Hauerwas Reader

Stanley Hauerwas is Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics in the School of Divinity and Professor of Law at Duke University. In addition to having published over three hundred scholarly articles to date, he is the author or editor of more than thirty books, including Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony, Wilderness Wanderings: Probing Twentieth-Century Theology and Philosophy, and Christians among the Virtues: Theological Conversations with Ancient and Modern Ethics. John Berkman is Assistant Professor of Theology at The Catholic University of America. Michael G. Cartwright is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Indianapolis. Stanley Hauerwas is Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics in the School of Divinity and Professor of Law at Duke University. In addition to having published over three hundred scholarly articles to date, he is the author or editor of more than thirty books, including Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony, Wilderness Wanderings: Probing Twentieth-Century Theology and Philosophy, and Christians among the Virtues: Theological Conversations with Ancient and Modern Ethics. John Berkman is Assistant Professor of Theology at The Catholic University of America. Michael G. Cartwright is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Indianapolis.

“The Hauerwas Reader is of specific importance for the ethical discourses in the European context. Hauerwas forcefully presents a church-oriented social ethics in ways that help to rediscover the critical impact of a forgotten tradition on mainstream protestant ethics. Because of his innovative theological revision of the moral issues in the ethical discourse of our present time, the serious engagement of Hauerwas’s work is a must for European ethicists.”-Hans G. Ulrich, Institut fÜr Systematische Theologie, University Erlangen-Nuernberg “Covering a range of ethical concerns from healthcare to warfare, these essays show again how Stanley Hauerwas brings together Evangelical and Catholic foundations for an ethics based on faith. The articles ring true, which is to say they speak first of Christ and only then of life in Him.”-Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago “For decades now Stanley Hauerwas has been the most eloquent voice proclaiming the morality of particularism and the immorality of universalism. In a liberal culture that voice is heard as both alien and unreasonable, accusations Hauerwas no doubt cherishes.”-Stanley Fish, author of The Trouble with Principle “For many years Stanley Hauerwas has been lobbing peaceable bombs into the moral theologians’ playground, awakening them from their undogmatic slumbers to the importance of truthful action. The best of these bombs are here, in a wonderful arsenal of Hauerwas’s essays. Beware! Hauerwas is always challenging, provocative, illuminating, exasperating, disturbing, and fresh.”-Duncan Forrester, New College, The University of Edinburgh “If Kierkegaard knew Hauerwas, he would have seen that it is possible, after all, for one person to be a close friend of Jesus and of Socrates‚ at the same time. On behalf of all of us in the Abrahamite traditions, Hauerwas cracks open modern society’s lazy moral speech and lets us see, lying neglected inside it, God’s commanding word. In this way, he helps clear a space in contemporary America for Jews, and I trust Muslims, as well as Christians to narrate their stories of what God wants of us. If you don’t know Hauerwas yet, this fine collection is the way to begin, along with its wonderful introductions and guides to Hauerwas‚ work. If you do know him, well, then, you already know that each reading and re-reading will bring surprises. And blessings.”-Peter Ochs, Bronfman Professor of Modern Judaic Studies, University of Virginia “If you don’t know Hauerwas yet, this fine collection is the way to begin, along with its wonderful introductions and guides to Hauerwas’s work. If you do know him, well, then, you already know that each reading and re-reading will bring surprises. And blessings.”-Peter Ochs, Bronfman Professor of Modern Judaic Studies, University of Virginia “It would be hard to overestimate the value of Stanley Hauerwas’s contributions to theological conversation and religious life in today’s world. Alternately brilliant and exasperating, his work is indispensable in helping us find our way in a dark time. This wonderful reader is the best introduction to Hauerwas currently available.”-Robert N. Bellah, coauthor of Habits of the Heart “Stanley Hauerwas challenges, informs, provokes, and inspires anyone who reflects seriously on faith and life. The Hauerwas Reader is an invitation to accompany one of today’s most provocative and creative thinkers on a transforming theological journey beyond our comfortable idolatries.”-Bishop Kenneth L. Carder, Mississippi Episcopal Area, The United Methodist Church

• List of Abbreviations ixAcknowledgments xiPart I: Editorial Introductions John Berkman, An Introduction to The Hauerwas Reader 3William Cavanaugh, Stan the Man: A Thoroughly Biased Account of a completely Unobjective Person 17Part II: Reframing Theological Ethics Who Are Christians? The Christian Story 1. How "Christian Ethics" Came to Be (1997) 372. On Keeping Theological Ethics Theological (1983) 513. A Retrospective Assessment of an "Ethics of Character": The Development of Hauerwas's Theological Project (1985, 2001) 754. Why the "Sectarian Temptation" Is a Misrepresentation: A Response to James Gustafson (1988) 905. Reforming Christian Social Ethics: Ten Theses (1981) 1116. Jesus and the Social Embodiment of the Peaceable Kingdom (1983) 1167. The Church as God's New Language (1986) 142What Are Christians to Be? Christian Discipleship 8. Vision, Stories, and Character (1973, 2001) 1659. A Story-Formed Community: Reflections on Watership Down (1981) 17110. Self-Deception and Autobiography: Reflections on Speer's Inside the Third Reich, with David B. Burrell (1974) 20011. Character, Narrative, and Growth in the Christian Life (1980) 22112. The Interpretation of Scripture: Why Discipleship is Required (1993) 25513. Casuistry in Context: The Need for Tradition (1995) 267How Are Christians to Live? Discipleship Exemplified 14. Courage Exemplified, with Charles Pinches (1993) 28715. Why Truthfulness Requires Forgiveness: A Commencement Address for Graduates of a College of the Church of the Second Chance (1992) 30716. Peacemaking: The Virtue of the Church (1985) 31817. Remembering as a Moral Task: The Challenge of the Holocaust (1981) 32718. Practicing Patience: How Christians Should Be Sick, with Charles Pinches (1997) 348Part III: New Intersections in Theological Ethics The Church's Witness: Christian Ethics after "Public Theology" 19. The Servant Community: Christian Social Ethics (1983) 37120. Should War Be Eliminated? A Thought Experiment (1984) 39221. On Being a Church Capable of Addressing a World at War: A Pacifist Response to the United Methodist Bishops' Pastoral In Defense of Creation (1988) 42622. A Christian Critique of Christian America (1986) 45923. Sex in Public: How Adventurous Christians Are Doing It (1978) 48124. The Radical Hope in the Annunciation: Why Both Single and Married Christians Welcome Children (1998) 50525. Why Gays (as a Group) Are Morally Superior to Christians (as a Group) (1993) 51926. Christianity: It's Not a Religion, It's an Adventure (1991) 522The Church's Hospitality: Christian Ethics after "Medical Ethics" 27. Salvation and Health: Why Medicine Needs the Church (1985) 53928. Should Suffering Be Eliminated? What the Retarded Have to Teach Us (1984) 55629. Memory, Community, and the Reasons for Living: Reflections on Suicide and Euthanasia, with Richard Bondi (1976) 57730. Must a Patient Be a Person to Be a Patient? Or, My Uncle Charlie Is Not Much of a Person, But He Is Still My Uncle Charlie (1975) 59631. Abortion, Theologically Understood (1991) 603Michael G. Cartwright, Stanley Hauerwas's Essays in Theological Ethics: A Reader's Guide 623Selected Annotated Bibliography 673Scripture References 699Name Index 701Subject Index 709