Theology: Christian / Theological Ethics: Human Rights

The Global Face of Public Faith addresses the hotly debated question of the role religion should play in politics in both the American and international contexts. It engages the fears that public religion threatens American democracy and could lead to a global clash of civilizations and new wars of religion. It analyzes how Christianity can attain common ground with other religious communities, thus becoming a force for peace and human rights. The separation of church from state need not mean the privatization of religion. Religious engagement in public life can strengthen civic life by encouraging active citizen participation that promotes both justice and peace. The question of religion and politics should thus become an argument about how faith becomes public, not whether it does. Religious communities, Christianity in particular, should be vigorous advocates of human rights, democratic governance, and economic development worldwide. In so doing, they will also become peacemakers. David Hollenbach is a calm voice of reason in a chaotic world, with an eye that sees beyond national horizons to where human needs and human rights converge. He is convinced that religious traditions can find common ground--through the use of rights and rights language. The Global Face of Public Faith reinforces his commitment to confronting such issues as poverty and economic development, globalism, and interreligious dialogue. He focuses here on faith and the Catholic tradition in politics; the role of the church in American public life; and the wider issues of global challenges and ethics--in a search for a common set of moral standards and a international ethic through a commitment to universal human rights. While not denying the difficulties of forging such a consensus, he nonetheless sees the possibility for justice, and reasons for hope. And hope is something the world can always use.

This critical analysis of the relationship between Christian theology and human rights is written in a lucid and accessible style, and is an excellent resource for students and academics interested in theology, human rights and the historical background to contemporary ethical debates. The author's deep understanding of the development of the idea of human rights in western society and politics, as well as the conflicts and debates associated with an idea of human rights, is clear from the outset. As well as providing a geneology of the concept of rights, Ruston surveys the ways in which this development has been closely related to the development of a just war theory, as well as making a valuable contribution to postcolonial studies by focusing on the colonisation of South America. Finally the book is not only concerned to create an historical account of the development of the idea of human rights, but also is largely concerned to show the relevance of historical debates to recent ethical questions. An excellent textbook for students of Religion and Ethics, or Human Rights and Theology. Contents: Preface 1. Liberal Ideas: Catholic Critics 2. An Awkward Embrace: The Church and Human Rights 3. Aquinas and Fair Trade Coffee Salamanca: Francisco de Vitoria 4. Rights of War 5. Encountering the Stranger 6. Vitoria's Liberties Mexico and Peru: Bartolome de Las Casas 7. Freedom and the Gospel 8. Defender and the Indians 9. Dominion, Consent and Self-Determination 10. Las Casas' Last Testimony England and Carolina: John Locke 11. Sovereign Individuals 12. God's Gift in Common 13. This Great and Natural Community 14. Property and Labour 15. The Vacant Places of America 16. Conclusions Appendix: Chronology 1492-1704

Kieran Cronin aims in this book to show how a Christian perspective may have something fruitful to contribute to the language of rights. In so doing, he examines some of the complexities involved in using this language, drawing from literature in moral philosophy and jurisprudence in the process. The novelty of his approach lies in the attempt to distinguish two complementary aspects within metaethics, aspects which the author calls the 'discursive' and the 'imaginative'. Cronin regards the use of models (which are extended metaphors) as providing a bridge between these two aspects, and the imaginative metaethics which emerges is seen to be rich in possibilities for both secular and Christian understandings of rights-talk.

The changing situation in South Africa and eastern Europe prompts Charles Villa-Vicencio to investigate the implications of transforming liberation theology into a theology of reconstruction and nation-building. Such a transformation, he argues, requires theology to become an unambiguously inter-disciplinary study. This book explores the encounter between theology, on the one hand, and constitutional writing, law-making, human rights, economics, and the freedom of conscience on the other. Locating his discussion in the context of the South African struggle, the author compares this situation to that in eastern Europe, and the challenge of what is happening in these situations is identified for contexts where 'the empire has not yet crumbled'.