Faithfulness and Fortitude

Dr Mark Thiessen Nation is Director of the London Mennonite Centre. Revd Dr Samuel Wells is Priest-in-Charge of St Elizabeth, Norwich.

'Stanley Hauerwas' provocative, disturbing, yet mischievous perspective on Christian ethics has lent itself to caricature, and produced both disciples and humourless criticism. These thoughtful and constructive essays take engagement with Hauerwas to a new level of maturity. Sympathetically and critically, they think with him rather than in imitation or opposition.' Professor Iain Torrance, University of Aberdeen 'Stanley Hauerwas is famous for telling his students that he doesn't want them to think for themselves, but like him. But what is striking in these essays mostly by British admirers is how much space the distinctive manner of reflection allows for them to pursue their own questions. Is there any help to be had from this most American of all theological critics for thinking about spirituality in the National Health Service, women carers in North East England, regenerating housing estates in Norwich, theology in the European University? On the evidence of this collection: plenty.' Revd Professor Oliver O'Donovan, Christ Church, Oxford

• Introducing HauerwasIntroduction to the Essays Samuel WellsIntroduction to Stanley Hauerwas Mark Theissen Nation: Stanley Hauerwas: Where Would We Be Without Him?Embodying HauerwasIn the University John Milbank: The Conflict of the Faculties: Theology and the Economy of the SciencesIn Mental Health Care Stephen Sykes: Spirituality and Mental SicknessIn War and Peace Mark Theissen Nation: The First Word Christians Have to Say About Violence is 'Church': On Bonhoeffer, Baptists and Becoming a Peace ChurchIn an Urban Estate Samuel Wells: No Abiding Inner City: Towards a New Deal for the ChurchTesting HauerwasSocial Withdrawal Nigel Biggar: Is Stanley Hauerwas a Sectarian?Gender Linda Woodhead: Can Women Love Stanley Hauerwas? Pursuing an Embodied TheologyGood and Evil Duncan Forrester: The Church and the Concentration Camp: Some Reflections on Moral CommunityConversing with HauerwasVirtue Colin Gunton: The Church as a School of Virtue? Human Formation in a Trinitarian FrameworkAbortion Ann Loades: On Abortion: Some Feminist and Theological ReflectionsCinema Gerard Loughlin: Looking: The Ethic of Seeing in Church and CinemaPolitics Enda McDonagh: Prophecy or Politics? The Role of the Churches in SocietyContinuing the ConversationResponse Stanley Hauerwas: Where Would I Be Without Friends?