The Crucible of Christian Morality

ISBN-13: 9780415118590 / Angielski / Miękka / 1998 / 256 str.

J. Ian H. McDonald;J. Ian H. McDonald

Opis

This text explores the notion of Christian ethics and discusses its roots, its significance in developing moral standards throughout the world, as well as its stability in the modern world. It begins with a study of the ethos of early Christian communities. He pays particular attention to the relation of cosmic vision to moral attitude and authority, noting also the types of moral discourse used. He then traces the roots of these developments to the Old Testament and to the ministry of Jesus. The second half of the book concentrates on selected moral themes, concerned with persons, with communities in societies and with virtue or moral excellence, situating them in the context of ancient cultural developments. The text deploys critical perspectives, in particular, the sociology of knowledge and discourse analysis, and challenges conventional approaches by focusing on the ethos of communities rather than isolated documents, to shed light on the nature of Christian morality in its earliest and most formative years.

The Crucible of Christian Morality explores the notion of Christian ethics and discusses its roots in the teachings of Jesus and also Hellenistic philosophy. Its significance in developing moral standards throughout the world and its stability in the modern world.
The Crucible of Christian Morality uses new critical perspectives including:
* the sociology of knowledge
* and discourse analysis.
J. Ian H. McDonald challenges conventional approaches by focusing on the behaviour of early Christian communities rather than their texts to shed new light on the nature of Christian morality in its earliest and most formative years.

Spis treści

Preface; Introduction; Chapter 1 Moral Context; Chapter 2 Moral Interpretation; Chapter 3 Moral Tradition; Chapter 4 Moral Persons; Chapter 5 Morality, Community and Society; Chapter 6 Moral Excellence; Chapter 7 Postscript;

O autorze

Ian McDonald is a Reader in Christian Ethics and New Testament Studies at the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of Biblical Interpretation and Christian Ethics (1993) and Christian Values (1995).