ABSTRACT

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.

chapter |18 pages

Introduction

The thin line

part |105 pages

Narrating the Christian life

chapter |21 pages

Character and community

or: Why ethics probably isn't what you think

chapter |17 pages

Identifying who(se) we are

What's God got to do with it?

chapter |17 pages

Reading in communion

How stories structure our lives

chapter |18 pages

From story to morality

Proclaiming, inhabiting, and performing

chapter |22 pages

A journey without maps

Professing, praying, and repenting

part |101 pages

Practicing the Christian life

chapter |18 pages

Forgiveness, reconciliation, and nonviolence

Distinctive practices in a fallen world

chapter |21 pages

An offering of souls and bodies

The life of virtue

chapter |19 pages

Calling upon the triune God

The divine formation of Christian virtue

chapter |6 pages

“Those who sing well, pray twice”

Music as a Christian practice

chapter |17 pages

Nourishing the body

Sacrifice, companionship, and abundance

chapter |19 pages

Sent forth into the world

Taking character beyond the community

part |147 pages

Living the Christian life

chapter |28 pages

Monday

Back at the office

chapter |29 pages

Tuesday

At the voting booth

chapter |6 pages

Wednesday

Back to church

chapter |28 pages

Thursday

At the hospital

chapter |28 pages

Friday

Out on the town

chapter |27 pages

Saturday

A walk in the woods