The Hauerwas Reader (Paperback)

~ (Author), John Berkman (Editor), Michael G. Cartwright (Editor)
Key Phrases: moral theology, situation ethics, truthful story, New York, Watership Down, Notre Dame (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Hauerwas . . . is one of the most influential Christian theologians in academe today. . . . " -- Scott McLemee, Chronicle of Higher Education

"Hauerwas outrages and instructs, and is almost always worth the bother." -- First Things

"This comprehensive collection drawn from the broad-ranging writings of a theological ethicist who is widely read and cited . . . ." -- P. L. Urban Jr., Choice

"[I]nstructive, exasperating, combative, entertaining, and compassionate essays . . . ." -- Robert Neralich, Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Product Description

Stanley Hauerwas is one of the most widely read and oft-cited theologians writing today. A prolific lecturer and author, he has been at the forefront of key developments in contemporary theology, ranging from narrative theology to the “recovery of virtue.” Yet despite his prominence and the esteem reserved for his thought, his work has never before been collected in a single volume that provides a sense of the totality of his vision.
The editors of The Hauerwas Reader, therefore, have compiled and edited a volume that represents all the different periods and phases of Hauerwas’s work. Highlighting both his constructive goals and penchant for polemic, the collection reflects the enormous variety of subjects he has engaged, the different genres in which he has written, and the diverse audiences he has addressed. It offers Hauerwas on ethics, virtue, medicine, and suffering; on euthanasia, abortion, and sexuality; and on war in relation to Catholic and Protestant thought. His essays on the role of religion in liberal democracies, the place of the family in capitalist societies, the inseparability of Christianity and Judaism, and on many other topics are included as well.
Perhaps more than any other author writing on religious topics today, Hauerwas speaks across lines of religious traditions, appealing to Methodists, Jews, Anabaptists or Mennonites, Catholics, Episcopalians, and others.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 752 pages
• Publisher: Duke University Press (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822326914
• ISBN-13: 978-0822326915
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #158,631 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear and thought provoking., July 9, 2002

By	Joseph B. Howard (Hendersonville, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the collection of essays through which I was introduced to Stanley Hauerwas. I wish I had begun reading him sooner. Hauerwas' arguments are clear and to the point, and some of his comments are jarring; but then, we need to be shaken from our complacency. I like that fact that Hauerwas can combine what is sometimes an abrasive manner with humility. He truly seems concerned not only with whether we think through these problems, but also with whether we properly understand what the problems are that confront us as Christians. I recommend this book to anyone who is concerned with ethics and especially the manner in which Christians should respond to the issues of the day.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Theological briar patches, September 15, 2001

By A Customer

Hauerwas has a reputation as a sort of theological curmudgeon, but in reality he is as clear a thinker as we could hope for in an ethically confused time. And he reveals himself as deeply human at the same time. This survey of his work helps me think my way through many theological briar patches - whether I agree with Hauerwas or not.

Readers who like the way Hauerwas combines breadth, depth, and compassion with a stringent ethical vision will also want to read Heroism & the Christian Life by Brian Hook and Russ Reno.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Collection, May 30, 2003

By	Tedd Steele (Naperville, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you want to understand Hauerwas' thought on the issues of the day, as well as his method for doing ethics, begin here. The selection of essays for this text allows you to see many facets of Hauerwas' writing. The opening essays attempt to show how Hauerwas goes about doing ethics. They explore the way narratives impact the living of life and what Christian discipleship looks like. The later essays explore particular social issues, such as war, capitalism, sex, and medicine. The introductions and conclusion by other authors help to understand some of Hauerwas' thought. The essays in this book range from complex to simple and straightforward. There is something here for everyone, though some of the essays might be a struggle for those who are unaquainted with Theology and Ethics. Be prepared to disagree with some of the things Hauerwas says. However, if you want a thought-provoking book that deals with the issues of the day, this is it.