approach to the analysis of religion in a style accessible to the general reader Applies insights from evolutionary and cognitive psychology to both Judaism and Christianity, and their texts, to help understand the origins of religious violence Argues that religious violence is grounded in the moral psychology of religion Illustrates its controversial argument with reference to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the response to the attacks from both the terrorists and the President. Suggests strategies for beginning to counter the diTrade Review“In summary, this is an excellent book. It gives a good summary of current scientific understanding of evolution of morality and religion. It discusses religious violence as the other side of the moral coin. And there is a useful discussion of the problem of religion in modern society and ways we can overcome the negative aspects of our evolved moral and cognitive systems.” (Open Parachute, 27 October 2013) "This book is a contribution to the study of religion from an evolutionary perspective . . . Teehan carefully distinguishes between methodological and metaphysical naturalism and officially adopts the former but not the latter." (Theology, 1 September 2011) "All scholars interested in religious ethics but also in fresh approaches to reading the Bible will find something of value. This provocative book is a significant contribution to the ongoing discourse about religious ethics and for this reason deserves careful engagement." (Theological Book Review, 2011) "In the Name of God, by John Teehan, takes the evolutionary framework and applies it to the reading of religious texts. The result is a provocative discussion of the ubiquitous phenomenon of religious belief that can change the way we understand the role of religion in society... .Teehan’s analysis spans a wide range of material but his incisive and focused approach conveys arguments without overwhelming the reader....Overall, Teehan does a commendable job elucidating his thesis of religion as moral innovation while treating the material with sensitivity and respect... .The result is an enjoyable read packed with insights, covering research from a wide range of disciplines, which will appeal to both the researcher in the field as well as the interested layman. Anyone who has pondered the nature of religion and its apparent contradictions will find In the Name of God a gem and emerge with a deeper understanding of morality and the religious mind." (Evolutionary Psychology, February, 2011) "In the Name of God: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Ethics and Violence, John Teehan sets out an evolutionary-psychological account of the connection between religion, morality and violence... .What results is an intriguing and cogent theory that promises a significant advance in our understanding of the place of religion in human history and society." (Metapsychology, January, 2011) "In the Name of God is an excellent popular presentation of the scientific understanding of the origins of religion and morality. It also examines the origins of religious violence and opens a discussion on the way humanity may reduce these problems. Some people will find it controversial. But not because some trends in evolutionary psychology have discredited themselves with extravagant claims. In this case the controversy will be because, as Teehan puts it, 'this view of human nature – the very idea that there might be a human nature – smacks up against some strongly held political, moral, religious, and ideological positions.' In summary, this is an excellent book. It gives a good summary of current scientific understanding of evolution of morality and religion. It discusses religious violence as the other side of the moral coin. And there is a useful discussion of the problem of religion in modern society and ways we can overcome the negative aspects of our evolved moral and cognitive systems.... .The evolutionary study of religion and morality is a new science, but already a fruitful one. This book provides the ideal introduction." (Open Parachute, July 2010) "This is an exceedingly provocative study and one that merits careful attention from general readers and scholars alike. Highly recommended." (Choice, December 2010) "After decades of discussing evolution-related arguments for and against the existence of God, scholars have become aware that the theory of evolution can possibly be seen as accounting for the existence of religion itself. If evolutionary biology does indeed explain the emergence of religion, what then? Will the claims of religion be irretrievably undermined? These questions form the backbone of Teehan’s impressive study. He concentrates on two aspects of the phenomenon of religion: morality and violence. For Teehan ... violence is not a corruption of religion but, in a way, one of its essential ingredients. He argues that the elements of religion that motivate pro-community moral attitudes are the very same elements that produce division, prejudice, aggression and violence... .Teehan’s main contribution comes from applying evolutionary psychology to gain exciting new insights into this area of anthropology....the inquiry needs to continue. The next step should start from where Teehan and others like him have achieved so far." (Ars Disputandi, December 2010) "Drawing on evolutionary assumptions and evidence, Teehan argues that religion can be understood within the context of the natural development of human moral systems, apart from any actual transcendent moral agency. He succinctly and helpfully summarizes his evolutionary approach to the origins of human religiousness. Then he uses it to analyze the (Jewish) Ten Commandments and the (Christian) ethical teachings of Jesus and, finally, to show that religious violence is inherent in the in-group/out-group nature of religion itself... .Teehan's naturalism is commendable ... .An informative ... study." (Library Journal, July 2010) "Evolutionary and cognitive psychology are now at the forefront of explaining the origin and function of human morality. In this book, In the Name of God: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Ethics and Violence, John Teehan offers a provocative discussion about the role of these exciting sub-disciplines of psychology in explaining religion and violence ... this book is very useful in exploring the potential of evolutionary psychology in explaining religious violence." (Free Inquiry, August/September, 2010) "In terms of specifically 'religious' expressions of social solidarity. His account of the dynamics of varying coalitions of them and us would be compatible with, and perhaps even mildly supplement, the standard social scientific understanding of the sources of group violence, for example, in international relations." (Times Literary Supplement, 17 December 2010) Table of ContentsAcknowledgments. Introduction: Evolution and Mind. 1. The Evolution of Morality. Setting the Task. The Moral Brain. The First Layer: Kin Selection. The Second Layer: Reciprocal Altruism. A Third Layer: Indirect Reciprocity. A Fourth Layer: Cultural Group Selection. A Fifth Layer: The Moral Emotions. Conclusion: From Moral Grammar to Moral Systems. 2. The Evolution of Moral Religions. Setting the Task. The Evolution of the Religious Mind. Conceptualizing the Almighty. The Moral Function of Gods. 3. Evolutionary Religious Ethics: Judaism. Setting the Task. Constructing Yahweh. The Ten Commandments: An Evolutionary Interpretation. Conclusion: The Evolved Law. 4. Evolutionary Religious Ethics: Christianity. Setting the Task. Constructing the Christ. Setting the Boundaries: Christian and/or Jew?. The Third Race: Christians as In-Group. Putting on Christ: Christianity’s Signals of Commitment. Loving Your Neighbor and Turning the Other Cheek. 5. Religion, Violence, and the Evolved Mind. Setting the Task. Devoted to Destruction: Sanctified Violence and Judaism. The Blood of the Lamb. A Case Study in the Evolved Psychology of Religious Violence: 9/11. 6. Religion Evolving. Setting the Task. Varieties of Religious Expressions. If There Were No God …. Religion, Ethics, and Violence: An Assessment. Responding to Religion, Ethics, and Violence: Some Proposals. Conclusions. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisReligion is one of the most powerful forces running through human history, and although often presented as a force for good, its impact is frequently violent and divisive. This provocative work brings together cutting-edge research from both evolutionary and cognitive psychology to help readers understand the psychological structure of religious morality and the origins of religious violence. Introduces a fundamentally new approach to the analysis of religion in a style accessible to the general reader Applies insights from evolutionary and cognitive psychology to both Judaism and Christianity, and their texts, to help understand the origins of religious violence Argues that religious violence is grounded in the moral psychology of religion Illustrates its controversial argument with reference to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the response to the attacks from both the terrorists and the President. Suggests strategies for beginning to counter the diTrade Review“In summary, this is an excellent book. It gives a good summary of current scientific understanding of evolution of morality and religion. It discusses religious violence as the other side of the moral coin. And there is a useful discussion of the problem of religion in modern society and ways we can overcome the negative aspects of our evolved moral and cognitive systems.” (Open Parachute, 27 October 2013) "This book is a contribution to the study of religion from an evolutionary perspective . . . Teehan carefully distinguishes between methodological and metaphysical naturalism and officially adopts the former but not the latter." (Theology, September 2011) "In the Name of God, by John Teehan, takes the evolutionary framework and applies it to the reading of religious texts. The result is a provocative discussion of the ubiquitous phenomenon of religious belief that can change the way we understand the role of religion in society... .Teehan’s analysis spans a wide range of material but his incisive and focused approach conveys arguments without overwhelming the reader....Overall, Teehan does a commendable job elucidating his thesis of religion as moral innovation while treating the material with sensitivity and respect... .The result is an enjoyable read packed with insights, covering research from a wide range of disciplines, which will appeal to both the researcher in the field as well as the interested layman. Anyone who has pondered the nature of religion and its apparent contradictions will find In the Name of God a gem and emerge with a deeper understanding of morality and the religious mind." (Evolutionary Psychology, February, 2011) "In the Name of God: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Ethics and Violence, John Teehan sets out an evolutionary-psychological account of the connection between religion, morality and violence... .What results is an intriguing and cogent theory that promises a significant advance in our understanding of the place of religion in human history and society." (Metapsychology, January, 2011) "In the Name of God is an excellent popular presentation of the scientific understanding of the origins of religion and morality. It also examines the origins of religious violence and opens a discussion on the way humanity may reduce these problems. Some people will find it controversial. But not because some trends in evolutionary psychology have discredited themselves with extravagant claims. In this case the controversy will be because, as Teehan puts it, 'this view of human nature – the very idea that there might be a human nature – smacks up against some strongly held political, moral, religious, and ideological positions.' In summary, this is an excellent book. It gives a good summary of current scientific understanding of evolution of morality and religion. It discusses religious violence as the other side of the moral coin. And there is a useful discussion of the problem of religion in modern society and ways we can overcome the negative aspects of our evolved moral and cognitive systems.... .The evolutionary study of religion and morality is a new science, but already a fruitful one. This book provides the ideal introduction." (Open Parachute, July 2010) "This is an exceedingly provocative study and one that merits careful attention from general readers and scholars alike. Highly recommended." (Choice, December 2010) "After decades of discussing evolution-related arguments for and against the existence of God, scholars have become aware that the theory of evolution can possibly be seen as accounting for the existence of religion itself. If evolutionary biology does indeed explain the emergence of religion, what then? Will the claims of religion be irretrievably undermined? These questions form the backbone of Teehan’s impressive study. He concentrates on two aspects of the phenomenon of religion: morality and violence. For Teehan ... violence is not a corruption of religion but, in a way, one of its essential ingredients. He argues that the elements of religion that motivate pro-community moral attitudes are the very same elements that produce division, prejudice, aggression and violence... .Teehan’s main contribution comes from applying evolutionary psychology to gain exciting new insights into this area of anthropology....the inquiry needs to continue. The next step should start from where Teehan and others like him have achieved so far." (Ars Disputandi, December 2010) "Drawing on evolutionary assumptions and evidence, Teehan argues that religion can be understood within the context of the natural development of human moral systems, apart from any actual transcendent moral agency. He succinctly and helpfully summarizes his evolutionary approach to the origins of human religiousness. Then he uses it to analyze the (Jewish) Ten Commandments and the (Christian) ethical teachings of Jesus and, finally, to show that religious violence is inherent in the in-group/out-group nature of religion itself... .Teehan's naturalism is commendable ... .An informative ... study." (Library Journal, July 2010) "Evolutionary and cognitive psychology are now at the forefront of explaining the origin and function of human morality. In this book, In the Name of God: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Ethics and Violence, John Teehan offers a provocative discussion about the role of these exciting sub-disciplines of psychology in explaining religion and violence ... this book is very useful in exploring the potential of evolutionary psychology in explaining religious violence." (Free Inquiry, August/September, 2010) "In terms of specifically 'religious' expressions of social solidarity. His account of the dynamics of varying coalitions of them and us would be compatible with, and perhaps even mildly supplement, the standard social scientific understanding of the sources of group violence, for example, in international relations." (Times Literary Supplement, 17 December 2010) Table of ContentsAcknowledgments. Introduction: Evolution and Mind. 1. The Evolution of Morality. Setting the Task. The Moral Brain. The First Layer: Kin Selection. The Second Layer: Reciprocal Altruism. A Third Layer: Indirect Reciprocity. A Fourth Layer: Cultural Group Selection. A Fifth Layer: The Moral Emotions. Conclusion: From Moral Grammar to Moral Systems. 2. The Evolution of Moral Religions. Setting the Task. The Evolution of the Religious Mind. Conceptualizing the Almighty. The Moral Function of Gods. 3. Evolutionary Religious Ethics: Judaism. Setting the Task. Constructing Yahweh. The Ten Commandments: An Evolutionary Interpretation. Conclusion: The Evolved Law. 4. Evolutionary Religious Ethics: Christianity. Setting the Task. Constructing the Christ. Setting the Boundaries: Christian and/or Jew?. The Third Race: Christians as In-Group. Putting on Christ: Christianity’s Signals of Commitment. Loving Your Neighbor and Turning the Other Cheek. 5. Religion, Violence, and the Evolved Mind. Setting the Task. Devoted to Destruction: Sanctified Violence and Judaism. The Blood of the Lamb. A Case Study in the Evolved Psychology of Religious Violence: 9/11. 6. Religion Evolving. Setting the Task. Varieties of Religious Expressions. If There Were No God …. Religion, Ethics, and Violence: An Assessment. Responding to Religion, Ethics, and Violence: Some Proposals. Conclusions. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisAn inclusive and innovative account of religious ethical thinking and acting in the world. Rather than merely applying existing forms of philosophical ethics, Religious Ethics defines the meaning of the field and presents a distinct and original method for ethical reflection through comparisons of world religious traditions. Written by leading scholars and educators in the field, this unique volume offers an innovative approach that reveals how religions concur and differ on moral matters, and provides practical guidance on thinking and living ethically. The book's innovative methodintegrating descriptive, normative, practical, fundamental, and metaethical dimensions of reflectionenables a far more complex and nuanced exploration of religious ethics than any single philosophical language, method, or theory can equal. First introducing the task of religious ethics, the book moves through each of the five dimensions of reflection to compare concepts such as good and evil, perplexity and wisdom, truth and illusion, and freedom and bondage in various theological contexts. Guides readers on understanding, assessing, and comparing the moral teachings and practices of world religionsApplies a disciplined, scholarly approach to the subject of religious ethicsExplores the distinctions between religious ethics and moral philosophyProvides a methodology which can be applied to comparative ethics for various religionsCompares religious traditions to illuminate each of the five dimensions of ethical and moral reflection Religious Ethics: Meaning and Method will help anyone interested in the relation between religion and ethics in the modern world, including those involved in general and comparative religion studies, religious and comparative ethics, and moral theory.Table of ContentsPreface vi Acknowledgments viii Note on Sources, Dates, and Language Conventions x Introduction 1 1 The Task of Religious Ethics 7 2 Blindness and Insight: Descriptive Dimension 27 3 Good, Evil, and Beyond: Normative Dimension Part 1 59 Part 2 87 4 Perplexity and Wisdom: Practical Dimension 115 5 Freedom and Bondage: Fundamental Dimension 155 6 Truth and Illusion: Metaethical Dimension 195 7 The Point of Religious Ethics 237 Glossary and Additional Concepts in the Study of Religious Ethics 267 Bibliography 296 Index 311

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Book SynopsisExplores the role and influence of spirituality in clinical practice, professionalism, and medical education. This title provides insights not only into the needs of patients with various world views but also into how spirituality influences the practice of medicine.Trade ReviewA helpful, important contribution to understanding the role of spirituality in the lives of medical professionals. Choice Valuable. -- John L. Zeller JAMA What a gem of a book! If you have ever wondered what other faith traditions believe when it comes to illness, dying, and death or if you have ever wondered how medical practitioners think about their particular faith tradition, this book is invaluable. In easy to understand language (especially with regard to religions that might be foreign to many readers), the book explores the world views of different faith traditions as well as offering suggestions on caring for those from those traditions. -- P. Fosarelli Journal of Religion and HealthTable of ContentsList of ContributorsPrefacePart I: Historical and Clinical ContextChapter 1. Spirituality and Biomedicine: A History of Harmony and DiscordChapter 2. Approaching Spirituality in Clinical PracticePart II: Major Traditions and MedicineChapter 3. JudaismChapter 4. HinduismChapter 5. IslamChapter 6. ChristianityChapter 7. BuddhismChapter 8. Eclectic SpiritualityChapter 9. Christian ScienceChapter 10. Jehovah's WitnessesChapter 11. A Secular PerspectivePart III: Implications and ApplicationsChapter 12. Ethical Considerations and Implications for ProfessionalismChapter 13. Spiritual Care and ChaplaincyChapter 14. Teaching and Learning at the Interface of Medicine and Spirituality

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Book SynopsisIn this edited and translated edition of Christian Scholarship, Calvinist theologian Herman Bavinck explores how the Christian faith benefits higher learning, particularly religious studies, natural sciences, and the humanities.

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Book SynopsisAttorney and seminary graduate Matthew T. Martens examines the American criminal justice system and proposes a vision for it that is based on Christ's command to love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27).

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Book SynopsisDoes God Care about Gender Identity? compares the core beliefs and practices of the transgender movement with the fundamental truths expressed in Scripture, encouraging readers to live out their God-given identity.

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Book SynopsisWhy Do We Feel Lonely at Church? addresses the loneliness epidemic facing the church, encourages readers to pursue a life of fellowship, and urges church leaders to cultivate communities that reflect Jesus's mission, ministry, and care.

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Book SynopsisHow do Ghanaian Pentecostals resolve the contradictions of their own faith while remaining faithful to their religious identity? Bringing together the anthropology of Christianity and the anthropology of ethics, Girish Daswani’s Looking Back, Moving Forward investigates the compromises with the past that members of Ghana’s Church of Pentecost make in order to remain committed Christians.Even as church members embrace the break with the past that comes from being  “born-again,” many are less concerned with the boundaries of Christian practice than with interpersonal questions – the continuity of suffering after conversion, the causes of unhealthy relationships, the changes brought about by migration – and how to deal with them. By paying ethnographic attention to the embodied practices, interpersonal relationships, and moments of self-reflection in the lives of members of the Church of Pentecost in Ghana and amongst the GhanaiaTrade Review'An excellent contribution to the study of migrant faith, this book also has much to say about spirituality and religious practice more broadly defined.' -- Philip Jenkins Christian Century 2 October 2016 'With its vivid ethnography, Looking Back, Moving Forward offers an intimate portrait of the everyday lives of Ghanaian Pentecostals, both in Ghana and in London.' -- Anna Strhan Marginalia Review of Books - January 2016Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Rupture and Continuity 2. Uncertainties and Dilemmas 3. Prophets and Prayer 4. Individuality and Dividuality 5. Kinship and Migration 6. African Christians in London 7. Citizens of Heaven Conclusion: The Future Will Fight Against You

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Book SynopsisThis popular textbook has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect recent global developments, whilst retaining its unique and compelling narrative-style approach. Using ancient stories from diverse religions, it explores a broad range of important and complex moral issues, resulting in a truly reader-friendly and comparative introduction to religious ethics. A thoroughly revised and expanded new edition of this popular textbook, yet retains the unique narrative-style approach which has proved so successful with students Considers the ways in which ancient stories from diverse religions, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the lives of Jesus and Buddha, have provided ethical orientation in the modern world Updated to reflect recent discussions on globalization and its influence on cross-cultural and comparative ethics, economic dimensions to ethics, Gandhian traditions, and global ethics in an age of terrorism Expands coverage of Asian religions, quTable of ContentsPreface xi Acknowledgments xiii Part I Religion, Ethics, and Stories of War and Peace 1 1 Religion, Ethics, and Storytelling 3 Storytelling: from Comparative Ethics to Global Ethics 4 Religion: the Sacred and the Holy 9 The Deep Structures of the Sacred and the Holy and Their Mediations 19 The Awakening of Ethical Consciousness: the Power of Religious Stories, East and West 20 The Great Religious Stories of the World – an Overview 30 A Postscript on Religious Language 36 Questions for Discussion 39 Sources 40 2 Stories of War and Peace in an Age of Globalization 41 Tales of Madness: from Auschwitz to Hiroshima 42 Auschwitz and Hiroshima: the Formative Religious Events of the Postmodern World 45 Techno-Bureaucratic Rationality and the Demise of Ethical Consciousness 51 Doubling and the Myth of Life through Death: the Spiritual Logic of Mass Death in the Twentieth Century 56 The Way of All the Earth: Global Ethics and Tales of Divine Madness 63 Questions for Discussion 72 Sources 73 Part II War and Peace: Ancient Stories and Postmodern Life Stories 75 Introduction: Ethics after Auschwitz and Hiroshima 77 3 Gilgamesh and the Religious Quest 85 The Story of Gilgamesh 86 Urbanization, Doubling, Death, and the Possibility of Ethical Reflection 91 The Quest – the Way of the Virtues 94 Questions for Discussion 99 Sources 99 4 The Socratic Religious Experience: from the Birth of Ethics to the Quest for Cosmopolis 100 The Story of the Trial of Socrates 101 The Socratic Invention of Ethics – the Way of Doubt 105 The Polis and the Quest for Cosmopolis: the Classical Era 109 The Story of Augustine’ s Confessions – Faith as a Surrender to Doubt 116 The Augustinian-Kantian Quest for a Global Ethic 126 Questions for Discussion 135 Sources 136 5 Hindu Stories – Ancient and Postmodern 137 Cosmic Story: the Myth of Liberation 138 Formative Story: Arjuna and Krishna 143 Life Story: Mohandas K. Gandhi and the Way of Brahmacharya 148 Comparative Reflections: the Paradoxes of War and Peace 159 Questions for Discussion 163 Sources 164 6 Buddhist Stories – Ancient and Postmodern 165 Formative Story: Siddhartha 166 The Cosmic Story Revised: the Myth of Liberation 173 Life Story: Thich Nhat Hanh, the Way of Mindfulness and the Dao of Zen 181 Comparative Reflections: Gandhi and Thich Nhat Hanh 196 Postscript: the Virtues of the Quest in Gilgamesh, Augustine, and Siddhartha 199 Questions for Discussion 203 Sources 203 7 Jewish Stories – Ancient and Postmodern 205 Cosmic Story: the Myth of History 206 Formative Story: the Audacity of Job 213 Life Story: Abraham Joshua Heschel and the Way of Audacity 223 Comparative Reflections: Heschel, Gandhi, and Thich Nhat Hanh 229 Questions for Discussion 232 Sources 233 8 Christian Stories – Ancient and Postmodern 234 Formative Story: Jesus of Nazareth 235 The Cosmic Story Revised: the Incarnation of the Word 242 Life Story: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Way of the Cross 247 Comparative Reflections: King, Heschel, Gandhi, and Thich Nhat Hanh 257 Questions for Discussion 260 Sources 260 9 Islamic Stories – Ancient and Postmodern 262 Formative Story: Muhammad 263 Cosmic Story: Further Revisions of the Myth of History 269 Life Story: Malcolm X and the Way of Pilgrimage 275 Comparative Reflections: Just War or Non-Violence? – Malcolm X’s Argument with the Gandhian Tradition 286 Questions for Discussion 295 Sources 296 Part III The Path to Global Ethics – the Way of All the Earth 297 Introduction 299 10 Feminist Audacity and the Ethics of Interdependence 300 The Feminist Challenge to the Myths of Life through Death 301 The Feminist Alternative: Interdependence and the Ethics of Care 305 Life Story: Joanna Macy and Buddhist Ecofeminism 311 Life Story: Rosemary Ruether and Christian Ecofeminism 316 Conclusion 324 Questions for Discussion 325 Sources 326 11 Cosmopolis: the Way of All the Earth 327 Globalization and the Story of Babel: from Ethnocentrism to Interdependence 327 Ecofeminism: from the Social Ecology of Conscience to the Social Ecology of Justice 330 The Way of All the Earth 343 Questions for Discussion 347 Sources 348 Index of Names and Terms 349 Index of Subjects 355

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Book SynopsisFeaturing updates, revisions, and new essays from various scholars within the Christian tradition, The Blackwell Companion to Christian Ethics, Second Edition reveals how Christian worship is the force that shapes the moral life of Christians. Features new essays on class, race, disability, gender, peace, and the virtues Includes a number of revised essays and a range of new authors The innovative and influential approach organizes ethical themes around the shape of Christian worship The original edition is the most successful to-date in the Companions to Religion series Trade Review"Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers." (Choice, 2011) "But of course, no Companion can say it all, and for what this one is trying to accomplish, it is a brilliant work. In the past several years, I have gone back to several of the original essays over and over again, and I'm sure I will do the same with some of the new ones." (Jesus Creed, 15 October 2011) "This is a must-have book on the minister's bookshelf." (Regent's Reviews, 1 October 2011) "But of course, no Companion can say it all, and for what this one is trying to accomplish, it is a brilliant work." (Theatrical Theology, 2011) "This is a very fine book which deserves a place on the shelves of all those who love Walsingham and its parish church." (New Directions, 1 September 2011)Table of ContentsNotes on Contributors xi Preface xiv Part I Studying Ethics Through Worship 1 1 Christian Ethics as Informed Prayer 3Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells 2 The Gift of the Church and the Gifts God Gives It 13Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells 3 Why Christian Ethics Was Invented 28Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells 4 How the Church Managed Before There Was Ethics 39Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells Part II Meeting God and One Another 53 5 Gathering: Worship, Imagination, and Formation 55 Philip Kenneson 6 Greeting: Beyond Racial Reconciliation 70Emmanuel Katongole 7 Naming the Risen Lord: Embodied Discipleship and Masculinity 84Amy Laura Hall 8 Being Reconciled: Penitence, Punishment, and Worship 97John Berkman 9 Praising in Song: Beauty and the Arts 112Kevin J. Vanhoozer 10 Collecting Praise: Global Culture Industries 124Michael L. Budde 11 Praise: The Prophetic Public Presence of the Mentally Disabled 139Brian Brock Part III Re-Encountering the Story 153 12 Reading the Scriptures: Rehearsing Identity, Practicing Character 155Jim Fodor 13 Listening: Authority and Obedience 170Scott Bader-Saye 14 Proclaiming: Naming and Describing 184Charles Pinches 15 Deliberating: Justice and Liberation 197Daniel M. Bell 16 Discerning: Politics and Reconciliation 211William T. Cavanaugh 17 Confessing the Faith: Reasoning in Tradition 224Nicholas Adams Part IV Being Embodied 237 18 Interceding: Poverty and Prayer 239Kelly S. Johnson 19 Interceding: Giving Grief to Management 251Michael Hanby 20 Interceding: Standing, Kneeling, and Gender 264Lauren F. Winner 21 Being Baptized: Race 277Willie Jennings 22 Being Baptized: Bodies and Abortion 290Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt 23 Becoming One Body: Health Care and Cloning 303M. Therese Lysaught 24 Becoming One Flesh: Marriage, Remarriage, and Sex 316David Matzko McCarthy 25 Sharing Peace: Class, Hierarchy, and Christian Social Order 329Luke Bretherton 26 Sharing Peace: Discipline and Trust 344Paul J. Wadell Part V Re-Enacting the Story 357 27 Offering: Treasuring the Creation 359Ben Quash 28 Participating: Working Toward Worship 374R. R. Reno 29 Remembering: Offering Our Gifts 387D. Stephen Long and Tripp York 30 Invoking: Globalization and Power 401Timothy Jarvis Gorringe 31 Breaking Bread: Peace and War 415Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells 32 Receiving Communion: Euthanasia, Suicide, and Letting Die 427Kathryn Greene-McCreight 33 Sharing Communion: Hunger, Food, and Genetically Modifi ed Foods 440Robert Song 34 Eating Together: Friendship and Homosexuality 453Joel James Shuman 35 Being Silent: Time in the Spirit 466Michael S. Northcott 36 Footwashing: Preparation for Christian Life 479Mark Thiessen Nation Part VI Being Commissioned 491 37 Being Blessed: Wealth, Property, and Theft 493Stephen Fowl 38 Bearing Fruit: Conception, Children, and the Family 506Joseph L. Mangina 39 Being Sent: Witness 519Michael G. Cartwright Afterword 533 40 The Virtue of the Liturgy 535Jennifer Herdt 41 Afterword 547Rowan Williams Index 551

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Book SynopsisCompares regional conceptions and variations of welfare in relation to national religious traditions across key parts of Europe. Using comparative case studies, the book examines the transition from research to practical policy recommendations, highlighting the similarities and differences between selected European countries.Trade Review"This new volume brings a fresh perspective... and makes an impressive contribution to our knowledge in this important area." Theology“This is a fascinating, complex, rich book rooted in deep research and providing an innovative and revealing new analysis in the intersection of welfare, women and minorities.” Religion, State & Society"A fascinating volume exploring religion, gender, minorities and welfare in Europe, offering significant insights into the link between values, welfare and social change." Dr Stephanie Sinclair, The Open University"This is a timely and authoritative text - fit for students and experts alike - which builds on the insights of the WaVE research to shed new light on gender issues and minority religious groups in Europe. The comparative perspective encompassing diverse national settings provides an important back-drop for analysing some of the key social welfare implications of an increasingly culturally diverse continent." Rana Jawad, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy, University of Bath, UKTable of ContentsIntroduction ~ Anders Bäckström Part one: Thinking methodologically: approaches to research and practice; Between contextuality and comparability: a dilemma in qualitative comparative case studies ~ Pål Repstad Using case studies in religion, values and welfare research ~ Olav Helge Angell and Lina Molokotos-Liederman Social cohesion: from research to practice ~ Olav Helge Angell, Marjukka Laiho, Anne Birgitta Pessi and Siniša Zrinš?ak Part two: Thinking regionally: key case studies in welfare and religion in Europe The WaVE project as a record of religious and social transformations in northern Europe ~ Anders Bäckström The intersections of state, family and Church in Italy and Greece ~ Margarita Markoviti and Lina Molokotos-Liederman Religion, welfare and gender: the post-communist experience ~ Siniša Zrinš?ak Part three: Gendered and minority perspectives Understanding religious minority communities as civil society actors ~ Annette Leis-Peters Striving to live the good life: the tension between self-fulfilment and family obligations for women in northern England ~ Martha Middlemiss Lé Mon Religion as a resource or as a source of exclusion?: The case of Muslim women’s shelters ~ Pia Karlsson Minganti The moral and gendered crisis of the Italian welfare system seen through the prism of migrant women’s reproductive health ~ Annalisa Frisina Part four: Drawing the threads together Welfare and values in Europe: insights drawn from a comparative cross-country analysis ~ Effie Fokas Afterword ~ Grace Davie

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Book SynopsisIn Black, Quare, and Then to Where jennifer susanne leath explores the relationship between Afrodiasporic theories of justice and Black sexual ethics through a womanist engagement with Maât the ancient Egyptian deity of justice and truth. Maât took into account the historical and cultural context of each human’s life, thus encompassing nuances of politics, race, gender, and sexuality. Arguing that Maât should serve as a foundation for reconfiguring Black sexual ethics, leath applies ancient Egyptian moral codes to quare ethics of the erotic, expanding what relationships and democratic practices might look like from a contemporary Maâtian perspective. She also draws on Pan-Africanism and examines the work of Alice Walker, E. Patrick Johnson, Cheikh Anta Diop, Sylvia Wynter, Sun Ra, and others. She shows that together these thinkers and traditions inform and expand the possibilities of Maâtian justice with respect to Black sexual experiences. AsTrade Review“Shaped by a quare-womanist-vindicationist lens, jennifer susanne leath gives us a vision of justice—both old and new—centered in a deep, complex, and genre-shattering Black sexual ethics that is seething with justices that affirm our being and personhood. This exciting must-read offers us a new and more inclusive vision of a future for all.” -- Emilie M. Townes, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter University Distinguished Professor of Womanist Ethics and Society and Gender and Sexuality Studies, Vanderbilt University“Carving out a new pathway for grappling with the Du Boisian Negro problem and the perennial crisis of American democracy, Black, Quare, and Then to Where offers a creative, compelling, and stunning exploration into how Pan-Africanism and Black nationalism lay the epistemic groundwork for building a new Black sexual ethics. I don’t know of any other womanists, feminists, or ethicists since Black Power who frame justice as broadly as jennifer susanne leath does in this powerful book.” -- Terrence L. Johnson, author of * We Testify with Our Lives: How Religion Transformed Radical Thought from Black Power to Black Lives Matter *Table of ContentsPreface ix Acknowledgments xiii Introduction. Introducing Maât 1 Part I. quare-womanist-vidicationist movement 1. A Prolegomenon to Justice Hermeneutics and Black Sexual Ethics 17 2. Naming (and Transforming) Justice: (Re)Imagining Black Sexual Ethics 35 Part II. justices 3. Flying Justice: Sun Ra’s Sexuality and Other Afrofutures 71 4. Heterexpectations: Jumping the Broom, Marriage, Democracy, and Entanglement Theory 101 5. Dancing Justice: Just Black HomoSexualities 137 6. Ancient Mixologies: Joel Augustus Rogers and Puzzling Interracial Intimacies 167 7. Black Web: Disrupting Transnational Pornographies for Post(trans)national Humanalities 205 Conclusion. Re-covering Maât 245 Notes 255 Bibliography 293 Index 313

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Book SynopsisIn The Inner Life of Race, Leerom Medovoi turns away from conventional views of race as a politics of the phenotypical body to theorize race instead as a politics of populational threat. Racism’s genealogy, argues Medovoi, invokes longstanding theological distinctions between the body and the soul. While the body can be seen and marked, the soul signals potentially threatening interiorities: dangerous intentions, beliefs, or desires. Race is the power-effect of reading the body in order to police the political threat of the soul. Medovoi’s genealogy begins with medieval deployments of inquisition and confession to wage war against heretics, infidels, and their threat to the salvation of souls. In early modern Spain, these pastoral technologies of power catalyzed the invention of race as a language for the danger of formerly Jewish and Muslim converts. Medovoi shows how this discourse expanded into anti-blackness and anti-indigeneity throughout the colonial world and

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Book SynopsisIn The Inner Life of Race, Leerom Medovoi turns away from conventional views of race as a politics of the phenotypical body to theorize race instead as a politics of populational threat. Racism’s genealogy, argues Medovoi, invokes longstanding theological distinctions between the body and the soul. While the body can be seen and marked, the soul signals potentially threatening interiorities: dangerous intentions, beliefs, or desires. Race is the power-effect of reading the body in order to police the political threat of the soul. Medovoi’s genealogy begins with medieval deployments of inquisition and confession to wage war against heretics, infidels, and their threat to the salvation of souls. In early modern Spain, these pastoral technologies of power catalyzed the invention of race as a language for the danger of formerly Jewish and Muslim converts. Medovoi shows how this discourse expanded into anti-blackness and anti-indigeneity throughout the colonial world and

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Book SynopsisHonorable Mention, Theology and Religious Studies PROSE Award A powerful insight into the historical and cultural roles of the Black churchIf we are in a post-racial era, then what is the future of the Black Church? If the US will at some time in the future be free from discrimination and prejudices that are based on race how will that affect the church's very identity?In The Ground Has Shifted, Walter Earl Fluker passionately and thoroughly discusses the historical and current role of the Black church and argues that the older race-based language and metaphors of religious discourse have outlived their utility. He offers instead a larger, global vision for the Black church that focuses on young Black men and other disenfranchised groups who have been left behind in a world of globalized capital. Lyrically written with an emphasis on the dynamic and fluid movement of life itself, Fluker argues that the church must find new ways to use race as an emancipatory instrument if it is to reTrade ReviewFluker has a fresh approach to deal with the subject and provides new insights on the subject. It is meticulously researched and well-referenced. Walter Earl Fluker's scholarship is unmatchable. * The Washington Book Review *An exuberant, thought-provoking assessment of the dilemmas facing black churches. [A] passionate analysis and call for change. * STARRED Publishers Weekly *An important and perceptive contribution to the literature on religion and race. * Choice *Flukers book is thoroughly interesting as he studies the history and present of the black church Fluker brings us a work for todays church and a charge to connect that church to the world house. * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *[T]imely and fascinating...The Ground Has Shifteddoes a masterful job of blending black religious thought, literature, critical theory, memoir, and personal experience. * Religion Dispatches *An excellent conversation starter to inspire holistic freedom for all people. -- The Journal of African American HistoryThe Ground Has Shifted analyses the ramifications of post-racialism in the black church and emphasizes the various ways that religious leaders and scholars can engage and re-evaluate critical questions; thus, coming up with clear and concise solutions towards historical problems of race, and sexualized and gendered politics of the church … The author paves a way for a new generation of church leaders, scholars, and activists for them to reclaim the black church’s historical identity of being the pivotal force within the community, while also instilling character, civility, and a sense of community among its congregants once again. -- Black TheologyThe Ground Has Shifted addresses questions being posed by a historical Black Church caught between its piety, the politics of respectability, and a cataclysmic shifting of the taken-for-granted realities of a besieged/blessed people. I will buy and teach this book as often as I can. What an amazing contribution to the literature. -- Barbara A. Holmes,President Emerita of United Theological Seminary of the Twin CitiesThis is the most decisive statement on post-racialism, the American dilemma, and black church positive agency. On each page, Fluker's writing moans and wails us out of southern African American religiosity, up north into the fragmentation of black urban life, and into an ethical world of hope for an America becoming. A defining direction and persuasive proposal on how to get us to healthy community. -- Dwight N. Hopkins,author of Being Human: Race, Culture, and ReligionWalter Fluker is the towering theorist of the Black Church and the unapologetic lover of the black prophetic tradition. This powerful and timely book is sophisticated, subtle, and rich. And it soars with a deep, long memory alive in the present a present that reeks of a 'cultural asylum' that he notes the Black Lives Movement is shattering! -- Dr. Cornel WestFlukers judicious use of personal reflection provides an exciting affirmation that our black lives and our black churches really do matter as important standpoints for engaging spirituality, renewing the national imaginary, and enhancing the human condition. -- Cheryl Townsend Gilkes,Colby CollegeThe Ground Has Shifted puts forward a passionate challenge to the Black Church and all those who profess to stand in the prophetic Black Church tradition. It is a powerful and provocative treatment of the role and place of this venerable institution and the Gospel that gives it life. But more than that, the book offers a blueprint for a way forwarda pathway that involves "reclaiming [our] humanity through the integrity of the act"; to find beauty and grace in the dark places of what it means to live in this world without the burdens of ghosts. Beautiful written; passionately argued. A must read! -- Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.,author of Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American SoulThis is a very important work that challenges all who read it to continue to search for answers to the growing crisis of faith in the black community, answers that will provide a viable way forward for black Christians and their churches in the challenging years ahead. * The Journal of Religion *

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Book SynopsisTackles a human problem we all share?the fate of the earth and our role in its future Confident that your personal good deeds of environmental virtue will save the earth? The stories we encounter about the environment in popular culture too often promote an imagined moral economy, assuring us that tiny acts of voluntary personal piety, such as recycling a coffee cup, or purchasing green consumer items, can offset our destructive habits. No need to make any fundamental structural changes. The trick is simply for the consumer to buy the right things and shop our way to a greener future.It's time for a reality check. Ecopiety offers an absorbing examination of the intersections of environmental sensibilities, contemporary expressions of piety and devotion, and American popular culture. Ranging from portrayals of environmental sin and virtue such as the eco-pious depiction of Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey, to the green capitalism found in the world of mobile-Trade ReviewBy showing the deeper-than-acknowledged impact of pop culture on people’s beliefs about environmental issues, Taylor’s thoughtful treatise offers hope that effective storytelling can play a role in meaningfully addressing catastrophic climate change. * Publishers Weekly *Sarah McFarland Taylor wades into the messy space of felt eco-practice with wry humor and thorough clarity. … The power of this book rests in the compelling and innovative sources McFarland Taylor explores to understand how individualistic forms of ecopiety are storied to us. … each chapter uncovers the media and messaging that make subtle, sometimes imperceptible interventions in our ecological ethics and the fundamental ways we understand our living. * Christian Century *[Ecopiety] dives into what it means to be a consumer at the heart of two conflicting narratives – buying stuff is good for the economy, and consuming resources is bad for the environment. ... will have you thinking differently about how environmental behaviour is presented in pop culture and the media. * The Fifth Estate *The powerful argument that repeatedly surfaces throughout Sarah McFarland Taylor's book – that while acts of ecopiety are often nice and microscopically positive, they are essentially meaningless when faced with the global scale problem they seek to combat [...] is robust, well researched, and close to irrefutable. * Geographical Magazine *A wake-up call for all those who want to be good stewards of our planet but don’t necessarily know what they should be doing. Untangles the web of conflicting narratives, pulls back the curtain on our psyche, and shows us the roots of corporate manipulation in media. * Brontide Journal *An astute analysis of certain features of contemporary American culture, Ecopiety addresses an important question: what should we do to make the world a more sustainable place for all? ... An interesting and timely book. * Interpretation *The cases considered are extraordinary: erotic fiction interweaving ecopiety and consumopiety, automotive purity and trucker pollution, carbon sin-tracking apps, celebrities performing green, vampires turning vegetarian, corpses as media for living on naturally, tattoos identifying humans with endangered species, green hip-hop advancing social inclusion, and more. … Admirably, against the odds, Sarah McFarland Taylor does not contribute to eco-pessimism but advances what I would call an interpretive ethics of story, performance, and play as means for shaping the future. ... for the study of religion this theoretically informed, meticulously detailed, and surprising exploration of religious circulations through media, markets, and moral incongruities is transformative. -- David Chidester * Religion Journal *Wow! It is rare that one has the chance to preview a work which displays this level of intellectual virtuosity. Taylors work occupies an important intersection between religious studies and media/cultural studies. . . . An amazing book, which is going to generate lots of interest. -- Henry Jenkins, Author of Convergence CultureThis book could not come at a more urgent time; as the costs of human life and consumerism become clearer in the environmental crises of the planet, MacFarland-Taylor offers us a brilliant, compelling analysis of how discourses of virtue are used to re-direct the global climate crisis from a collective politics to the choices of individual consumers. The book explores green consumer marketing in the frame of ecopiety by examining a variety of practices, from cars to reality television to mediated popular cultural narratives about vampires to green burials, and in the process offers not only a trenchant critique but also possible alternatives to individualist consumption as a way to virtuously “save the planet.” -- Sarah Banet-Weiser, London School of Economics and author of Empowered: Popular Feminism and Popular MisogynyDemonstrates the power of myths of individual moral and social power while teasing out the way resistance and counter readings of dominant narratives are possible in the interactive media world made possible by digital communications.... An important argument that adds to our understanding of environmental issues and lifestyle politics. -- Jeffrey Mahan, Iliff School of TheologyEcopiety is a worthwhile book for anyone who is interested in the role of media and narrative in contemporary environmental discourse…Even activists and policymakers who wish to employ media for green ends stand to benefit from Ecopiety. -- Gabriel Vasquez-Peterson * Environmental Values 31.3 *

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Book SynopsisRecovers the religious origins of the War on DrugsMany people view the War on Drugs as a contemporary phenomenon invented by the Nixon administration. But as this new book shows, the conflict actually began more than a century before, when American Protestants began the temperance movement and linked drug use with immorality. Christian Nationalism and the Birth of the War on Drugs argues that this early drug war was deeply rooted in Christian impulses. While many scholars understand Prohibition to have been a Protestant undertaking, it is considerably less common to consider the War on Drugs this way, in part because racism has understandably been the focal point of discussions of the drug war. Antidrug activists expressedand still do express--blatant white supremacist and nativist motives. Yet this book argues that that racism was intertwined with religious impulses. Reformers pursued the civilizing mission, a wide-ranging project that sought to protect child races from harmful inflTrade Review"The American crusade against intoxicants began earlier than you might think. An in-depth reassessment of the war on drugs, with lessons for students of American religion, crime, and white supremacy." * Kirkus Reviews *"There is a long history to the war on drugs that began in the Nixon administration, and it is one closely tied to Protestant Christianity, argues Monteith. This groundbreaking work will be appreciated particularly by scholars, but those with an interest in history or Christian history will likely find it engaging as well." * Library Journal *"Quite thorough in its scope and features theological, legal, racist, and cultural trends as they related to the war on drugs. . . . Solid historically, important culturally and politically, and eye opening religiously. " -- Gary Laderman, Goodrich C. White Professor of American Religious History and Cultures, Emory College"A superb analysis of one of America’s most enduring social problems. Monteith’s historical research, coupled with his astute engagement with theories of religion, make this a groundbreaking contribution to many fields. " -- Cara Burnidge, author of A Peaceful Conquest: Woodrow Wilson, Religion, and the New World Order

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Book SynopsisTackles a human problem we all share?the fate of the earth and our role in its future Confident that your personal good deeds of environmental virtue will save the earth? The stories we encounter about the environment in popular culture too often promote an imagined moral economy, assuring us that tiny acts of voluntary personal piety, such as recycling a coffee cup, or purchasing green consumer items, can offset our destructive habits. No need to make any fundamental structural changes. The trick is simply for the consumer to buy the right things and shop our way to a greener future.It's time for a reality check. Ecopiety offers an absorbing examination of the intersections of environmental sensibilities, contemporary expressions of piety and devotion, and American popular culture. Ranging from portrayals of environmental sin and virtue such as the eco-pious depiction of Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey, to the green capitalism found in the world of mobile-Trade ReviewBy showing the deeper-than-acknowledged impact of pop culture on people’s beliefs about environmental issues, Taylor’s thoughtful treatise offers hope that effective storytelling can play a role in meaningfully addressing catastrophic climate change. * Publishers Weekly *Sarah McFarland Taylor wades into the messy space of felt eco-practice with wry humor and thorough clarity. … The power of this book rests in the compelling and innovative sources McFarland Taylor explores to understand how individualistic forms of ecopiety are storied to us. … each chapter uncovers the media and messaging that make subtle, sometimes imperceptible interventions in our ecological ethics and the fundamental ways we understand our living. * Christian Century *[Ecopiety] dives into what it means to be a consumer at the heart of two conflicting narratives – buying stuff is good for the economy, and consuming resources is bad for the environment. ... will have you thinking differently about how environmental behaviour is presented in pop culture and the media. * The Fifth Estate *The powerful argument that repeatedly surfaces throughout Sarah McFarland Taylor's book – that while acts of ecopiety are often nice and microscopically positive, they are essentially meaningless when faced with the global scale problem they seek to combat [...] is robust, well researched, and close to irrefutable. * Geographical Magazine *A wake-up call for all those who want to be good stewards of our planet but don’t necessarily know what they should be doing. Untangles the web of conflicting narratives, pulls back the curtain on our psyche, and shows us the roots of corporate manipulation in media. * Brontide Journal *An astute analysis of certain features of contemporary American culture, Ecopiety addresses an important question: what should we do to make the world a more sustainable place for all? ... An interesting and timely book. * Interpretation *The cases considered are extraordinary: erotic fiction interweaving ecopiety and consumopiety, automotive purity and trucker pollution, carbon sin-tracking apps, celebrities performing green, vampires turning vegetarian, corpses as media for living on naturally, tattoos identifying humans with endangered species, green hip-hop advancing social inclusion, and more. … Admirably, against the odds, Sarah McFarland Taylor does not contribute to eco-pessimism but advances what I would call an interpretive ethics of story, performance, and play as means for shaping the future. ... for the study of religion this theoretically informed, meticulously detailed, and surprising exploration of religious circulations through media, markets, and moral incongruities is transformative. -- David Chidester * Religion Journal *Wow! It is rare that one has the chance to preview a work which displays this level of intellectual virtuosity. Taylors work occupies an important intersection between religious studies and media/cultural studies. . . . An amazing book, which is going to generate lots of interest. -- Henry Jenkins, Author of Convergence CultureThis book could not come at a more urgent time; as the costs of human life and consumerism become clearer in the environmental crises of the planet, MacFarland-Taylor offers us a brilliant, compelling analysis of how discourses of virtue are used to re-direct the global climate crisis from a collective politics to the choices of individual consumers. The book explores green consumer marketing in the frame of ecopiety by examining a variety of practices, from cars to reality television to mediated popular cultural narratives about vampires to green burials, and in the process offers not only a trenchant critique but also possible alternatives to individualist consumption as a way to virtuously “save the planet.” -- Sarah Banet-Weiser, London School of Economics and author of Empowered: Popular Feminism and Popular MisogynyDemonstrates the power of myths of individual moral and social power while teasing out the way resistance and counter readings of dominant narratives are possible in the interactive media world made possible by digital communications.... An important argument that adds to our understanding of environmental issues and lifestyle politics. -- Jeffrey Mahan, Iliff School of TheologyEcopiety is a worthwhile book for anyone who is interested in the role of media and narrative in contemporary environmental discourse…Even activists and policymakers who wish to employ media for green ends stand to benefit from Ecopiety. -- Gabriel Vasquez-Peterson * Environmental Values 31.3 *

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Book SynopsisCrafts a theology of time that draws us toward a perspective wherein time is a gift and a calling. Time is not a commodity nor is time to be mastered. Time is a gift of God to humans, but is also a gift given back to God by humans.Table of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: Time, Disability, and the Fragile Brain Part I. Time and Disability Chapter 1. Thinking about Time: The Tyranny of the Clock Chapter 2. Time and Progress: Disability and the Wrong Kind of Time Part II. Learning to Live in God's Time Chapter 3. Time and Christ: A Brief Theology of Time Chapter 4. Becoming Friends of Time: Love Has a Speed Part III. From Inclusion to Discipleship Chapter 5. Time and Discipleship: Inclusion, Discipleship, and Profound Intellectual Disability Chapter 6. Time and Vocation: Slow and Gentle Disciples Part IV. Reclaiming the Heart Chapter 7. Time and Memory: Dementia and the Advancement of Time Chapter 8. Time and the Heart: Affective Remembering Part V. The Horror of Time Chapter 9. The Horror of Time: Acquired Brain Injury and Personality Change Chapter 10. The Time Before and the Time After: Brain Injury, Human Identity, and the Hiddenness of Our Lives in Christ Chapter 11. Time and Ritual: Funerals for Friends Conclusion: Being in Christ, Being in Time: Every Body Has a Place Appendix: Redeeming Time: A Lived Funeral Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisExplores the continuing role of Judaism for crafting ethics, politics, and theology. Drawing on sources as diverse as the Bible, the Talmud, and ancient, medieval, and modern philosophy, David Novak asserts Judaism's integral place in communal discourse of the public square.Trade ReviewNovak speaks as a Jewish Theologian to inform us that the Jewish canonical texts for determining the Transcendental all have the core message to act humanely and rationally as a 'pro-active' member of one's community. In so doing, the communities function as homes for the Transcendental. -- Sheldon Richmond -- Literature and TheologyTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Can Capital Punishment Ever Be Justified in the Jewish Tradition? 2. The Elimination of Mutilation and Torture in Rabbinic Thought and Practice 3. Natural Law, Human Dignity, and the Protection of Human Property 4. Land and People: One Jewish Perspective 5. Jewish Marriage and Civil Law: A Two-Way Street? 6. Jewish Marriage: Nature, Covenant, and Contract 7. Divine Justice/Divine Command 8. The Universality of Jewish Ethics: A Rejoinder to Secularist Critics 9. The Judaic Foundation of Rights 10. Social Contract in Modern Jewish Thought: A Theological Critique 11. Toward a Jewish Public Philosophy in America 12. Defending Niebuhr from Hauerwas 13. Is Natural Law a Border Concept Between Judaism and Christianity?

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Book SynopsisScholars and laypeople alike are interested in religion, and many more still are interested in how to lead a meaningful life - how to flourish. The collaborative undertaking represented by Religion and Human Flourishing will further attest to the perennial importance of the questions of religious belief and the pursuit of the good life.Table of Contents Introduction Adam B. Cohen Part 1 1 Meanings and Dimensions of Flourishing A Programmatic Sketch Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, Ryan McAnnally-Linz 2 Virtues, Vices, and the Good Life A Theologian's Perspective on Compassion and Violence Celia Deane-Drummond 3 Status Viatoris and the Path Quality of Religion Human Flourishing as a Sacred Process of Becoming Jonathan Rowson 4 Spiritual Well-Being and Human Flourishing Conceptual, Causal, and Policy Relations Tyler J. VanderWeele Part 2 5 Religion and Human Flourishing in the Evolution of Social Complexity Harvey Whitehouse 6 The Next Generation Evolutionary Perspectives on Religion and Human Flourishing Dominic D. P. Johnson 7 Religions Help Us Trust One Another Adam B. Cohen 8 Religion's Contribution to Prosociality Azim F. Shariff Part 3 9 Religion's Contribution to Population Health Key Theoretical and Methodological Considerations Christopher G. Ellison 10 Offender-Led Religious Movements Identity Transformation, Rehabilitation, and Justice System Reform Byron R. Johnson 11 Some Big-Data Lessons about Religion and Human Flourishing David G. Myers 12 Smart and Spiritual The Coevolution of Religion and Rationality Laurence R. Iannaccone 13 The Economics of Religion in Developing Countries Sriya Iyer 14 On Balance Azim F. Shariff

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Book SynopsisArgues that Jesus' beatitudes demonstrate a faithful but innovative engagement with antecedent traditions and a stirring, universal call to discipleship for those willing to commit to Jesus' unique vision.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisDrawing on her own experience as a surrogate mother, Grace Y. Kao assesses the ethics of surrogacy from a feminist and progressive Christian perspective, concluding that certain kinds of surrogacy arrangements can be morally permissible—and should even be embraced. While the use of assisted reproductive technology has brought joy to countless families, surrogacy remains the most controversial path to parenthood. My Body, Their Baby helps readers sort through objections to this way of bringing children into the world. Candidly reflecting on carrying a baby for her childless friends and informed by the reproductive justice framework developed by women of color activists, Kao highlights the importance of experience in feminist methodology and Christian ethics. She shows what surrogacy is like from the perspective of women becoming pregnant for others, parents who have opted for surrogacy (including queer couples), and the surrogate-born children themselves. Developing a constructive framework of ethical norms and principles to guide the formation of surrogacy relationships, Kao ultimately offers a vision for surrogacy that celebrates the reproductive generosity and solidarity displayed through the sharing of traditionally maternal roles.Trade Review"The world needs more scholars like Grace Kao. With thoughtful rigor and deeply human tenderness, she provides a faithful framework for understanding surrogacy. Her cogent, compassionate arguments illuminate a practice that is often consigned to the shadows, and her work shines with creativity, empathy, and care."—Jeff Chu, author of Does Jesus Really Love Me?"Drawing on her own experience both as a surrogate and a Christian theologian, Kao makes a powerful and rigorously argued Christian ethical case for surrogacy. An invaluable resource for parents, pastors, and all concerned with reproduction and its ethical implications."—Susan A. Ross, Loyola University Chicago, author of Anthropology: Seeking Light and Beauty"Kao's descriptions of her experience as a surrogate succeed in bringing the moral arguments for and against surrogacy into sharper focus. This insightful book shows us how narratives shape our moral visions."—Aline Kalbian, Florida State University, author of Sex, Violence, and Justice"This book breaks the ice on Christian feminist reluctance to think about surrogacy. Painstakingly researched and accessibly written, it will not only inspire needed attention to surrogacy but also influence the whole landscape of Christian ethics of reproduction."—Cristina Traina, Fordham University, author of Erotic Attunement"This book provides an expansive Christian vision for surrogacy that bravely probes complex social ethics questions surrounding it. Kao's accessibly articulated and social justice–oriented guidelines offer a roadmap for decision-making that contributes fresh, thought-provoking analysis to feminist reproductive ethics."—Traci C. West, Drew University Theological School, author of Solidarity and Defiant Spirituality"Kao masterfully weaves together personal narrative, exploration of data, and engagement with scholarly sources in an accessible theology of surrogacy that is responsive to its complexities and generous to her interlocutors."—Kendra G. Hotz, Rhodes College, author of Dust and BreathTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. A Primer on Surrogacy: Logistics, Laws, and Trends 2. Does Surrogacy Cause Psychological Harm? 3. Does Surrogacy Violate Distinctive Feminist or Christian Commitments? 4. A Progressive Christian Vision for Surrogacy: Advancing the Argument 5. A Progressive Christian Framework for Surrogacy: Seven Principles 6. Assessing the Ethics of More Complex Surrogacy Arrangements Conclusion

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Book SynopsisDrawing on her own experience as a surrogate mother, Grace Y. Kao assesses the ethics of surrogacy from a feminist and progressive Christian perspective, concluding that certain kinds of surrogacy arrangements can be morally permissible—and should even be embraced. While the use of assisted reproductive technology has brought joy to countless families, surrogacy remains the most controversial path to parenthood. My Body, Their Baby helps readers sort through objections to this way of bringing children into the world. Candidly reflecting on carrying a baby for her childless friends and informed by the reproductive justice framework developed by women of color activists, Kao highlights the importance of experience in feminist methodology and Christian ethics. She shows what surrogacy is like from the perspective of women becoming pregnant for others, parents who have opted for surrogacy (including queer couples), and the surrogate-born children themselves. Developing a constructive framework of ethical norms and principles to guide the formation of surrogacy relationships, Kao ultimately offers a vision for surrogacy that celebrates the reproductive generosity and solidarity displayed through the sharing of traditionally maternal roles.Trade Review"The world needs more scholars like Grace Kao. With thoughtful rigor and deeply human tenderness, she provides a faithful framework for understanding surrogacy. Her cogent, compassionate arguments illuminate a practice that is often consigned to the shadows, and her work shines with creativity, empathy, and care."—Jeff Chu, author of Does Jesus Really Love Me?"Drawing on her own experience both as a surrogate and a Christian theologian, Kao makes a powerful and rigorously argued Christian ethical case for surrogacy. An invaluable resource for parents, pastors, and all concerned with reproduction and its ethical implications."—Susan A. Ross, Loyola University Chicago, author of Anthropology: Seeking Light and Beauty"Kao's descriptions of her experience as a surrogate succeed in bringing the moral arguments for and against surrogacy into sharper focus. This insightful book shows us how narratives shape our moral visions."—Aline Kalbian, Florida State University, author of Sex, Violence, and Justice"This book breaks the ice on Christian feminist reluctance to think about surrogacy. Painstakingly researched and accessibly written, it will not only inspire needed attention to surrogacy but also influence the whole landscape of Christian ethics of reproduction."—Cristina Traina, Fordham University, author of Erotic Attunement"This book provides an expansive Christian vision for surrogacy that bravely probes complex social ethics questions surrounding it. Kao's accessibly articulated and social justice–oriented guidelines offer a roadmap for decision-making that contributes fresh, thought-provoking analysis to feminist reproductive ethics."—Traci C. West, Drew University Theological School, author of Solidarity and Defiant Spirituality"Kao masterfully weaves together personal narrative, exploration of data, and engagement with scholarly sources in an accessible theology of surrogacy that is responsive to its complexities and generous to her interlocutors."—Kendra G. Hotz, Rhodes College, author of Dust and BreathTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. A Primer on Surrogacy: Logistics, Laws, and Trends 2. Does Surrogacy Cause Psychological Harm? 3. Does Surrogacy Violate Distinctive Feminist or Christian Commitments? 4. A Progressive Christian Vision for Surrogacy: Advancing the Argument 5. A Progressive Christian Framework for Surrogacy: Seven Principles 6. Assessing the Ethics of More Complex Surrogacy Arrangements Conclusion

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Book SynopsisWestern Monastic Spirituality presents three authors as individuals, certainly, but also as textual informants who, like road markers, represent a line of the development of a Western monastic spiritual tradition. John Cassian (ca. 360–435) helped bring the wisdom of northern Egyptian ascetical life of the late fourth century to southern France in the early fifth century. Caesarius of Arles (468/470–542), drawing on his own monastic experience and Augustine’s monastic rule, composed a rule for a women’s monastery in the city of Arles. Not many years later, Benedict wrote the most influential rule in Western monasticism, one that still regulates the lives of monks today all over the world. These three texts, when looked at serially and together, offer a theology of monastic spirituality, an example of a relatively short but comprehensive early monastic rule, and a present day Benedictine interpretation of how Benedict’s monastic spirituality can be summed up in a short present day digest of his rule. Reflection on early Western monasticism retrieves some basic Christian spiritual values that should inform life today outside the monastery in a busy, secular culture.Table of ContentsI – Introduction to Western Monasticism | 1 II – The Texts | 21 John Cassian: Conference 1. First Conference on Abba Moses | 23 Caesarius of Arles: The Rule for Nuns | 47 Saint Benedict: Selected Chapters from The Rule of Saint Benedict | 91 III – Retrieving Values from Monastic Spirituality for Active Life in Secular Society Today | 107 Further Reading | 125 About the Series | 127 About the Editors | 133

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Book SynopsisIf Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225, as is commonly thought, then he died before reaching the age of fifty after producing the single most influential systematic theology of the Western Christian tradition. He did this with a formula: He internalized the thought of Aristotle as it was being introduced into western Europe and translated into Latin, and he in turn “translated” Christianity into this Aristotelian language. One can use the principles of hermeneutics outlined in Retrieving the Spiritual Teaching of Jesus of this series to analyze what was going on as Aquinas went through some of the basic doctrines of the Church in his Summa Theologiae. He laid out their contents by answering an exhaustive series of questions and responding to each of them in intricate detail. The model for each question and answer was drawn directly from the pattern of learning at the University of Paris. Although systematic and abstract, it also enabled an extensive conversation with the tradition of classical theologians and his own contemporaries. This may seem quite distant from spiritual life on the ground, but the method produced a clear understanding of the structure of spiritual life in terms of its goal and the means of attaining it. Aquinas’s analysis of grace—how it enabled genuine Christian spirituality, empowered the virtues, and led to eternal life—constitutes a classic substructure of Western Christian spirituality that became all the more distinctive when Reformation spiritualities offered alternatives to it.Table of ContentsI – Introduction to Thomas Aquinas and the Texts | 1 II – The Texts | 21 “On Grace” Summa Theologiae, I–II, Questions 110, 112, 113 & 114............................................................................. 23 “On the Virtues” Summa Theologiae, I–II, Questions 55, 62 & 63...................................................................................... 49 “On Law” Summa Theologiae, I–II, Question 94......................... 75 III – Retrieving Aquinas for Christian Life Today | 89 Further Reading | 105 About the Series | 107 About the Editors | 113

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Book SynopsisMartin Luther (1483–1546) is a classic Christian author who spearheaded the Reformation and whose witness has relevance for life in the present-day world. Grace and Gratitude presents two texts that represent his spirituality. Because Luther wrote so much in so many different genres, the choice of only two texts provides a limited taste of his spirituality. But they open up a specific, central, and distinctive mark of his conception of the structure of Christian life. The name of the theme, justification by grace through faith, often spontaneously correlates with Luther’s name and his theology. The phrase points to a key theological doctrine that centered his thinking; it lay so deeply ingrained in his outlook that it sometimes explicitly but always tacitly shaped all his early theological views and bestowed a distinctive character to his ethics and spirituality. The two texts are chosen to illustrate how the conviction represented by the phrase draws its authority from scripture, especially Paul, and was discursively analyzed in an early foundational work on Christian life, The Freedom of a Christian. These texts do not represent all there is to say about spirituality in Luther’s thought by any means, and this part should not be taken for the whole. But the coupling of these texts penetrates deeply into what may be called Luther’s Christian spirituality of gratitude.Table of ContentsI – Introduction to Luther and the Texts | 1 II – The Texts: Martin Luther on Justification by Grace through Faith | 19 Selection from Luther’s Lectures on Galatians (1535) | 21 Martin Luther: The Freedom of a Christian | 74 III – Grace and Gratitude: Appropriating Luther’s Spirituality Today | 123 Further Reading | 143 About the Series | 145 About the Editors | 151

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Book SynopsisA bold, theoretical, and pragmatic book that looks to soil as a symbol for constructive possibilities for hope and planetary political action in the Anthropocene. Climate change is here. Its ravaging effects will upend our interconnected ecosystems, and yet those effects will play out disproportionately among the planet’s nearly 8 billion human inhabitants. On the Ground explores how one might account for the many paradoxical tensions posed by the Anthropocene: tensions between planetarity and particularity, connectivity and contextuality, entanglement and exclusion. Using the philosophical and theological idea of “ground,” Van Horn argues that ground—when read as earth-ground, as soil—offers a symbol for conceiving of the effects of climate change as collective and yet located, as communal and yet differential. In so doing, he offers critical interventions on theorizations of hope and political action amid the crises of climate change. Drawing on soil science, theopoetics, feminist ethics, poststructuralism, process philosophy, and more, On the Ground asks: In the face of global climate catastrophe, how might one theorize this calamitous experience as shared and yet particular, as interconnected and yet contextual? Might there be a way to conceptualize our interconnected experiences without erasing critical constitutive differences, particularly of social and ecological location? How might these conceptual interventions catalyze pluralistic, anti-racist planetary politics amid the Anthropocene? In short, the book addresses these queries: What philosophical and theological concepts can soil create? How might soil inspire and help re-imagine forms of planetary politics in the midst of climate change? On the Ground thus roots us in a robust theoretical symbol in the hopes of producing and proliferating intersectional responses to climate change.Table of ContentsIntroduction | 1 Interlude: The Differences of Our Soils, the Soils of Our Differences | 15 1. Planting: Ground Is Not Foundation | 18 Interlude: Poetics at the Edge | 42 2. Rooting: Terrestrial Theopoetics of and for the Planetary | 44 Interlude: Mountaintop Removal and the Impossibility of Hope | 62 3. Sprouting: Dark Hope in Undecidable Times | 67 Interlude: Seeds and the Subversive Act of Sowing | 96 4. Blooming: (De)Compositional Planetary Politics | 101 Conclusion | 125 Acknowledgments | 129 Notes | 131 Bibliography | 167 Index | 179

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Book SynopsisA bold, theoretical, and pragmatic book that looks to soil as a symbol for constructive possibilities for hope and planetary political action in the Anthropocene. Climate change is here. Its ravaging effects will upend our interconnected ecosystems, and yet those effects will play out disproportionately among the planet’s nearly 8 billion human inhabitants. On the Ground explores how one might account for the many paradoxical tensions posed by the Anthropocene: tensions between planetarity and particularity, connectivity and contextuality, entanglement and exclusion. Using the philosophical and theological idea of “ground,” Van Horn argues that ground—when read as earth-ground, as soil—offers a symbol for conceiving of the effects of climate change as collective and yet located, as communal and yet differential. In so doing, he offers critical interventions on theorizations of hope and political action amid the crises of climate change. Drawing on soil science, theopoetics, feminist ethics, poststructuralism, process philosophy, and more, On the Ground asks: In the face of global climate catastrophe, how might one theorize this calamitous experience as shared and yet particular, as interconnected and yet contextual? Might there be a way to conceptualize our interconnected experiences without erasing critical constitutive differences, particularly of social and ecological location? How might these conceptual interventions catalyze pluralistic, anti-racist planetary politics amid the Anthropocene? In short, the book addresses these queries: What philosophical and theological concepts can soil create? How might soil inspire and help re-imagine forms of planetary politics in the midst of climate change? On the Ground thus roots us in a robust theoretical symbol in the hopes of producing and proliferating intersectional responses to climate change.Table of ContentsIntroduction | 1 Interlude: The Differences of Our Soils, the Soils of Our Differences | 15 1. Planting: Ground Is Not Foundation | 18 Interlude: Poetics at the Edge | 42 2. Rooting: Terrestrial Theopoetics of and for the Planetary | 44 Interlude: Mountaintop Removal and the Impossibility of Hope | 62 3. Sprouting: Dark Hope in Undecidable Times | 67 Interlude: Seeds and the Subversive Act of Sowing | 96 4. Blooming: (De)Compositional Planetary Politics | 101 Conclusion | 125 Acknowledgments | 129 Notes | 131 Bibliography | 167 Index | 179

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Book SynopsisFor a long time, Christians have tried to bridge the divide between Christianity and secular liberalism with philosophizing and theologizing. In The Priority of Christ, Bishop Robert Barron shows that the answer to this debate--and the way to move forward--lies in Jesus. Barron transcends the usual liberal/conservative or Protestant/Catholic divides with a postliberal Catholicism that brings the focus back on Jesus as revealed in the New Testament narratives. Barron's classical Catholic post-liberalism will be of interest to a broad audience including not only the academic community but also preachers and general readers interested in entering the dialogue between Catholicism and postliberalism.

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Book Synopsis"Every good giving and every perfect gift is from on high, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17). This verse conveys a powerful image of God as the source and referent of all beauty. This book demonstrates how the experience of beauty is related to our inherent longing for the God who is reflected in such moments. Richly informed by Junius Johnson's expertise on Bonaventure and von Balthasar, the book offers a robust, full-orbed theology of beauty, showing how it has functioned as a theological concept from biblical times to the present day.Table of ContentsContentsIntroductionPart 1: The Encounter with Beauty1. Eternity in Our Hearts: Memory, Beauty, and Divinity2. The Eyes of Faith: Contuition and Spiritual Vision3. Beauty and AnalogyPart 2: The Meaning of Beauty4. Word and Concept: The Nature of Language5. Concept Squared: The Nature of Metaphor6. Res and Concept: Things as Signs7. Res Sacramenti: The Nature of Sacraments8. Radiant Res: Icons and EcstasyPostscriptIndex

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Book SynopsisThis brief but comprehensive introduction to Christian worldview helps readers understand the Christian faith as the substance of Spirit-filled living and as a knowledge tradition stemming from the global Pentecostal movement. Using beauty, truth, and goodness as organizing principles, the authors delineate a Christian worldview by tracing each category historically, comparing and contrasting each with alternative Christian expressions, and constructing fresh takes on each as read through the lived Pentecostal experience. Unlike other worldview books, the authors' approach emphasizes beauty (relating to experience) rather than truth (involving knowledge acquisition); that difference in emphasis flows naturally from the Pentecostal perspective, which has traditionally centered the experience of the Spirit. Pentecostal Christians will find this volume indispensable for thinking lucidly about their worldview from a renewal perspective.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Seeking Renewal amid Competing WorldviewsPart 1: Renewing Beauty1. Aesthetic Formation: How Perceptions Shape Us2. A Historical Survey of Beauty and Aesthetics3. Contemporary Christian Aesthetics: Begbie, Balthasar, and Hart4. A Renewal Perspective on Beauty, Aesthetics, and Embodied SpiritualityPart 2: Renewing Goodness5. Civic Engagement: How to Be Salt and Light in the World6. A Historical Survey of Goodness and Ethics7. Contemporary Christian Ethics: Niebuhr, MacIntyre, and Hauerwas8. A Renewal Perspective on Goodness, Ethics, and Civic EngagementPart 3: Renewing Truth9. Cultural Apologetics: How to Speak Truth to Culture10. A Historical Survey of Truth and Knowledge11. Contemporary Christian Epistemologies: Plantinga, Zagzebski, and Lindbeck12. A Renewal Perspective on Truth, Epistemology, and Holistic KnowledgeEpilogue: Living Renewed in a Pluralistic WorldIndex

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Book SynopsisCreation is a foundational pillar of the biblical storyline, yet it plays little role in contemporary evangelical ethics. Seeking to correct this oversight, Dennis Hollinger employs the creation story and creation themes throughout Scripture as a foundation for Christian ethics. After demonstrating why creation is theologically significant and important for Christian ethics, Hollinger develops major creation paradigms that provide ethical guidance on a wide range of issues, including money, sex, power, racism, creation care, social institutions, and artificial intelligence, among many others. Creation and Christian Ethics shows throughout that the triune God creates from love, and in that creation are moral designs for humanity's journey in God's world. Professors and students of Christian ethics will find this a valuable resource for the classroom, while pastors and church leaders will benefit from personal and small-group study.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Why Creation for Ethics?1. In the Beginning God: A Loving, Designing, Self-Disclosing Maker2. It's a Good World After All: Money, Sex, and Power3. Made in the Image of God: Human Dignity in All Humans and the Whole of Human Life4. Creation Care: Stewarding God's Good Creation5. Created for Relationship (1): Sexuality, Marriage, Sex, and Family6. Created for Relationship (2): Major Institutions of Society7. Created to Work: Connecting Sunday to Monday8. Sabbath: God Institutes a Rhythm of Life for Worship, Self-Care, and Justice9. Limited and Dependent: The Ethics of Human Finitude10. Embodied Souls or Ensouled Bodies: The Meaning and Implications of Being Whole BeingsConclusion: Living Out a Creation Ethic in a Pluralistic, Complex, Fallen WorldIndexes

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Book SynopsisCommitted Christians may respond differently to gay and lesbian Christians. How can we engage those with whom we might disagree and navigate our journey together in a way that nurtures unity, hospitality, humility, and justice? Through her extensive experience in ministering to gay and lesbian Christians, Wendy VanderWal-Gritter has come to believe we need a new paradigm for how the church engages those in the sexual minority. She encourages generous spaciousness, a hope-filled, relational way forward for those in turmoil regarding a response to gay and lesbian Christians. This book offers a framework for discussing diversity in a gracious way, showing that the church can be a place that welcomes a variety of perspectives on the complex matter of human sexuality. It also offers practical advice for implementing generous spaciousness in churches and organizations.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction: An Unpredictable Adventure1. Reevaluating Evangelical Ex-gay Ministry2. Of Doubt, Tension, and Anxiety3. The Power of Stories4. A Complex Spectrum: Views of Same-sex Sexuality5. Coming Out and the Church6. The Journey of Discipleship7. Understanding Holistic Sexuality8. Our Image of God9. The Role of Scripture10. The Challenge of Interpretation11. A Disputable Matter?12. Engaging the Church13. A Word for Pastors and Leaders14. A Word to Gay Christians15. A Word to Would-be Gay Advocates in the ChurchConcluding Thoughts: Living Into Incarnational Postures

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Book SynopsisWith so many people around the globe migrating, how should Christians and the church respond? Leading Latino-American biblical scholar M. Daniel Carroll R. (Rodas) helps readers understand what the Bible says about immigration, offering accessible, nuanced, and sympathetic guidance for the church. After two successful editions of Christians at the Border, and having talked and written about immigration over the past decade, Carroll has sharpened his focus and refined his argument to make sure we hear clearly what the Bible says about one of the most pressing issues of our day. He has reworked the biblical material, adding insights and broadening the frame of reference beyond the US. As Carroll explores the surprising amount of material in the Old and New Testaments that deals with migration, he shows how this topic is fundamental to the message of the Bible and how it affects our understanding of God and the mission of the church.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction1. "My Father Was a Wandering Aramean": Stories of Migration in the Old TestamentThe Image of GodExperiences of the People of GodConclusion2. "You Are to Love Those Who Are Foreigners": Old Testament Law and the SojournerHospitality in the Ancient WorldLegislation concerning the SojournerConclusion3. Entertaining Angels Unawares: Hospitality for the Stranger in the New TestamentLearning from JesusChristians as SojournersThe Call to HospitalityWhat about Romans 13?ConclusionEpilogue: The Scriptures and the FutureIndexes

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Book SynopsisThis study provides a new critical assessment of Jean Daniélou's classic rendition of the theme of "spiritual sensation" in the work of Gregory of Nyssa, arguing that it has surprising wider relevance for such pressing contemporary cultural problems as racism, sexism and addiction to pornography.

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Book SynopsisWhat does it mean to say Jesus is Lord? The late Anglican pastor John Stott--named as one of the 100 most influential people in 2005 by Time magazine-was committed to the notion that Jesus' lordship has ramifications for all of life. Out of this conviction grew his contention that the whole mission of God includes both evangelism and social action. Christ the Cornerstone recovers several decades of his writings exploring the consequences of Jesus' lordship from the pages of Christianity Today, including the regular "Cornerstone" column he wrote from 1977-1981. In them, he treats such diverse topics as Scripture, discipleship, the worldwide mission of the church, and social concerns such as the value of human life, care for animals, racial diversity, and economic inequality. Gain insight for today from the writings of a guiding light of evangelicalism.

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Book SynopsisProjecting a global interdisciplinary vision, this insightful book develops a peer-to-peer learning methodology to facilitate reconciling religion and human rights, both in multilateral contexts and at the national level. Written by leading human rights practitioners, the book illuminates the tension zones between religion and rights, exploring how the ‘faith’ elements in both disciplines can create synergies for protecting equal human dignity.Ibrahim Salama and Michael Wiener analyse the place of religion in multilateral practice, including lessons learned from the ‘Faith for Rights’ framework. Based on the jurisprudence of international human rights mechanisms, the book clarifies ambiguities of human rights law on religion. It also unpacks the potential positive role of non-State actors in the religious sphere, demonstrating that the relationship between religion and human rights is not a zero-sum game. Ultimately, the book empowers actors on both sides of the ideological fence between religion and human rights to deconstruct this artificial, politically instrumentalized dichotomy.This innovative book will be a vital resource for faith-based actors, human rights defenders and policymakers working at the intersection between religion, culture and human rights. With the co-authors’ commentary on the #Faith4Rights toolkit, it will also be invaluable for peer-to-peer learning facilitators, scholars and students of human rights law, public international law and religious studies.Trade Review‘This book gives a carefully considered account of seeking to bring about sustainable human rights change in a particularly polarised space, inverting the contention around religion and human rights to set out an approach for the positive role of faith-based actors in advancing human rights.’ -- Nazila Ghanea, University of Oxford, UK‘The foundational concept of an "inherent dignity ... of all members of the human family" (1948 UDHR) deeply resonates in various religious and philosophical teachings. Ibrahim Salama and Michael Wiener demonstrate how we can effectively benefit from faith traditions in today's fight for universal rights across boundaries. A book both profound and highly practical!’ -- Heiner Bielefeldt, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany and former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief‘This book offers a holistic approach to the relationship between religion and human rights. Holistic is an often overused, and at times, misleading adjective. This is not the case with this book. It offers solutions without undermining inherent challenges present in these fields. It explores the relationship between religion and all human rights, not only freedom of religion or belief. It can be a powerful tool for believers, as well as agnostics and atheists. It also provides a framework to equip not only religious leaders but also—as I have repeatedly employed in various situations—judges, politicians, and other civil servants who frequently struggle with these issues. While a comprehensive analysis and framework in this area may appear overly ambitious, the authors have vast expertise on the topic and have successfully tested its framework. Therefore, this book is a must-read for anyone working on the intersection of human rights and religion.’ -- Thiago Alves Pinto, University of Oxford, UK‘One of the most authoritative reflections on the linkages between the realms of faith and the imperatives of human rights. This is not only conceptually well-argued, but is a roadmap to human rights, achieved through a model we pioneered for UN outreach with faith actors: peer to peer learning.’ -- Azza Karam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Religions for Peace InternationalTable of ContentsContents: 1. Prologue 2. Introduction: rationale of this book 3. Human rights law approaches to religion: the dancing shadows 4. Facilitating faith for rights 5. Prospects of mutual enhancement 6. Epilogue Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn calling for a renewal of moral theology, the Second Vatican Council also charted a course for the Church’s future. The Decree on Priestly Formation specified the need for “livelier contact with the mystery of Christ and the history of salvation” and called for the discipline to be “more thoroughly nourished by scriptural teaching.” To this can be added the teaching of the Pastoral Constitution on the Church, which found the mystery of the human person disclosed in the person of Christ, and the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church’s recovery of the universal call to holiness. The essays in this volume reflect an effort to explore and respond to these hallmarks of renewal indicated by the Council fathers. They therefore treat topics of theological anthropology, the use of Scripture, and growth in holiness through the pursuit of virtue, and also engage the increasingly important question of the role of Scripture in moral theology. These sources of Catholic moral teaching are brought to bear on a variety of pressing contemporary issues: sexual difference, the relationship of sexual expression to marital commitment, methods of family planning, reproductive technologies, and public moral discussion of abortion. Important figures of this postconciliar renewal—such as Alasdair MacIntyre, Servais Pinckaers, OP, Benedict XVI, and particularly John Paul II—figure prominently in this volume. Drawing on these outstanding thinkers, these essays seek to follow the course of renewal illumined by the Council so as, in the words of Optatum totius, no. 16, “to shed light on the loftiness of the calling of the faithful in Christ and the obligation that is theirs of bearing fruit in charity for the life of the world.”

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