Consenting to God and Nature: Toward a Theocentric, Naturalistic, Theological Ethics (Princeton Theological Monograph) [Paperback]

Byron C. Bangert (Author)

Book Description

Series: Princeton Theological Monograph | Publication Date: March 2006

Bangert shows how the work of three major contemporary Protestant thinkers, James M. Gustafson, Sallie McFague, and David Ray Griffin, may be fruitfully appropriated for the articulation of an ethics that is responsive to the Christian tradition while sharing the modern commitment's appeal to human experience and reason. Each of these three thinkers eschews a priori appeal to the authority of religious tradition, as each takes seriously scientific knowledge of our world. Each accents ways in which current scientific understandings inform, and in some cases are informed by, contemporary appropriations of the language and thought of Christian tradition. Each is also concerned to relate his or her approach to human valuing, life, and action. A critical appraisal of their work shows that none provides a sufficient basis for an intellectually and religiously adequate theological ethics, but that each contributes elements necessary to the articulation of such an ethics within the Protestant Christian tradition as it confronts the religious and intellectual challenges of today's world.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

This book, an exploration in theological ethics, is motivated by two central questions. First: How can we think and speak with integrity about God as One who is active in human affairs and the world? How can God make a difference in our world and in our lives? Second, and no less important: What is the character of God's activity in the world, and how are we to relate and respond to this activity? How does God make a difference in our world and our lives, and what are some of the implications for our own actions?

These are not questions for which I believe that are definitive answers. All theological work is provisional. The same, of course, must be said about all other work, all knowledge, all other conceptual schemes. Nonetheless, our lives do literally depend on the sorts of answers we find in our pursuit of those questions that touch on the ultimate realities of our existence. Throughout this book I seek to address questions about God, the world, and the relation of human beings to both God and world, in a way that takes seriously our current state of knowledge and understanding, and the limits of our human condition.

One of my over-arching concerns, addressed particularly in the final chapter of the book, is also to provide a language of faith that possesses both integrity and vitality suitable for Christian worship and the formation of Christian identity in keeping with the theocentric theological perspective presented.

From the Back Cover

Bangert has done a remarkable job in bringing three important constructive proposals for contemporary theology into respectful dialogue with one another. In addition to presenting the positions of Gustafson, Griffin, and McFague fairly and sympathetically, he makes a convincing case that their respective contributions can only be strengthened and enriched through critical engagement with one another. This book has many virtues to commend it, not least of which are the clarity of analysis and the simple elegance of its prose style. It is a model of rigorous, yet irenic, theological argumentation.

--Paul E. Capetz
Author of God: A Brief History

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Product Details

• Paperback: 255 pages
• Publisher: Pickwick Publications: An Imprint of WIPF & Stock Publishers (March 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597525243
• ISBN-13: 978-1597525244
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #647,355 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book, November 20, 2007

By 

T. A. Hicks - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Consenting to God and Nature: Toward a Theocentric, Naturalistic, Theological Ethics (Princeton Theological Monograph) (Paperback)

The "brief description" and "from the author" earlier on this page are accurate descriptions of the book, especially the author's "two central questions" about how God acts in human affairs and in the world. Bangert's book is primarily an exploration of these questions. I would add these comments:

-- the book is a clear and objective summary of the positions held by Gustafson, McFague, and Griffin, and would be valuable for this reason alone.
-- I am an active Christian layperson, but not a theologian. Nonetheless, I found the book easily readable. There is, at times, theological jargon, but Bangert always explains it clearly (often in footnotes), and the theological terms prove to be useful "shorthand" for naming ideas.
-- Once I got a chapter or so into the book, I found it almost impossible to lay aside. The progress of Bangert's argument, carefully and logically presented point by point, made me want to see it through. And even when I did lay the book aside to do things such as sleep, work, and eat, the arguments continued to resonate in my mind. I consider this a sign of an excellent and thought-provoking book.
-- This is not a simplistic presentation, one that "dumbs down" the issues involved. These issues deserve serious and thorough consideration, and Bangert gives them that, in a way that is accessible to the general educated reader.

I do not agree with all of Bangert's conclusions, and strongly disagree with each of the three theologians at various points. But Bangert's book helped clarify the questions, and made me think intently about them. Months after finishing the book, I continue to think on these issues, and I thank Dr. Bangert for raising them and struggling with them in print.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly, Engaging, and Thought-Provoking, November 7, 2008

By 

Sabian (Here, There and Everywhere) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Consenting to God and Nature: Toward a Theocentric, Naturalistic, Theological Ethics (Princeton Theological Monograph) (Paperback)

Bangert seeks to develop a theocentric (as opposed to an athropocentric), naturalistic (as opposed a to supernaturalistic), theologically-based ethics. In order to accomplish this, he critiques the works and/or thought of three theologians:

1) James M. Gustafson's "theocentric ethics"

2) Sallie McFague's "metaphorical theology"

3) David Ray Griffin's "process theology"

In particular, Banguert is interested in giving an intelligible account of the "God-world" relationship. That is, how does God act in an otherwise naturalistic world? To answer this question, he draws on process thought's doctrine of "prehension."

Overall, I found his critiques to be on mark and insightful. I particularly enjoyed the author's discussion of McFague's metaphorical theology - especially how models of God are actually tested in the religious community.

There is one caveat, however. Banguert seems to eschew the idea of "subjective immortality" (as opposed to "objective immortality," which only God enjoys) and does not believe that it is essential for an adequate theological ethics. That being said, this is a very worthwhile read. I highly recommend it.