Ethics and Liberation: An IntroductionHaving failed to find a textbook on Christian ethics which met his needs, the author decided to write his own, as clearly and simply as possible. It is not a history of Christian ethics, nor is it primarily concerned to introduce the various types of Christian ethics. Rather, it seeks to answer the question, 'How does one do Christian ethics?' This approach shapes the whole book. Thus it defines the task of ethics as an attempt to discover what we should be and become as individuals and societies. Rather than drawing examples from sexuality, bioethics or personal life it uses examples drawn from experiences of racial, sexual and economic oppression. In so doing it addresses the way in which traditional images of Jesus reinforce racist and sexist ideologies. There is an emphasis on human 'freedom and the role of men and women in transforming history, but persons are understood as fundamentally social beings, inescapably shaped by their communities but ultimately finding their fulfilment in the creation of the good society. Last but not least, the book is fully aware of the pluralistic nature of the world in which we live. Its comprehensiveness and tolerance, combined with wisdom and commitment, make it one of the most distinguished and useful books on the subject to have appeared for some time. |
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action Amerindian attempt basic become behavior Bernard Häring Bible biblical chap Charles Curran Christian ethics Christian realism Christian tradition christology church claim concept concern context create creation culture Dame Press dehumanization deontological discussion economic environment ethical reflection evil existence experience faith framework fundamental humanity God's guidelines Gustavo Gutiérrez Harper and Row human communities human development human needs important individual insights integration issues Jesus Judeo-Christian tradition justice kingdom liberation theology lives loyalties Maryknoll means ment Michael Harrington moral development Moral Theology moralscape nations nature neighbor norms and values nuclear weapons oppressed Orbis ourselves particular Paul Tillich Paulist peace personhood perspective Philadelphia political poor possible potential humanity problems radical recognize reconciliation reform relationship Religion religious requires response Richard Niebuhr Robert McAfee Brown rules salvation sense shape situation society teleological theonomy Thomas Merton tion understanding University vision worldview York