Invitation to Christian Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Contemporary Issues (Invitation to Theological Studies Series)
Overview
A comprehensive introduction to Christian ethics addressing today’s most challenging moral issues.
Invitation to Christian Ethics is an indispensable guide for helping pastors, counselors, and everyday Christians navigate today’s difficult moral questions. Readers will benefit from Ken Magnuson’s survey of ethics from a biblical perspective as well as contemporary theories of moral reasoning. This survey is followed by twelve chapters devoted to some of the thorniest issues Christians encounter today, such as:
- Sexuality, including homosexuality, sexual identity, and gender
- Marriage and divorce
- Infertility and assisted reproductive technologies
- Abortion
- Physician-assisted suicide
- Race relations
- Creation care
- Capital punishment
- Just war, pacifism, and the use of lethal force
Magnuson provides biblical insight into each topic and presents key moral considerations. He also answers specific, practical questions that arise and concludes with a summary of his recommended approach to each issue. Readers will learn how to grapple with difficult moral questions and will receive guidance for some of life’s most challenging ethical conundrums.
- Provides biblical insights and key moral considerations
- Addresses common ethical issues and practical questions
- Surveys ethics from a biblical perspective as well as contemporary theories of moral reasoning
Top Highlights
“Note the components of these three perspectives in ethics in this view: the nature and character of God (corresponding to virtue ethics) is the source from which God’s commands are given (corresponding to a form of deontology), and God’s purposes or ends (corresponding to teleology) flow from his character and are indicated by his commands. Likewise, a person’s character (virtue ethics) provides the foundation for keeping God’s commands (deontology), which work together to fulfill the purposes for which human beings are created (teleology).” (Page 45)
“Deontology rightly draws attention to moral acts that are grounded in moral principles. Virtue ethics rightly draws attention to moral agents, and to the communities to which they belong, and the narratives—and grand narrative—that provide the context or story of the moral life. Teleology rightly draws attention to the end or purpose of our lives, which orders and provides meaning for both acts and agents.” (Page 43)
“What consequentialists have in common is that they believe ethics should be oriented to the results or consequences of our actions.” (Page 26)
“First, properly understood, ethics is a central concern of Scripture, from beginning to end.” (Page 16)
“Third, it is worth thinking about ethics in order to improve our moral reasoning.” (Page 17)
- Title: Invitation to Christian Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Contemporary Issues
- Author: Ken Magnuson
- Series: Invitation to Theological Studies Series
- Publisher: Kregel
- Print Publication Date: 2020
- Logos Release Date: 2020
- Pages: 543
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Christian ethics
- ISBNs: 9780825434457, 0825434459
- Resource ID: LLS:NVTTNCHRSTNETHCS
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-11T16:26:44Z
Ken Magnuson is professor of Christian ethics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
