Christian Ethics provides a biblical, historical, philosophical and theological guide to the field of Christian ethics. Prominent theologian David S. Cunningham explores the tradition of ‘virtue ethics’ in this creative and lively text, which includes literary and musical references as well as key contemporary theological texts and figures.
Three parts examine:
- the nature of human action and the people of God as the ‘interpretative community’ within which ethical discourse arises
- the development of a ‘virtue ethics’ approach, and places this in its Christian context
- significant issues in contemporary Christian ethics, including the ethics of business and economics, politics, the environment, medicine and sex.
This is the essential text for students of all ethics courses in theology, religious studies and philosophy.
Part One: Describing the Christian Life 1. Gathering the Community: Why 'Christian Ethics' Isn’t What You Think 2. Identifying Who(se) We Are: What’s God Got to Do With It? 3. Reading in Communion: How Our Stories Structure Our Lives Interlude 1: Why We Sing 4. Proclaiming the Good News: Why You Have To Read the Times 5. Praying for the World: Accepting Our Inadequacies Part Two: Forming the Christian Life 6. Offering Our Selves: Couldn’t I Just Look Up the Rules? 7. Recapitulating the Tradition: Why the Virtues Matter 8. Calling Upon the Spirit: Being Known By Our Fruits Interlude 2: Why We Act 9. Nourishing the Body with the Body: Why Christian Identity Matters 10. Sent Forth Into the World: Now the Real Work Begins Part Three: Enacting the Christian Life 11. Monday Morning, Back on the Job 12. Tuesday Afternoon at the Voting Booth Interlude 3: Wednesday Night: Why We Go Back to Church 13. Thursday at the Hospital — All Day Long 14. Friday Night on the Town 15. Saturday’s Walk in the Woods Conclusion: From the Ethics of Decision to the Ethics of Character
Biography
David S. Cunningham is Professor of Religion and Director of the CrossRoads Project at Hope College, Michigan. He has published widely on the subjects of systematic, doctrinal and philosophical theology and Christian ethics.
