Christian Ethics and Social Policy

Christian social ethics stands midway between the pole of theology-ethics on the one hand and the pole of social science on the other. From the former, Christian ethics derives its assumptions and norms; from the latter, it receives its empirical data. The Christian ethicist must attempt to bring these two poles together; however, the existing books on Christian social ethics often lacks the depth of social scientific analysis thus making the social ethics discussion superficial. This book attempts to fill the gap by providing in-depth social science data to enrich Christian ethical discussions. Part one discusses the general principles of Christian social ethics and in part two, various issues which are relevant to ethical discussion. Major thinkers in the field are discussed. These include Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Rauschenbusch, Bonhoeffer, Max Weber, Reinhold and Richard Niebuhr, Vatican II and the Catholic bishops. Selected major issues discussed include health economy, environment, income inequality and poverty, immigration, global economy, war and peace which includes nuclear war and terrorism, human rights, etc.