Choosing the Good

P. Hollinger Dennis

Description

An intelligent discussion of the foundations and methods in ethics and ways to apply a Christian worldview to our secular culture.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christian theology

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2002
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781585583379
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Half Title Page
Half Title Page
© 2002 by Dennis P. Hollinger
Published by Baker Academic a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.bakeracademic.com
Ebook edition created
Ebook corrections 02.02.2023
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-5855-8337-9
Chapter 11 is adapted from Dennis Hollinger, “Pluralism and Christian Ethics,” Christian Scholar’s Review 30, no. 2 (winter 2000). Copyright © 2000 by Christian Scholar’s Review. Reprinted by permission.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations identified NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Baker Publishing Group publications use paper produced from sustainable forestry practices and post-consumer waste whenever possible.
C ONTENTS
Cover
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Preface
Introduction: The Moral Life and Christian Ethics
Part 1: The Foundations of Christian Ethics
1. Consequences versus Principles
2. Character or Virtue Ethics
3. A Christian Worldview Foundation for Ethics
Part 2: The Contexts of Christian Ethics
4. Modernity and the Moral Life
5. Postmodernity and the Moral Life
Part 3: Making Ethical Decisions
6. Three Motifs for Making Ethical Decisions
7. The Bible in Ethical Decisions
8. Empirical Judgments in Ethical Decisions
Part 4: Applying Christian Ethics in Culture and Society
9. Christ and Culture
10. Pursuing Justice
11. Pluralism and Christian Ethics
12. Models of Christian Influence
Notes
Back Cover
P REFACE
The complexities of our world often generate cynicism or despair over the possibility of choosing the good in moral decision making. Many assume that the competing moral voices, the multifaceted nature of dilemmas, and the limited human perspective make it impossible to have a clear sense of the good, right, and just in our complex world.
Despite such challenges—and they are real—this book attempts to set forth a broad framework for doing ethics with humility yet confidence. Choosing the Good has two primary objectives: first, to provide a textbook that surveys the essential issues pertinent to understanding the discipline of Christian ethics and reflecting on the moral life; and second, to suggest a particular approach to doing Christian ethics in a complex world. As to the first goal, I have attempted to cover the crucial concepts and issues essential for developing a foundation for ethics, making ethical decisions, and applying moral commitments to a secular, pluralistic world. As to the second goal, I argue in this work that Christian ethics emerges out of a distinctly Christian worldview, and thus we face some significant but not unsurmountable challenges in living and applying such an ethic in a society that typically does not share those worldview assumptions.
The book is structured around four main parts. After an introduction that discusses the nature of the moral life and the discipline of Christian ethics, part 1 examines competing foundational theories in ethics. Every ethical judgment ultimately rests on a larger foundation that essentially guides our thinking as to the nature of the good, the right, the virtuous, and the just. Hence, in this section I set forth and critique the various foundational theories, concluding with my own framework.
Part 2 explores the contexts of Christian ethics, for all ethical commitments and judgments emerge out of particular contexts that give rise to the issues we face, influence the nature of moral reflections, and shape the application of ethical commitments. In particular, this section explores two macro contexts: modernity and postmodernity. Understanding these contexts is important when doing ethics but also for ensuring that we are not co-opted by our context and hence lose a distinctively Christian dimension.
Part 3 then moves to issues inherent in making ethical decisions. First, it explores ways that Christians have historically made decisions and looks at some of the central thinkers throughout Christian history. Second, it examines the use of the Bible in decision making, giving attention to biblical authority in ethics, hermeneutical issues, and the kinds of ethical resources found in Scripture. Finally, this part looks at the role that empirical or factual judgments play in making ethical judgments.
Part 4 turns to applying Christian ethics in culture and society. It looks at the relationship of faith and culture, a crucial issue that influences what we expect of our Christian ethic in society and how we seek to apply this ethic to the sociocultural realities around us. Next it looks at the issue of justice in society, examining the ways in which conceptions of justice influence social ethic outcomes. This section also takes up the challenge of pluralism, asking how an ethic rooted in a particularistic worldview can possibly hope to influence culture and society. Finally, it explores some possible concrete models for carrying out Christian convictions within a complex world.
I am indebted to many people for sharpening and deepening my thinking in ethics and for the writing of this book. First, my thanks to the hundreds of seminary and college students who over the years grappled with me in attempting to think about choosing and applying the good in a complex world. Among these are students in other parts of the world where I taught for short periods: India, Ukraine, and Russia. Second, my thanks to fellow scholars who read and offered feedback on selected chapters: ethicist Stephen Mott, philosopher Caleb Miller, and biblical scholar Boaz Johnson. Third, thanks to my work study assistants at Messiah College who logged hours tracking down footnotes, proofreading chapters, and offering their perspectives and suggestions: Chris Beers, Ryan Rich, and Pat McCullough. Above all, thanks to my daughter Daphne, who meticulously read most of the manuscript, corrected mistakes, and offered thoughtful wisdom through the eyes of a college student. The support and encouragement of my wife, Mary Ann, and our other daughter Naphtali were essential ingredients in bringing this book to fruition. To all of you, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”
I NTRODUCTION T HE M ORAL L IFE AND C HRISTIAN E THICS
Tom and Sarah have been married for eight years and during the past four have experienced the anguish of unsuccessfully trying to start a family. They are both thirty-two years old and are feeling the pinch of time regarding their childbearing efforts. After numerous consultations and attempts at various approaches, they have learned that Tom has a low sperm count. They are now faced with several possibilities. Their doctor at the fertility clinic has laid out the most viable medical option: artificial insemination by a donor. The sperm would come from an anonymous donor, though Tom and Sarah would have a choice concerning the background and characteristics of the donor. The child would be Sarah’s biologically but would have no biological link to Tom.
For several years this couple has been praying for a child, believing that children are a gift from God and part of the divine order of things. Should Tom and Sarah opt for artificial insemination, knowing that the procreation would occur outside their own sexual bond with an anonymous biological father? What is morally right and good in this situation? What is the will of God regarding this technology and their married life together?

The Acme Advertising Agency has just signed a contract with the Jordan Company, a new clothes and cosmetics manufacturer. Jordan wants to capitalize on a lucrative market for new clothes and hair styles: young women in their late teens and early twenties. Their plan for doing so relies on developing a full media advertising campaign, one that will depict “The Awesome Jordan Look.” The campaign will consist primarily of TV ads showing young women with the “Jordan Look” in sexy situations, surrounded by adoring guys.
One of the company’s new “Jordan Look” product lines is a wave-setting lotion called Natural Wave. After several weeks of brainstorming and tests with the product, the Acme team hits upon an idea for a new TV commercial for advertising Natural Wave: While the voice-over (narration) introduces the viewer to Natural Wave, the camera will show a drinking straw being soaked in a bowl of the lotion. Drinking straws curl up when soaked in Natural Wave, and the camera will show this. The commercial will not, however, actually say “Natural Wave will curl your hair just like this straw.” (Afterward, the camera will depict a wavy-haired “Jordan Look” girl with a handsome man at her side.) 1
Michelle is a vice president for personnel at the Jordan Company and has just gotten wind of the proposed advertising strategy and content. Marketing and advertising lie outside her responsibilities within the company, but as a Christian she has attempted to carry out her profession with integrity and high moral standards. She has a sense that the Natural Wave advertisement has gone beyond what the product can actually yield, and she is offended by the sexual overtones of both the