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A Morally Complex World: Engaging Contemporary Moral Theology
 
 
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A Morally Complex World: Engaging Contemporary Moral Theology [Paperback]

James T. Bretzke (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Book Description

January 2004
How can people celebrate the gospel of life in their daily lives? What about cloning? Is euthanasia morally acceptable in certain cases, such as terminal illness? In case of health reasons, mental illness, pregnancy due to rape, etc., is abortion morally acceptable? Are you in favor of the use of contraceptives, both natural and artificial?

A Morally Complex World will not answer such complex questions in detail, but it does provide a framework for trying to grapple better with the first question of how we should lead our moral lives in general, as well as some of the concrete ethical issues the other three questions raise.

A Morally Complex World is an accessible introduction to moral theology covering the methodology of moral theology; basic concepts such as conscience and moral agency; natural law, moral norms; how the Bible can be used in Christian ethics; how to dialogue on contested ethical issues; how to consider sin and moral failure; and finally, how to mediate moral principles and moral teaching in a pastorally sensitive manner in concrete life situations.

Chapters are "Mapping a Moral Methodology," "The Natural Law and Moral Norms: Moving Along the Rational Claim Axis," "Scripture and Ethics: Moving Along the Sacred Claim Axis," "The Sanctuary of Conscience: Where the Axes Intersect," "Modes of Moral Discourse: Navigating Towards a Common Ground," "Navigating in the Morally Complex World: Casuistry with a Human Face," and "Sin and Failure in a Morally Complex World."


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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...easy to read introduction to several critical issues of moral method will find this book illuminating." -- Richard M. Gula, S.S., Professor of Moral Theology, Franciscan School of Theology, Berkeley, California

James Bretzke’s new book combines the best of the old in Catholic moral theology with the best of the new. -- William C. Spohn, Santa Clara University

This reader-friendly and personal text is informed by the best in classical and contemporary theology. -- Ed Vacek, Weston Jesuit School, Cambridge, Massachusetts

With the experienced intelligence of a well-traveled guide, he leads us with great facility through difficult terrain of moral theology. -- James F. Keenan, S.J., Gasson Professor, Boston College

Product Details

  • Paperback: 248 pages
  • Publisher: Michael Glazier Books (January 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0814651585
  • ISBN-13: 978-0814651582
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #571,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Average Customer Review
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Conscience is more than Jiminy Cricket, January 30, 2008
This review is from: A Morally Complex World: Engaging Contemporary Moral Theology (Paperback)
A Morally Complex World: Engaging Contemporary Moral Theology by James Bretzke is a wonderful book for anyone interested in moral development and theology. Bretzke does not write down to the reader but challenges them to think. He does a wonderful job bringing morals and ethics from Aristotle to the modern day thinkers. His chapter on conscience is definitely the peak reading of this book, making the reader look for more on the subject. A conscience in this morally complex world is more than Jiminy Cricket.
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6 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Introduction to Moral Theology, January 25, 2005
This review is from: A Morally Complex World: Engaging Contemporary Moral Theology (Paperback)
A good book for the layman who wishes to become familiar with moral theology. Easy to read, clear, complete, and useful for spiritual growth.
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12 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Redefining Morality and the True Teachings of Vatican II, March 25, 2005
This review is from: A Morally Complex World: Engaging Contemporary Moral Theology (Paperback)
In this book Fr. Bretzke teaches complex methods for evaluating the morality of actions - while Catholics who follow traditional teachings would call the same actions "sins" without Bretzke's methods. Putting individual conscience above Church teachings identifies Fr. Bretzke with a breed of theologians who believe the Vatican II Council licensed them to redefine what the Church teaches and to claim that traditional Catholic morality is wrong. People who think the way Fr. Bretzke does never bother to explain why they stay in a Church they believe was so misguided for so long, or how they were granted the grace to understand more than the great saints that came before them.

Fr. Bretzke impugns the maturity of people who base their values on what the Magisterium teaches, using statements like the following: "To sit back and wait for a clear-cut response from any outside moral authority, even if it be the Pope, would result in a sort of moral infantilism."

Fr. Bretzke does not credit the writings of others who defend the Church's traditional teachings, prominently Pope John Paul II.

The following quote from the Pope's encyclical on moral theology seems to apply to theologians like him.
" Certain currents of modern thought ... exalt freedom to such an extent that it becomes an absolute, which would then be the source of values. . . [T]he traditional doctrine ... is rejected; certain of the Church's moral teachings are found simply unacceptable; and the Magisterium itself is considered capable of intervening in matters of morality only in order to `exhort consciences' and to `propose values,' in the light of which each individual will independently make his or her decisions and life choices."
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
By occupation I am a moral theologian. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
actu ponendo, personalist paradigm, claim axis, morally complex world, physicalist paradigm, closed esophagus, true human flourishing, classicist worldview, manualist tradition, finis operantis, ipso facto immoral, moral methodology, fundamental moral theology, intrinsece malum, norming norm, objective moral order, contemporary moral theology, actus humanus, normatively human, vincible ignorance, moral manuals, morally relevant features, sacred claim, draft blueprint, erroneous conscience
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Jesus Christ, New York, Thomas Aquinas, Roman Catholic, Paulist Press, Downs Syndrome, New Testament, Pope John Paul, Georgetown University Press, Grand Rapids, Old Testament, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Stanley Hauerwas, The Liturgical Press, Harvard University Press, San Francisco, Josef Fuchs, Theological Studies, Faith Ethics, James Gustafson, Kansas City, Ten Commandments, University of Notre Dame Press, William Spohn, Bernard Haring
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