Publisher's Synopsis
The Death Penalty, Environmentalism, Public Reason, Voting, Abortion. Where does Christian faith belong in discussions about these issues? In Taking Christian Moral Thought Seriously, editor Jeremy A. Evans establishes that separation of church and state is not a principle of the United States Constitution (or any other founding document). Thus, there should be a social interest in not hindering any religious person's full participation in the American marketplace of ideas. As such, Evans addresses readers from both the Christian and non-Christian communities through the related scholarship here, knowing either side's failure to consider one's well-prepared thoughts in science, politics, and education undermines the very idea of seeking the truth.Topics include: * The death penalty * John Rawls' theory of public reason* Whether or not a non-voting stance is permissible for Christians* Religious disagreement and its impact on the justification of religious beliefs* How the current models of scientific explanation are not incompatible with religious beliefs* Creation care—what is our responsibility to the environment?* Are theologians and philosophers missing the point on the abortion problem?Acclaim for Taking Christian Moral Thought Seriously:"This is a long-overdue book. Although there are scores of accessible books written by Christian philosophers addressing traditional topics, such as God's existence, the problem of evil, and the miraculous, few have broached the areas of ethics, public reason and science while critically and respectfully engaging the most influential philosophers writing on these subjects. Professor Evans has managed to put together such a book. It is a model of clarity without sacrificing philosophical rigor. It is the sort of book that should be in the hands of any Christian desiring to engage the wider culture in an informed and thoughtful manner."Francis J. BeckwithProfessor of Philosophy and Church-State Studies, Baylor University"This text is a great place to get 'up to speed on aspects of crucial issues that we too seldom ever hear being discussed in evangelical circles."Gary R. HabermasDistinguished Research Professor, Liberty University & Theological Seminary"Taking Christian Moral Thought Seriously truly models what the title itself expresses--a serious-minded, Christianly engagement of important moral and cultural themes. Without exception, each contributor writes with scholarly rigor, insight, and creativity. This book well illustrates how practical, robust, and explanatorily rich the Christian faith is."Paul Copan Professor and Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University.
