The Divine Imperative: A Study in Christian EthicsOne of the major works of the great German theologian Emil Brunner, The Divine Imperative deals with what we ought to do. People are unconvinced that there is an inviolable moral obligation governing human life because they do not believe that the 'good'can be precisely and clearly known. Haven't some generations called bad what others have called good? Aren't moral standards relative? Doesn't religion lack uniform and practical moral guidance? Brunner discusses the moral confusion we face. He analyses the nature of the Good, showing why the Christian faith as understood by the Protestant Reformers provides the only true approach and answer to the ethical problem. Philosophical ethics, whether ancient or modern, cannot correctly define the Good, becausethe Good is regarded either as too abstract and absolute or as too concrete and relative. Christianity, by contrast, sees the moral problem as one of responsibility between humans who are created so as to respond to God. He created men for responsive fellowship with Him, establishing orderly ways of acting in the world. Correct understanding of the nature of society, family, state, economic life, is needed to discern one's duty. Because Brunner's analysis is at once fundamental and comprehensive, this book remains a fresh and compelling treatment of the moral problem. It offers a provocative discussion and solution of a perennial human problem. |
Contents
AUTHORS PREFACE TO THE GERMAN EDITION | 13 |
99 | 21 |
Ethics | 34 |
SECTION IITHE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE AND NATURAL | 53 |
XVII | 61 |
39 | 80 |
SECTION 5THE COMMUNITY OF CULTURE | 89 |
Past and Present | 94 |
MARRIAGE | 340 |
SECTION 3THE COMMUNITY OF LABOUR | 384 |
SECTION 4THE COMMUNITY OF THE PEOPLE AND OF | 395 |
The Nature of the State | 440 |
The State in its Relation to the other | 457 |
39 | 483 |
99 | 491 |
XL | 499 |
The New Man as Created and Claimed by | 153 |
99 | 179 |
XIX | 188 |
99 | 198 |
XXI | 208 |
دو | 220 |
39 | 234 |
The Hallowing of the Means by the | 249 |
Autonomy Natural Law and Love | 261 |
INTRODUCTION | 273 |
SECTION ITHE INDIVIDUAL THE COMMUNITY AND | 293 |
33 | 308 |
39 | 314 |
XXX | 330 |
XLII | 517 |
SECTION 6THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH | 523 |
99 | 539 |
Church Order and Church Law | 545 |
Church and State | 552 |
False and True Ecclesiasticism | 562 |
NOTES AND APPENDICES | 569 |
61 | 587 |
THE DIVINE COMMAND | 643 |
Creation | 648 |
SECTION ITHE WILL OF GOD AS THE BASIS AND THE NORM | 687 |
| 721 | |
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Common terms and phrases
absolute abstract abstract law action actual Aristotle asceticism become believer called Calvin casuistry Catholic certainly CHAPTER character Christ Christian anthropology Christian ethic Church claims co-operation conception concerned concrete connexion conscience created creation Creator culture culture Kultur definite demand Divine Command doctrine duty economic order economic system element eudaemonism evil existence fact faith fundamental God's historical Holy human idea ideal individual instance justice kind Kingdom of God Law of Nature legalistic living Luther Lutheran marriage means merely monogamy moral Natural Law neighbour never NOTE obedience OETTINGEN Original Sin particular perceive person philosophy Pietistic point of view possible present principle problem Protestantism question rational reality reason Reformation regarded relation religion responsibility secular sense simply sinful social sphere spirit spite theology theory thing Thou thought true truth unity virtue whole wholly word