Michael Welker

John Witte

This volume addresses whether, how, and where laws (variously defined) teach values and shape moral character in late modern liberal societies. Each author recognizes the essential value of state law in fostering peace, security, health, education, charity, trade, democracy, constitutionalism, justice, and human rights, among many other moral goods. Each author also recognizes, however, the grave betrayals of law in supporting fascism, slavery, apartheid, genocide, persecution, violence, racism, and other forms of immorality and injustice. They thus call for state laws that set a basic civil morality of duty for society and for robust freedoms that protect private individuals and private groups to cultivate a higher morality of aspiration. With contributions by Rüdiger Bittner, Brian Bix, Frank Brennan, Allen Calhoun, Robert F. Cochran, Jr., Kenneth John Crispin, Jean Bethke Elshtain, E. Allan Farnsworth, James E. Fleming, M. Cathleen Kaveny, Ute Mager, Linda C. McClain, Reid Mortensen, Patrick Parkinson, Thomas Pfeiffer, Robert Vosloo, Michael Welker, and John Witte, Jr. [Der Einfluss des Rechts auf Charakterbildung, ethische Erziehung und Kommunikation von Werten in spätmodernen pluralistischen Gesellschaften] Dieser Band befasst sich mit der Frage, ob, wie und wo Gesetze – unterschiedlich formulierte – Werte lehren und den moralischen Charakter in spätmodernen liberalen Gesellschaften formen. Jeder Autor erkennt den wesentlichen Wert des staatlichen Rechts für die Förderung von Frieden, Sicherheit, Gesundheit, Bildung, Wohltätigkeit, Handel, Demokratie, Konstitutionalismus, Gerechtigkeit und Menschenrechten unter vielen anderen moralischen Gütern an. Jeder Autor erkennt jedoch auch den schwerwiegenden Verrat an Gesetzen an, der Faschismus, Sklaverei, Apartheid, Völkermord, Verfolgung, Gewalt, Rassismus und andere Formen von Unmoral und Ungerechtigkeit unterstützt. Sie fordern daher staatliche Gesetze, die eine grundlegende bürgerliche Pflichtmoral für die Gesellschaft festlegen, und robuste Freiheiten, die Privatpersonen und private Gruppen schützen, um eine höhere Moral des Strebens zu pflegen.

On Character Formation, Ethical Education, and the Communication of Values in Late Modern Pluralistic Societies

The Impact of the Law

William Schweiker

Stephen Pickard

This volume addresses whether, how, and where academic research has an impact on ethical education, character formation, and the communication of values in late modern pluralistic societies. It reflects the great impacts of a global network of research universities, with an enormous range of exact, social, and humane sciences, and sundry forms of professional training in medicine, theology, law, and business. Several chapter authors praise the modern academy for its ardent pursuit of knowledge and truth and its ample defense of tested truth-claims. But other authors challenge the ethical impact of some forms and forums of academic research today. With contributions by Stefan Alkier (Frankfurt), Rudiger Bittner (Bielefeld), Celia Deane-Drummond (Oxford), Bernold Fiedler (Berlin), Andreas Glaeser (Chicago), Gary Hauk (Atlanta), Jorg Hufner (Heidelberg), Michael Kirschfi nk (Heidelberg), Andreas Schule (Leipzig), William Schweiker (Chicago), Michael Welker (Heidelberg), and John Witte, Jr. (Atlanta).

The Impact of Academic Research

Wallace M. Alston

This volume explores the challenges and possibilities facing contemporary theological inquiry. Produced in honor of Wallace M. Alston, the book is framed around the areas of discussion that Alston, as director of the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, New Jersey, has diligently placed at the forefront of Christian reflection. Written by some of today's leading Christian pastors and theologians, these insightful chapters probe topics of interest to both the church and the academy. In the first section Denise M. Ackermann, Gerhard Sauter, William Schweiker, Max L. Stackhouse, Michael Welker, and Carver T. Yu examine cultural, social, political, and ethical challenges to Christian theology. In the second section Don Browning, Brian E. Daley, Botond Gal, Niels Henrik Gregersen, John Polkinghorne, and Dirk Smit discuss theology's ongoing dialogue with the sciences and the humanities. In the third section Milner S. Ball, L. Ann Jervis, John S. McClure, Allen C. McSween Jr., Patrick D. Miller, Jrgen Moltmann, Fleming Rutledge, and Virgil Thompson illuminate the role of theology in preaching and teaching. In the fourth and final section of the book David Fergusson, Thomas W. Gillespie, Colin Gunton, Cynthia A. Jarvis, Robert W. Jenson, J. Harold McKeithen Jr., A. J. McKelway, Daniel L. Migliore look at several cutting-edge themes drawn from Reformed and ecumenical theology. Loving God with Our Minds unites voices from the various enterprises of the Center of Theological Inquiry, from different churches, from different theological and academic disciplines, and from different countries across the globe. The book is thus a bouquet of diverse perspectives mirroring what is so central and admirable in Wallace Alston and reflecting what he so desires to see among fellow Christians and pastor-theologians -- loving God not only with our hearts but also with our minds. Contributors: Denise M. Ackermann Milner S. Ball Don Browning Brian E. Daley David Fergusson Botond Gal Thomas W. Gillespie Niels Henrik Gregersen Colin Gunton Cynthia A. Jarvis Robert W. Jenson L. Ann Jervis John S. McClure J. Harold McKeithen Jr. A. J. McKelway Allen C. McSween Jr. Daniel L. Migliore Patrick D. Miller Jrgen Moltmann John Polkinghorne Fleming Rutledge Gerhard Sauter William Schweiker Dirk Smit Max L. Stackhouse Virgil Thompson Michael Welker Carver T. Yu

The Pastor as Theologian

Loving God with Our Minds

This book investigates the impact of education on the formation of character, moral education and the communication of values in late modern pluralistic societies. Scholars from four continents and many different academic fields are involved. While the basic framework for the contributions is informed by Christian traditions, the disciplines cover a significant range, including theology, education, psychology, literature, anthropology, law, and business. This makes for a rich variety of thematic concentrations and perspectives. Readers will quickly sense that the educational foundations and trajectories of any given country are pervasive and have a significant reach into the fabric and shape of the society and its values, making education a barometer of the well-being of a people and their culture. The result is a volume that will inform, stimulate and challenge our understanding of the role of education in contemporary societies. [Der Einfluss der Bildung auf Charakterbildung, ethische Erziehung und Kommunikation von Werten in spätmodernen pluralistischen Gesellschaften] Dieses Buch untersucht den Einfluss der Bildung auf die Charakterentwicklung, die moralische Erziehung und die Vermittlung von Werten in spätmodernen pluralistischen Gesellschaften. Die Beiträge kommen von Wissenschaftlern und Wissenschaftlerinnen aus vier Kontinenten und vielen verschiedenen akademischen Bereichen. Während der Rahmen für die Beiträge von christlichen Traditionen geprägt ist, decken die Disziplinen eine große Bandbreite ab, darunter Theologie, Pädagogik, Psychologie, Literatur, Anthropologie, Recht und Wirtschaft. Daraus ergibt sich eine reiche Vielfalt an thematischen Schwerpunkten und Perspektiven. Die Leserinnen und Leser werden schnell erkennen, dass die Bildungsgrundlagen und -wege eines jeden Landes bedeutenden Einfluss auf das Gefüge und die Form der Gesellschaft und ihrer Werte ausüben. Dies macht Bildung zu einem Gradmesser für das Wohlergehen eines Volkes und seiner Kultur. Entstanden ist ein Band, der unser Verständnis von der Rolle der Bildung in heutigen Gesellschaften heben, anregen und herausfordern kann. Contributions by Chung-Hyun Baik, Ashley Rogers Berner, David S. Cunningham, Joachim Funke, Charles L. Glenn, Robert W. Hefner, Darcia Narvaez, Stephen Pickard, Irene Pieper, Jo-Anne Reid, Heike Springhart, Anne W. Stewart, Michael Welker, and John Witte, Jr.

on Character Formation, Ethics, and the Communication of Values in Late Modern Pluralistic Societies

The Impact of Education

In an often violent and dangerous world military defense systems exercise a major role in the ways societies and nations function, develop their aspirations, protect themselves, promote their identities and shape their destinies. As we are only too aware at this time in global history, conflict, war and peace are deeply entangled and often morally ambiguous. This timely volume of essays offers contributions from Europe, Africa and Australia. It raises fundamental issues about the indispensability of the virtues in the military; the relationship between military and the public good; the nature of combatants and a soldier's responsibilities for humanity and peace; moral and spiritual injury; and new challenges for pastoral care in the armed forces.

on Character Formation, Ethical Education, and the Communication of Values in Late Modern Pluralistic Societies

The Impact of Military

All the large churches in the world agree on this: communion is the highest expression of the church unity. Yet it is exactly the act of communion that historically has given rise to vehement controversies among the churches. This new book not only explores the meaning of holy communion but also marks a turning point on the way to common understanding. Welker gives a clear explanation of holy communion based on the biblical tradition and evaluates the ecumenical discourse on communion of the past thirty years. In the process he answers such often posed questions as "What do we mean when we say that Christ is present in communion?" "How are Christ's body and blood connected with bread and wine?" "What is the difference between the Christian Supper and the Jewish Passover meal?" and "Are children allowed to share in communion?"

What Happens in Holy Communion?

This book investigates the impact of education on the formation of character, moral education and the communication of values in late modern pluralistic societies. Scholars from four continents and many different academic fields are involved. While the basic framework for the contributions is informed by Christian traditions, the disciplines cover a significant range, including theology, education, psychology, literature, anthropology, law, and business. This makes for a rich variety of thematic concentrations and perspectives. Readers will quickly sense that the educational foundations and trajectories of any given country are pervasive and have a significant reach into the fabric and shape of the society and its values, making education a barometer of the well-being of a people and their culture. The result is a volume that will inform, stimulate and challenge our understanding of the role of education in contemporary societies.

On Character Formation, Ethics, and the Communication of Values in Late Modern Pluralistic Societies

The family is humanity's oldest and most basic social institution, but today it is fragile, fractured, and fraught in many liberal lands. This volume gathers scholars from sociology, psychology, history, religion, ethics, law, and medicine from five continents to analyze the complex nature and place of the family in character formation and human flourishing. The chapters study the impact of catechesis, schooling, work, and discipline on the development of individual moral agency and responsibility. They document the critical roles of family love, trust, fidelity, and story-telling in shaping the moral character of all family members from infancy to old age. They describe effective strategies of resistance and resilience for family members who face abuse, divorce, death, chauvinism, racism, and homophobia. And several chapters challenge modern arguments and policies that aim to flatten if not abolish the marital family, even while they call for family law reforms. Contributions by Enola G. Aird, Helen Alvaré, Robert N. Bellah, Margaret Jane Brining, Michael J. Broyde, Marcia Bunge, Stephen Carter, Jean Bethke Elshtain, Robyn Fivuush, Patrick Hornbeck, Andreas Kruse, Nadia Marais, Gordon Mikoski, Bonnie Miller-McLemore, Patrick Parkinson, Katja Patzel-Mattern, Sabina Pauen, Stephen G. Post, Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, and Thomas Xutong Qu.

The Impact of the Family

Ted Peters

Robert J. Russell

A team of scientists and theologians from both sides of the Atlantic explore the Christian concept of bodily resurrection in light of the views of contemporary science. Whether it be the Easter resurrection of Jesus or the promised new life of individual believers, the authors argue that resurrection must be conceived as "embodied" and that our bodies cannot exist apart from their worldly environment. Yet nothing in today's scientific disciplines supports the possibility of either bodily resurrection or the new creation of the universe at large. Bridging such disciplines as physics, biology, neuroscience, philosophy, biblical studies, and theology, Resurrection offers fascinating reading to anyone interested in this vital Christian belief or in the intersection of faith and scientific thought.

Theological and Scientific Assessments

Resurrection

This book is the result of intensive, multiyear international and interdisciplinary cooperation. From many perspectives, the book's contributors address themes of freedom and slavery; self-determination and concepts of freedom; God-given and imprinted freedom; freedom as an ethos of belonging and solidarity; and relations between freedom, human rights, and theological orientation.

Biblical, Historical, Contemporary

Quests for Freedom, Second Edition

Late modern pluralistic societies are characterised by an infinitely multi-coloured individuality of their citizens and a wealth of associations and groups. This "plurality", which is difficult to grasp, is welcomed by many people as a source of freedom, but feared by some people inside and many observers outside as a social chaos. However, this plurality is countered by a limited number of so-called "social systems", which are to a large extent characterised by organisational, institutional and normative structures and weight. The overwhelming majority of the contributions in this volume deal with the Christian religion, as pluralistic societies today thrive substantially in Christian environments. Contributions by Peter Carnley, Gregor Etzelmüller, Johannes Eurich, Jennifer Herdt, Admiel Kosman, Piet Naudé, Waihan Ng, Friederike Nüssel, Bernd Oberdorfer, Martin Percy, Stephen Pickard, Raja Sakrani, William Schweiker, Philipp Stoellger, Milton Wan, Renee Ip, and Michael Welker. [Der Einfluss der Religion auf Charakterbildung, ethische Erziehung und Kommunikation von Werten in spätmodernen pluralistischen Gesellschaften] Spätmoderne pluralistische Gesellschaften sind von einer unendlich vielfarbigen Individualität ihrer Bürgerinnen und Bürger und einer Fülle von Zusammenschlüssen und Gruppierungen geprägt. Diese schwer zu fassende "Pluralität" wird von vielen Menschen als Quellgrund der Freiheit begrüßt, von manchen Innenstehenden und vielen Außenstehenden aber auch als soziales Chaos gefürchtet. Doch dieser Pluralität steht eine begrenzte Zahl von sogenannten "sozialen Systemen" gegenüber, die in hohem Maße organisatorisch, institutionell und normativ geprägt sind. Die überwältigende Mehrzahl der Beiträge diese Bandes behandeln die christliche Religion, da pluralistische Gesellschaften heute wesentlich in christlichen Umgebungen gedeihen. This book on the influence of religion on the ethos of pluralistic societies is part of a series of ten international research projects with contributions from all continents. The influences of the market, law, science, politics, media, family, education, medicine and defense will also be examined.

The Impact of Religion

David Willis-Watkins

Matthias Gockel

This series relates past thought from the history of Western theological traditions to areas of contemporary concern in fresh, innovative, and constructive ways. Designed for those with no formal theological training, these student-friendly volumes guide readers through core theological issues in a systematic and accessible way.Leading contemporary Reformed theologians from around the world provide here a unique summary of the range and wealth of Reformed theology today and explore its potential for the future. These thirty-one essays consider the task of Reformed theology in the modern world, give Reformed perspectives on key theological themes, and suggest fruitful present-day trajectories of Reformed thought from the past.

Tasks, Topics, Traditions

Toward the Future of Reformed Theology

God revealed himself in Jesus Christ! Christian faith has confessed and proclaimed this message for nearly two thousand years. But what does it really mean? In God the Revealed Michael Welker delves into this declaration and shows how it offers genuine insight into Christian faith. He asks Who is Jesus Christ for us today? and approaches the answer from five different angles -- the historical Jesus, the resurrection, the cross, the reign of Christ, and eschatology. Uniquely, Welker argues for the need to place historical Jesus research in a Christology and proposes a Fourth Quest for the historical Jesus.

Christology

God the Revealed

Francis Schüssler Fiorenza

Klaus Tanner

In this collection, six leading theologians on political theology explore the contemporary states and potential future of the discipline. Offering a highly nuanced and complex picture of “older” and “newer” Political Theology, these scholars examine the multifaceted interconnections and tensions between political theologies, liberation theologies, feminist theologies, and theologies that see themselves as “postcolonial” or “decolonizing.” Among other topics, the authors address the ecumenical and global nature of political theology; the lack of critical feminist analysis in most political, liberation, and postcolonial theologies; the statements regarding political theology in the encyclicals of Benedict XVI; and the specific tasks that political theology must address to remain effective and relevant. Contributors include Jürgen Moltmann, Johann Baptist Metz , Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Francis Schüssler Fiorenza, Klaus Tanner, and Michael Welker.

Contemporary Challenges and Future Directions

Political Theology

Edgar Wunder

Peter Meusburger

Do traditional distinctions between "belief" and "knowledge" still make sense? How are differences between knowledge and belief understood in different cultural contexts? This book explores conflicts between various types of knowledge, especially between orthodox and heterodox knowledge systems, ranging from religious fundamentalism to heresies within the scientific community itself. Beyond addressing many fields in the academy, the book discusses learned individuals interested in the often puzzling spatial and cultural disparities of knowledge and clashes of knowledge.

Michael Welker

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