From Christ to the World: Introductory Readings in Christian Ethics

by Wayne G. Boulton, Thomas D. Kennedy, Allen Verhey

Overview

This is a single volume that effectively introduces students to the full breadth of the discipline of Christian ethics. This reader captures the range of timely issues related to ethics but not at the expense of essays that show the theoretical foundations of the field. Part One examines the sources of Christian Ethics—Scripture, tradition, philosophy, and science. The norms, forms, and contexts of Christian moral theories are reviewed in Part Two. The final section discusses contemporary questions about human sexuality, medical practice, the use of force, economic justice, ecological responsibility, and more. Relevant biblical readings and a series of case studies accentuate the text.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802806406
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	12/29/1994
Pages:	552
Product dimensions:	7.44(w) x 9.69(h) x 1.11(d)

About the Author

Pastor and head of staff at Roland Park Presbyterian Churchin Baltimore, Maryland.


Thomas D. Kennedy is dean and professor of philosophy atBerry College, Mount Berry, Georgia.


 
Allen Verhey (1945-2014) was Robert Earl Cushman Professor of Christian Theology at Duke Divinity School.

Table of Contents

1. An Introduction to Christian Ethics

Understanding Ethics
Understanding Christian Ethics
The Diversity of Christian Ethics
The Complexity of Christian Ethics


Try It Yourself: Holy Unions (I)

I. SOURCES OF CHRISTIAN ETHICS

2. Scripture and Christian Ethics

1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
2.Biblical Ethics Allen Verhey
3.Ways of Using ScriptureJames M. Gustafson
4.Scripture and the Love of God St. Augustine
5.Social Ideas in the New Testament Walter Rauschenbusch
6.Biblical Imperatives Richard J. Mouw
7.The Moral Authority of Scripture Stanley Hauerwas
8.Feminist Consciousness and the Interpretation of Scripture Margaret A. Farley
9.Biblical Revelation and Social Existence James Cone

3. Tradition and Christian Ethics

10.Mark 7:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 2:15
11.Tradition in EthicsJeffrey Stout
12.The Transmission of Divine Revelation Vatican II
13.Community Experience as a Source of Christian Ethics James Tunstead Burtchaell
14.What It Means to Stand in a Living Tradition Douglas F. Ottati
15.Feminist Interpretation: A Method of Correlation Rosemary Radford Ruether
16.The Authority of Tradition John Howard Yoder

4. Philosophy and Christian Ethics

17.Romans 1:18-25; 2:14-16; Colossians 2:8-15 18.Excerpts from the Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle
19.Excerpts from Summa Contra Gentiles and Summa Theologica St. Thomas Aquinas
20.Conscience and Truth Pope John Paul II
21.Moral Justification Richard J. Mouw
22.A Historical Example: The Challenge of the "Fools for Christ" Christos Yannaras
23.On Keeping Theological Ethics Theological Stanley Hauerwas

5. Science and Christian Ethics

24.Job 28:9-14, 23-28
25.Excerpt from Humanae Vitae Pope Paul VI
26.Scientific Humanism and Religion Edward O. Wilson
27.The Abolition of Man C. S. Lewis
28.The Relationship of Empirical Science to Moral Thought James M. Gustafson
29.A Different Voice in Moral Decisions Carol Gilligan
30.Using Empirical InformationLisa Sowle Cahill


Try It Yourself: Holy Unions (II)

II. FEATURES OF CHRISTIAN ETHICS

6. The Forms of Christian Ethics

31.Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 5:1-11, 17-48; Galatians 2:15-21
32.Treatise on Christian Liberty Martin Luther
33.The Meaning of Responsibility H. Richard Niebuhr
34.Three Approaches Joseph Fletcher
35.The Problem of Protestant Ethics Today Paul Ramsey
36.Values, Victims, and Visions James Gaffney
37.From Decision to Story James W. McClendon, Jr.
38.A Framework for Feminist Ethics Carol S. Robb

7. The Norms of Christian Ethics

39.Micah 6:6-8; Luke 10:25-37; 1 Corinthians 13
40.Excerpts from The City of God and The Morals of the Catholic Church St. Augustine
41.The Cardinal Virtues Kenneth E. Kirk
42.The Relevance of an Impossible Ethical Ideal Reinhold Niebuhr
43.Ethical Principles of Moral Action Paul J. Tillich
44.For Justice in Shalom Nicholas Wolterstorff
45.Implications for a Theory of Justice Karen Lebacqz
46.Justice and Christian Charity Gordon Graham
47.Friendship and FidelityGilbert Meilaender
48.To Bear Wrongs Patiently Sidney Cornelia Callahan

8. The Contexts of Christian Ethics

49.1 John 2:15-17; 4:1-7; Romans 13:1-7
50.On the Insufficiency of Human Strength Tito Colliander
51.Excerpts from the Schleitheim Confession of Faith The Swiss Brethren
52.The Riddle of Romans 13Wayne G. Boulton
53.The Civilization of the Pluralist Society John Courtney Murray
54.Spirituality and the Corporation Max L. Stackhouse
55.The Meaning of the Cross for Social Ethics in the World Today Larry Rasmussen


Try It Yourself: Holy Unions (III)

III. ISSUES IN CHRISTIAN ETHICS

9. Christian Sexual Ethics

56.1 Corinthians 6:9-7:16; 7:25-38; Ephesians 5:21-33
57.An Ethic of Marriage and FamilyVigen Guroian
58.Misogyny and Homophobia: The Unexplored ConnectionsBeverly W. Harrison
59.Excerpts from Personal Commitments Margaret A. Farley
60.Respect for Covenant Lewis Smedes
61.The Liberal Approach to Sexual Ethics James Nelson
62.Excerpt from Limited EngagementsPhilip W. Turner III


Try It Yourself: A Case of Premarital Sex

10. Christian Medical Ethics

63.2 Chronicles 16:12; Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach 38:1-15; Luke 7:19-23
64.Religion and the Secularization of Bioethics Daniel Callahan
65.Can Theology Have a Role in "Public" Bioethical Discourse? Lisa Sowle Cahill
66.Salvation and Health: Why Medicine Needs the ChurchStanley Hauerwas
67.Surrogate Motherhood Janet Dickey McDowell
68.Praying with Dirty Hands Allen Verhey
69.The Distinction between Killing and Allowing to Die Gilbert Meilaender


Try It Yourself: The Death Machine

11. Christian Political Ethics

70.Psalm 44:1-5, 9-12, 23-26; Matthew 5:38-48
71.The Murmurings: Slaves in the Wilderness Michael Walzer
72.The Grace of Doing Nothing H. Richard Niebuhr
73.Must We Do Nothing?Reinhold Niebuhr
74.The Only Way into the Kingdom of God H. Richard Niebuhr
75.Letter from Birmingham JailMartin Luther King, Jr.
76.Can War Be Just? Thomas Kennedy
77.The Nonviolence of Dorothy Day Kathleen De Sutter Jordan


Try It Yourself: Nonviolence with a Rapist?

12. Christian Economic Ethics

78.Amos 5:11-24; Matthew 19:16-30; 25:31-46
79.The Rich Man's Salvation Clement of Alexandria
80.On Usury John Calvin
81.The Case of Christianity against CapitalismWalter Rauschenbusch
82.The Law of Love in Politics and Economics Reinhold Niebuhr
83.Private Property and the Universal Destination of Material Goods Pope John Paul II
84.Key Themes of Liberation Theology Leonardo Boff and Clodovis Boff


Try It Yourself: Can Capitalism Be Saved?

85.A Postcommunist Manifesto Max L. Stackhouse and Dennis P. McCann
86.Responses to "A Postcommunist Manifesto": Ethics, Economics, and the Corporate Life Robert Benne and Preston N. Williams

13. Christian Environmental Ethics

87.Genesis 1:26-31; Hosea 4:1-3; Romans 8:18-24a
88."The Canticle of Brother Sun" and "How St. Francis Tamed the Very Fierce Wolf of Gubbio" St. Francis
89.Acting Responsibly with Respect to Animals and Plants Karl Barth
90.God and the World Sallie McFague
91.On Slaying the Dragon: The American Nature Myth William F. May
92.God and CountryWendell Berry


Try It Yourself: The Spotted Owl

Editorial Reviews

"The editors of this collection of introductory readings in Christian ethics have performed a great service to teachers by producing this collection. From Christ to the World is among the best collections of readings on Christian Ethics available today at an affordable cost."

Currents in Theology & Mission

Will no doubt be welcomed eagerly by all who face a class in Christian Ethics 101.

First Things

An amazing anthology.

Librarian's World