The Origins of Christian Morality

The Origins of Christian Morality PDF Author: Wayne A. Meeks
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300065138
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 294

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Book Description
By the time Christianity became a political and cultural force in the Roman Empire, it had come to embody a new moral vision. This wise and eloquent book describes the formative years--from the crucifixion of Jesus to the end of the second century of the common era--when Christian beliefs and practices shaped their unique moral order. Wayne A. Meeks examines the surviving documents from Christianity's beginnings (some of which became the New Testament) and shows that they are largely concerned with the way converts to the movement should behave. Meeks finds that for these Christians, the formation of morals means the formation of community; the documents are addressed not to individuals but to groups, and they have among their primary aims the maintenance and growth of these groups. Meeks paints a picture of the process of socialization that produced the early forms of Christian morality, discussing many factors that made the Christians feel that they were a single and "chosen" people. He describes, for example, the impact of conversion; the rapid spread of Christian household cult-associations in the cities of the Roman Empire; the language of Christian moral discourse as revealed in letters, testaments, and "moral stories"; the rituals, meetings, and institutionalization of charity; the Christians' feelings about celibacy, sex, and gender roles; and their sense of the end-time and final judgment. In each of these areas Meeks seeks to determine what is distinctive about the Christian viewpoint and what is similar to the moral components of Greco-Roman or Jewish thought.

The Sources of Christian Ethics

The Sources of Christian Ethics PDF Author: Servais Pinckaers
Publisher: CUA Press
ISBN: 0813208181
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 512

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Book Description
First published in 1985 as Les sources de la morale chrétienne by University Press Fribourg, this work has been recognized by scholars worldwide as one of the most important books in the field of moral theology

The Moral World of the First Christians

The Moral World of the First Christians PDF Author: Wayne A. Meeks
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
ISBN: 9780664250140
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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Book Description
Describes the social setting of the early Christians, looks at the Greek and Roman ethical traditions, and explains the moral formation of the beginning Christian movement

Christian Ethics: A Very Short Introduction

Christian Ethics: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: D. Stephen Long
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199568863
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 153

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Book Description
This book provides both a short history of Christian ethics and looks at itsbasic sources as they arise from Judaism, Greco-Roman ethics, andChristianity

The Crucible of Christian Morality

The Crucible of Christian Morality PDF Author: J. Ian H. McDonald
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134949928
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
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.

Christianity and the Roots of Morality

Christianity and the Roots of Morality PDF Author:
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004343539
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 325

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Book Description
What is the role of religion, especially Christianity, in morality, pro-social behavior and altruism? Are there innate human moral capacities in the human mind? When and how did they appear in the history of evolution? What is the real significance of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount — does it set up unique moral standards or only crystallize humans’ innate moral intuitions? What is the role of religious teachings and religious communities in pro-social behavior? Christianity and the Roots of Morality: Philosophical, Early Christian, and Empirical Perspectives casts light on these questions through interdisciplinary articles by scholars from social sciences, cognitive science, social psychology, sociology of religion, philosophy, systematic theology, comparative religion and biblical studies. Contributors include: Nancy T. Ammerman, István Czachesz, Grace Davie, Jutta Jokiranta, Simo Knuuttila, Kristen Monroe, Mika Ojakangas, Sami Pihlström, Antti Raunio, Heikki Räisänen (✝), Risto Saarinen, Kari Syreeni, Lauri Thurén, Petri Ylikoski.

From Shame to Sin

From Shame to Sin PDF Author: Kyle Harper
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674074564
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 318

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Book Description
The transformation of the Roman world from polytheistic to Christian is one of the most sweeping ideological changes of premodern history. At the center was sex. Kyle Harper examines how Christianity changed the ethics of sexual behavior from shame to sin, and shows how the roots of modern sexuality are grounded in an ancient religious revolution.

Christian Morality

Christian Morality PDF Author: Russell B. Connors
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 140

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Book Description
Principles of Catholic morality are presented with questions concerning everyday life.A Pastoral Series that offers an in-depth yet accessible understanding of the fundamentals of the Catholic faith for adults, both those active in pastoral ministry and those preparing for ministry. The series helps readers explore the Catholic tradition and apply what they have learned to their lives and ministry situations. Includes study questions and suggestions for further reading.

Christ and the Moral Life

Christ and the Moral Life PDF Author: James M. Gustafson
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 9780226311098
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 292

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Book Description
In this work, originally published in 1968, the distinguished theologian James M. Gustafson asks the fundamental question, "What is the significance of Jesus Christ for the moral life?" His answer is in the form of an ethical map, showing the ways in which theological affirmations about Christ relate to moral life in the writings of a number of important Christian thinkers.

Sexual Morality in a Christless World

Sexual Morality in a Christless World PDF Author: Matthew Rueger
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780758656384
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Like in St. Paul's day, the Church around the world-and particularly in the United States-now frequently faces hostility at the first mention of homosexuality in casual conversations or public-square debates. Author Matthew Rueger openly embraces this hot topic, giving you a framework for defending your beliefs by first exploring the relationship between sexual sin in ancient history and twenty-first-century tangles of the same flavor. Topics such as temptation, promiscuity, marriage, homosexuality, natural law, and the church's role in it all then swirl together to reveal our unifying need for a Savior. Rueger writes compassionately with a father's heart and adamantly with a determination to outline the truth about sexual morality from a reasoned Christian perspective. We need to expect the unpleasant from our opponents, arm ourselves with answers to common objections, and speak in clarity and love. And let's not lose sight of the church as a place of refuge for those who are battered down by their desires. Real people with real struggles are being lost. Find Your Voice. Book jacket.