Christian Ethics: Four Views (Spectrum Multiview Books)
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
The field of Christian ethics is the subject of frequent conversation as Christians seek to understand how to live faithfully within a pluralistic society. The range of ethical systems and moral philosophies available can be confusing to people seeking clarity about what the different theories mean for everyday life.
Christian Ethics: Four Views presents a dialogue between four main approaches to ethics in the Christian tradition. Virtue ethics focuses less on the action itself and more on the virtuous character of the moral agent. A divine command approach looks instead at whether an action has been commanded by God, in which case it is morally right. Natural law ethics argues for a universal, objective morality grounded in nature. Finally, prophetic ethics judges what is morally right in light of a biblical understanding of divine justice and shalom.
Top Highlights
“Natural law theory believes that moral precepts exist independently of our judgments, are binding on all people, and are knowable by reason. Indeed, natural law’s Christian proponents say that moral law exists and is accessible, though not perfectly known, even prior to God’s revelation of it through Scripture. Otherwise, why would moral precepts like truth-telling, respect for others, or the right to self-defense be found in every culture?” (Page 13)
“Three of our systems—divine command theory, virtue ethics, and natural law—have been and remain viable options within Christian ethics for centuries.” (Page 4)
“First, prophetic ethics finds its foundation in ecclesiology and mission rather than the divine attributes (divine command theory) or a vision of human flourishing (natural law and virtue ethics). This ecclesial model means that, while the other models find their primary expression in individual ethics (although all are certainly adaptable to a social ethic), the starting point for prophetic ethics is social justice, which is understood to be the visible reflection of the values of God’s kingdom.” (Page 24)
“What is the source of this moral sense? Since ethical beliefs impose demands on us that often run contrary to our desire and behaviors, these obligations seem to originate in some external authority. But what is this authority?” (Page 1)
“They do not simply describe a state of affairs; they go beyond the declarative world of ‘is’ and speak in the language of should and ought.” (Page 1)
- Brad J. Kallenberg: Virtue Ethics
- John Hare: Divine Command Ethics
- Claire Peterson: Natural Law Ethics
- Peter Heltzel: Prophetic Ethics