Thomas Massaro
This work deftly mines the best of the Western philosophical and theological tradition as it has grappled with pivotal questions regarding moral agency, trauma and forgiveness. The skillful use of vivid case studies alone makes this an indispensable work for any person of conscience seeking guidance on the perennial project of assessing moral responsibility in a world of great complexity and ambiguity.
From the Publisher
In this distinguished and undeniably important contribution to Christian ethics, Kate Jackson-Meyer convincingly demonstrates that standard philosophical and theological arguments regarding tragic dilemmas—while illuminating—are ultimately inadequate and unconvincing. More importantly, she continually reminds us that behind all of the scholarly arguments are human beings who have suffered greatly because of the situations in which they found themselves and the choices that so often were forced upon them. Here is a theology infused with compassion whose utmost purpose is to help people who are wounded find healing.
Most of us would prefer to turn away from tragedy and avoid moral dilemmas. Perhaps this explains why tragic dilemmas have not received sufficient attention in contemporary Christian ethics, and why this book makes such a helpful and important contribution to the field. With clarity and accessible sophistication, Kate Jackson-Meyer draws upon Augustine, Aquinas, and an array of contemporary sources to develop a framework of analysis that is also deeply grounded in concrete cases and theological insights derived from human experience. This book provides many original insights for scholars, and it would make an excellent text for teaching important issues in fundamental moral theology, such as the relationship between constrained agency and guilt, the role of emotions and experience in moral discernment, and the relationship between intention and foreseeable consequences.
This work deftly mines the best of the Western philosophical and theological tradition as it has grappled with pivotal questions regarding moral agency, trauma and forgiveness. The skillful use of vivid case studies alone makes this an indispensable work for any person of conscience seeking guidance on the perennial project of assessing moral responsibility in a world of great complexity and ambiguity.
Christopher P. Vogt
Most of us would prefer to turn away from tragedy and avoid moral dilemmas. Perhaps this explains why tragic dilemmas have not received sufficient attention in contemporary Christian ethics, and why this book makes such a helpful and important contribution to the field. With clarity and accessible sophistication, Kate Jackson-Meyer draws upon Augustine, Aquinas, and an array of contemporary sources to develop a framework of analysis that is also deeply grounded in concrete cases and theological insights derived from human experience. This book provides many original insights for scholars, and it would make an excellent text for teaching important issues in fundamental moral theology, such as the relationship between constrained agency and guilt, the role of emotions and experience in moral discernment, and the relationship between intention and foreseeable consequences.
Paul J. Wadell
In this distinguished and undeniably important contribution to Christian ethics, Kate Jackson-Meyer convincingly demonstrates that standard philosophical and theological arguments regarding tragic dilemmas—while illuminating—are ultimately inadequate and unconvincing. More importantly, she continually reminds us that behind all of the scholarly arguments are human beings who have suffered greatly because of the situations in which they found themselves and the choices that so often were forced upon them. Here is a theology infused with compassion whose utmost purpose is to help people who are wounded find healing.