Recognized as a leading theological ethicist, Stanley Hauerwas applies his theory of the narrative formation of Christian character to the field of social ethics. He advances his ideas by showing why any consideration cannot be divorced from the kind of community the church is and should be. He also challenges the dominant assumption of contemporary Christian social ethics that there is a special relation between Christianity and some form of liberal democratic social system.
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"Hauerwas’s narrative ethical enterprise engages the reader with its scholarly creativity, practical wisdom, and profound conviction." -- Journal of the American Academy of Religion, December 1982
"Significant and intellectually exciting . . . every teacher of Christian ethics should be familiar with this landmark." -- Horizons, Vol.9, no.2, Fall 1982
"These essays deserve serious consideration." -- Interpretation, July 1982
"Significant and intellectually exciting . . . every teacher of Christian ethics should be familiar with this landmark." -- Horizons, Vol.9, no.2, Fall 1982
"These essays deserve serious consideration." -- Interpretation, July 1982
About the Author
Stanley Hauerwas is Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke University. He is the author of Vision and Virtue and co-author of Christians Among the Virtues, also published by the University of Notre Dame Press.
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24 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was the first book of Prof. Hauerwas's that I read, and it remains my favorite. It's been over a year since I read it, so many of the details of it are fuzzy in my mind. Nonetheless, I do remember being particularly struck by his statements about marriage, abortion, and the role of the church. Not to mention a lengthy first chapter almost entirely devoted to looking at how "scripture" functions in Richard Adams' _Watership Down_. If you've not read Hauerwas yet, repent, and buy this one. If you've read his other books, still buy this one.
By Daniel Im
Format:Paperback
This is an analytical book review of Stanley Hauerwas' A Community of Character: Toward a Constructive Christian Social Ethic.
Stanley Hauerwas is the Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School and he holds a joint appointment with Duke Law School. Hauerwas' Methodist roots and diverse education and work experience contributes to an ecumenical theological stance that is not liberal (12). In addition to his ecumenicism, he is cross-disciplinary, as "he is in conversation with systematic theology, philosophical theology and ethics, political theory, as well as the philosophy of social science and medical ethics."
The thesis of this book is that Christian morality and ethics can only make sense and be applied to one's life when one is living within the continuing narrative of the Christian story. As a result, Hauerwas frames everything he writes about in this book around the concept of narrative because without narratives, there is a loss of community (18).
This book is essentially divided up into three parts. The first part addresses how every community needs to be rooted in a narrative. For Christians, Jesus and the Kingdom of God is the narrative that forms the church (50). Furthermore, it is the Christian's belief in the authority of Scripture and God that enables the church to be the contrast model/community to a society that does not value authority.
The second part of the book continues to emphasize the importance of narrative in understanding the church since Christians are a "storied people" worshipping a "storied God" (91). Hauerwas claims that Christians need to cultivate hope and patience in their life in order to be a contrast narrative to this world (128). For the Christian to grow in character, it is crucial that he/she learn to participate in the story of the people of God, rather than just hear about it (152).
Consequently, the first two parts set up the theoretical basis for the third part, where he applies the concepts addressed in the first two parts to discuss what kind of ethic the church should have toward the family, sex, and abortion. His discussion is framed around the fact that one cannot separate one's views on the family, sex, and abortion from the greater narrative of the church.
I love the way Hauerwas decides to address the family, sex, and abortion in the last section, since these are the pressing ethical issues that the church needs to be firm on, in order to be a contrast society.
It is fascinating to follow his discussion on the legitimacy of both singleness and marriage as a way of life to honor God. After all, within the church and in many cultures, it almost seems as though something is wrong with an individual if they do not get married. However, Hauerwas emphasizes how singleness and marriage go hand in hand in God's Kingdom. Singleness symbolizes the church's trust that God is the one who is ultimately responsible to build his church, while marriage and procreation symbolizes the church's understanding that building the church will not happen overnight (191). Furthermore, Hauerwas' insistence that narrative be the way to answer the premarital and extramarital sex questions is absolutely genius. Is it a pure or licentious lifestyle that will best prepare the Christian to live out and serve in the narrative of the church? (194). Reframing the sex questions in that light will help me as I counsel singles and marrieds in the area of sexuality. Furthermore, since I oversee the groups ministry in my church, my newfound understanding of the complementary nature of both singleness and marriage in the Kingdom of God will profoundly affect the way I counsel and lead both singles and marrieds.
Although I agree with Hauerwas' approach on the family and sex, I disagree with his view on abortion. I believe that abortion is never "morally permissible" (197), even in the direst circumstances, like conception resulting from rape. God is sovereign, even over the most tragic circumstances, and I believe that nothing is out of God's ability to restore and redeem. Although Hauerwas makes that statement, the rest of his discussion on abortion is actually enlightening. I love the way he suggests that the woman carrying a child resulting from rape should view the child as another human being in distress, rather than as a parent to a child (205). He also suggests that one should concentrate on providing a reason why one "should hope it is a child," instead of trying to figure out if "the fetus is or is not a `person'" (229). When one reframes these situations, I believe that more of a rational decision can be made in regards to the life of the child. Knowing that I will face situations where individuals will be contemplating abortion, I will definitely be making use of Hauerwas' suggestions to reframe these situations.
So all in all, I give this book a four out five.
Stanley Hauerwas is the Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School and he holds a joint appointment with Duke Law School. Hauerwas' Methodist roots and diverse education and work experience contributes to an ecumenical theological stance that is not liberal (12). In addition to his ecumenicism, he is cross-disciplinary, as "he is in conversation with systematic theology, philosophical theology and ethics, political theory, as well as the philosophy of social science and medical ethics."
The thesis of this book is that Christian morality and ethics can only make sense and be applied to one's life when one is living within the continuing narrative of the Christian story. As a result, Hauerwas frames everything he writes about in this book around the concept of narrative because without narratives, there is a loss of community (18).
This book is essentially divided up into three parts. The first part addresses how every community needs to be rooted in a narrative. For Christians, Jesus and the Kingdom of God is the narrative that forms the church (50). Furthermore, it is the Christian's belief in the authority of Scripture and God that enables the church to be the contrast model/community to a society that does not value authority.
The second part of the book continues to emphasize the importance of narrative in understanding the church since Christians are a "storied people" worshipping a "storied God" (91). Hauerwas claims that Christians need to cultivate hope and patience in their life in order to be a contrast narrative to this world (128). For the Christian to grow in character, it is crucial that he/she learn to participate in the story of the people of God, rather than just hear about it (152).
Consequently, the first two parts set up the theoretical basis for the third part, where he applies the concepts addressed in the first two parts to discuss what kind of ethic the church should have toward the family, sex, and abortion. His discussion is framed around the fact that one cannot separate one's views on the family, sex, and abortion from the greater narrative of the church.
I love the way Hauerwas decides to address the family, sex, and abortion in the last section, since these are the pressing ethical issues that the church needs to be firm on, in order to be a contrast society.
It is fascinating to follow his discussion on the legitimacy of both singleness and marriage as a way of life to honor God. After all, within the church and in many cultures, it almost seems as though something is wrong with an individual if they do not get married. However, Hauerwas emphasizes how singleness and marriage go hand in hand in God's Kingdom. Singleness symbolizes the church's trust that God is the one who is ultimately responsible to build his church, while marriage and procreation symbolizes the church's understanding that building the church will not happen overnight (191). Furthermore, Hauerwas' insistence that narrative be the way to answer the premarital and extramarital sex questions is absolutely genius. Is it a pure or licentious lifestyle that will best prepare the Christian to live out and serve in the narrative of the church? (194). Reframing the sex questions in that light will help me as I counsel singles and marrieds in the area of sexuality. Furthermore, since I oversee the groups ministry in my church, my newfound understanding of the complementary nature of both singleness and marriage in the Kingdom of God will profoundly affect the way I counsel and lead both singles and marrieds.
Although I agree with Hauerwas' approach on the family and sex, I disagree with his view on abortion. I believe that abortion is never "morally permissible" (197), even in the direst circumstances, like conception resulting from rape. God is sovereign, even over the most tragic circumstances, and I believe that nothing is out of God's ability to restore and redeem. Although Hauerwas makes that statement, the rest of his discussion on abortion is actually enlightening. I love the way he suggests that the woman carrying a child resulting from rape should view the child as another human being in distress, rather than as a parent to a child (205). He also suggests that one should concentrate on providing a reason why one "should hope it is a child," instead of trying to figure out if "the fetus is or is not a `person'" (229). When one reframes these situations, I believe that more of a rational decision can be made in regards to the life of the child. Knowing that I will face situations where individuals will be contemplating abortion, I will definitely be making use of Hauerwas' suggestions to reframe these situations.
So all in all, I give this book a four out five.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a book written by an academic for academics. Don't read it in a hurry! Read it slowly what he writes with reflectionon and gain a clear understanding.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Community of Character
In general,Hauerwas's intelectual approach sets a serious tone. Yet he takes much too much time deliberating and not enough time just saying what he wants the reader to... Read more
Published on January 18, 2006 by J. Wootton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Seminary Book source - amazon.com
The price for this book was low enough that even a seminary student could afford it. But the surprising thing is the speed of delivery.
Published on September 15, 2005 by David
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