Blackwell Companion to Christian Ethics

Stanley Hauerwas is Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at the Divinity School, Duke University, North Carolina. He is regarded as a, if not the, leading figure in Christian ethics. His book, A Community of Character: Toward a Constructive Christian Social Ethic, was selected as one of the 100 most important books on religion of the twentieth century. He is one of the most brilliant and original thinkers of his generation. He has written numerous books including: The Peaceable Kingdom (1983), A Community of Character (1981), Resident Aliens (1989), Christians Among the Virtues (1997), Wilderness Wanderings: Probing Twentieth Century Theology (1997), Sanctify Them in the Truth (1998), and With the Grain of the Universe: the Church’s Witness and Natural Theology (2001). Samuel Wells is Priest-in-Charge of St Mark's, Newnham, Cambridge, and a writer in theological ethics. He has published several books, including Transforming Fate into Destiny (1998), Faithfulness and Fortitude (2000), and Improvisation and the Drama of Christian Ethics (2004).

"An important, often insightful and almost always provocative book that would be unwise to ignore." Studies in Christian Ethics"Substantial and significant… the early fruit of an important recent theological turn in theology, towards taking worship as a major source of insight, challenge and guidance… Stanley Hauerwas is probably the most creative, provocative, and exasperating theologian in the English-speaking world. He has enlisted a mighty band of able and argumentative disciples who dominate much theological discussion today, especially in Christian ethics." Times Literary Supplement "Love God and love your neighbour have been the twin commandments in the New Testament from the beginning. Nevertheless, worshipping God and practising neighbourly charity have usually gone in tandem, essential but separate activities. At best, moral theology may come in as a sequel or even appendix to dogmatics. The originality of this book lies in grounding Christian ethics not even in dogmatics but in the liturgy of the eucharist. Wonderfully worked out by the many fine scholars gathered by Hauerwas and Wells, this is a genuinely new turn in the history of Christian experience." Fergus Kerr, Regent, Blackfriars, Oxford “This accessible volume will interest undergraduates and more advanced scholars alike.” Karen Melham, Emory University “The volume offers a salutary reminder that Christian ethics is not simply one among other theoretical enterprises, but rather a sustained and disciplined attempt to understand the deepest dimensions of the Christian life. It rightly observes that Christian worship (at least when done well) is paradigmatic for discipleship and central means of moral information. The best chapters in this Companion communicate a deep sense of the distinctive nature of Christian ethics in a way that benefits us all.” Stephen J. Pope, Boston College "I recommend this work especially for faculty of Christian ethics courses and worship courses at seminaries and church affiliated colleges." Teaching Theology & Religion

• List of Contributors xPreface xiiiPart I Studying Ethics through Worship 11 Christian Ethics as Informed PrayerStanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells 32 The Gift of the Church and the Gifts God Gives ItStanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells 133 Why Christian Ethics Was InventedStanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells 284 How the Church Managed Before There Was EthicsStanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells 39Part II Meeting God and One Another 515 Gathering: Worship, Imagination, and FormationPhilip Kenneson 536 Greeting: Beyond Racial ReconciliationEmmanuel Katongole 687 Naming the Risen Lord: Embodied Discipleship and MasculinityAmy Laura Hall 828 Being Reconciled: Penitence, Punishment, and WorshipJohn Berkman 959 Praising in Song: Beauty and the ArtsKevin J. Vanhoozer 11010 Collecting Praise: Global Culture IndustriesMichael L. Budde 123Part III Re-encountering the Story 13911 Reading the Scriptures: Rehearsing Identity, Practicing CharacterJim Fodor 14112 Listening: Authority and ObedienceScott Bader-Saye 15613 Proclaiming: Naming and DescribingCharles Pinches 16914 Deliberating: Justice and LiberationDaniel M. Bell, Jr 18215 Discerning: Politics and ReconciliationWilliam T. Cavanaugh 19616 Confessing the Faith: Reasoning in TraditionNicholas Adams 209Part IV Being Embodied 22317 Praying: PovertyKelly S. Johnson 22518 Interceding: Giving Grief to ManagementMichael Hanby 23719 Being Baptized: Bodies and AbortionFrederick Christian Bauerschmidt 25020 Becoming One Body: Health Care and CloningM. Therese Lysaught 26321 Becoming One Flesh: Marriage, Remarriage, and SexDavid Matzko McCarthy 27622 Sharing Peace: Discipline and TrustPaul J. Wadell 289Part V Re-enacting the Story 30323 Offering: Treasuring the CreationBen Quash 30524 Participating: Working toward WorshipR. R. Reno 31925 Remembering: Offering our GiftsD. Stephen Long and Tripp York 33226 Invoking: Globalization and PowerTimothy Jarvis Gorringe 34627 Breaking Bread: Peace and WarGerald W. Schlabach 36028 Receiving Communion: Euthanasia, Suicide, and Letting DieCarole Bailey Stoneking 37529 Sharing Communion: Hunger, Food, and Genetically Modified FoodsRobert Song 38830 Eating Together: Friendship and HomosexualityJoel James Shuman 40131 Being Silent: Time in the SpiritMichael S. Northcott 41432 Being Thankful: Parenting the Mentally DisabledHans S. Reinders 42733 Washing Feet: Preparation for ServiceMark Thiessen Nation 441Part VI Being Commissioned 45334 Being Blessed: Wealth, Property, and TheftStephen Fowl 45535 Bearing Fruit: Conception, Children, and the FamilyJoseph L. Mangina 46836 Being Sent: WitnessMichael G. Cartwright 481AfterwordRowan Williams 495Index 499