Description
Book SynopsisThe Blackwell Companion to Christian Ethics presents a comprehensive and systematic exposition of Christian ethics, seen through the lens of Christian worship.
Trade Review"An important, often insightful and almost always provocative book that would be unwise to ignore."
Studies in Christian Ethics "Substantial and significant… the early fruit of an important recent theological turn in theology, towards taking worship as a major source of insight, challenge and guidance… Stanley Hauerwas is probably the most creative, provocative, and exasperating theologian in the English-speaking world. He has enlisted a mighty band of able and argumentative disciples who dominate much theological discussion today, especially in Christian ethics." Times Literary Supplement
"Love God and love your neighbour have been the twin commandments in the New Testament from the beginning. Nevertheless, worshipping God and practising neighbourly charity have usually gone in tandem, essential but separate activities. At best, moral theology may come in as a sequel or even appendix to dogmatics. The originality of this book lies in grounding Christian ethics not even in dogmatics but in the liturgy of the eucharist. Wonderfully worked out by the many fine scholars gathered by Hauerwas and Wells, this is a genuinely new turn in the history of Christian experience." Fergus Kerr, Regent, Blackfriars, Oxford
“This accessible volume will interest undergraduates and more advanced scholars alike.” Karen Melham, Emory University
“The volume offers a salutary reminder that Christian ethics is not simply one among other theoretical enterprises, but rather a sustained and disciplined attempt to understand the deepest dimensions of the Christian life. It rightly observes that Christian worship (at least when done well) is paradigmatic for discipleship and central means of moral information. The best chapters in this Companion communicate a deep sense of the distinctive nature of Christian ethics in a way that benefits us all.” Stephen J. Pope, Boston College
"I recommend this work especially for faculty of Christian ethics courses and worship courses at seminaries and church affiliated colleges." Teaching Theology & Religion
Table of ContentsList of Contributors x
Preface xiii
Part I Studying Ethics through Worship 1
1 Christian Ethics as Informed Prayer
Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells 3
2 The Gift of the Church and the Gifts God Gives It
Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells 13
3 Why Christian Ethics Was Invented
Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells 28
4 How the Church Managed Before There Was Ethics
Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells 39
Part II Meeting God and One Another 51
5 Gathering: Worship, Imagination, and Formation
Philip Kenneson 53
6 Greeting: Beyond Racial Reconciliation
Emmanuel Katongole 68
7 Naming the Risen Lord: Embodied Discipleship and Masculinity
Amy Laura Hall 82
8 Being Reconciled: Penitence, Punishment, and Worship
John Berkman 95
9 Praising in Song: Beauty and the Arts
Kevin J. Vanhoozer 110
10 Collecting Praise: Global Culture Industries
Michael L. Budde 123
Part III Re-encountering the Story 139
11 Reading the Scriptures: Rehearsing Identity, Practicing Character
Jim Fodor 141
12 Listening: Authority and Obedience
Scott Bader-Saye 156
13 Proclaiming: Naming and Describing
Charles Pinches 169
14 Deliberating: Justice and Liberation
Daniel M. Bell, Jr 182
15 Discerning: Politics and Reconciliation
William T. Cavanaugh 196
16 Confessing the Faith: Reasoning in Tradition
Nicholas Adams 209
Part IV Being Embodied 223
17 Praying: Poverty
Kelly S. Johnson 225
18 Interceding: Giving Grief to Management
Michael Hanby 237
19 Being Baptized: Bodies and Abortion
Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt 250
20 Becoming One Body: Health Care and Cloning
M. Therese Lysaught 263
21 Becoming One Flesh: Marriage, Remarriage, and Sex
David Matzko McCarthy 276
22 Sharing Peace: Discipline and Trust
Paul J. Wadell 289
Part V Re-enacting the Story 303
23 Offering: Treasuring the Creation
Ben Quash 305
24 Participating: Working toward Worship
R. R. Reno 319
25 Remembering: Offering our Gifts
D. Stephen Long and Tripp York 332
26 Invoking: Globalization and Power
Timothy Jarvis Gorringe 346
27 Breaking Bread: Peace and War
Gerald W. Schlabach 360
28 Receiving Communion: Euthanasia, Suicide, and Letting Die
Carole Bailey Stoneking 375
29 Sharing Communion: Hunger, Food, and Genetically Modified Foods
Robert Song 388
30 Eating Together: Friendship and Homosexuality
Joel James Shuman 401
31 Being Silent: Time in the Spirit
Michael S. Northcott 414
32 Being Thankful: Parenting the Mentally Disabled
Hans S. Reinders 427
33 Washing Feet: Preparation for Service
Mark Thiessen Nation 441
Part VI Being Commissioned 453
34 Being Blessed: Wealth, Property, and Theft
Stephen Fowl 455
35 Bearing Fruit: Conception, Children, and the Family
Joseph L. Mangina 468
36 Being Sent: Witness
Michael G. Cartwright 481
Afterword
Rowan Williams 495
Index 499
