Christianity and Ethics

Christianity and Ethics, by Archibald B. C.

The Project Gutenberg eBook, Christianity and Ethics, by Archibald B. C. Alexander
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: Christianity and Ethics A Handbook of Christian Ethics
Author: Archibald B. C. Alexander

Release Date: July 19, 2007 [eBook #22105]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRISTIANITY AND ETHICS***
E-text prepared by Al Haines

Transcriber's note:
Page numbers in this book are indicated by numbers enclosed in curly braces, e.g. {99}. They have been located where page breaks occurred in the original book. For its Index, a page number has been placed only at the start of that section.

CHRISTIANITY AND ETHICS
A Handbook of Christian Ethics
by
ARCHIBALD B. D. ALEXANDER, M.A., D.D.
Author of 'A Short History of Philosophy,' 'The Ethics of St. Paul,' etc.

London: Duckworth & Co. 3 Henrietta St., Covent Garden 1914 All rights reserved

{v}
PREFACE
The object of this volume is to present a brief but comprehensive view of the Christian conception of the moral life. In order to conform with the requirements of the series to which the volume belongs, the writer has found the task of compression one of almost insurmountable difficulty; and some topics, only less important than those dealt with, have been necessarily omitted. The book claims to be, as its title indicates, simply a handbook or introduction to Christian Ethics. It deals with principles rather than details, and suggests lines of thought instead of attempting an exhaustive treatment of the subject. At the same time, in the author's opinion, no really vital question has been overlooked. The treatise is intended primarily for students, but it is hoped that it may prove serviceable to those who desire a succinct account of the moral and social problems of the present day.
A fairly full bibliography has been added, which, along with the references to authorities in the body of the work, may be helpful to those who wish to prosecute the study. For the convenience of readers the book has been divided into four sections, entitled, Postulates, Personality, Character, and Conduct; and a detailed synopsis of contents has been supplied.
To the Rev. W. R. Thomson, B.D. of Bellshill, Scotland, who read the chapters in type, and generally put at his disposal much valuable suggestion, the author would record his most sincere thanks.

{vii}
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
PAGE A PLEA FOR THE STUDY OF CHRISTIAN ETHICS . . . . . . . . . . 1

SECTION A--POSTULATES
CHAPTER I
THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF ETHICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
I. General Definition. II. Distinctive Features--1. Ideal; 2. Norm; 3. Will. III. Is Ethics a Science? IV. Relation to--1. Logic; 2. Aesthetics; 3. Politics. V. Dependence upon--1. Metaphysics; 2. Psychology.
CHAPTER II
THE POSTULATES OF CHRISTIAN ETHICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
I. Philosophical Ethics. II. Dogmatics. III. Theological Presuppositions-- 1. Christian Idea of God. 2. Christian Doctrine of Sin. 3. Human Responsibility. IV. Authority and Method.
CHAPTER III
ETHICAL THOUGHT BEFORE CHRIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
I. In Greece and Rome--Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Stoics. Stoicism and St. Paul. II. In Israel--1. Law; 2. Prophecy; 3. Poetry. Preparatory Character of pre-Christian Morality.
SECTION B--PERSONALITY
CHAPTER IV
THE ESTIMATE OF MAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
I. Conflicting Views of Human Nature-- 1. Man by nature Morally Good. 2. Man by nature Totally Depraved. 3. The Christian View. II. Examination of Man's Psychical Nature-- 1. The Unity of the Soul. 2. The Divine in Man. 3. The Physical and Mental Life. III. Appeal of Christianity to the Mind.
CHAPTER V
THE WITNESS OF CONSCIENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
I. Treatment of Conscience-- 1. In Greek Poetry and Philosophy. 2. In Old Testament. 3. In New Testament. II. Nature and Origin of Conscience-- 1. Intuitionalism. 2. Evolutionalism. III. Validity of Conscience-- 1. The Christian View. 2. The Moral Imperatives. 3. The Permanence of Conscience
CHAPTER VI
'THE MIRACLE OF THE WILL' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Is Man free to choose the Good? Creative Power of Volition. Aspects of Problem raised. I. Scientific-- Man and Physical Necessity. II. Psychological-- Determinism and Indeterminism. Criticism of James and Bergson. Spontaneity and Necessity. III. Theological-- Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom. Jesus and Paul--Challenge to the Will. Freedom--a Gift and a Task.
SECTION C--CHARACTER
CHAPTER VII
MODERN THEORIES OF LIFE . . . . . . . . .