Steering Through Chaos: Vice and Virtue in an Age of Moral Confusion

by Os Guinness (Compiler)

In this thoughtful, probing study, Os Guinness leads readers in an in-depth examination of the deadly vices. The reader will better understand the classic notion of virtue and vice and how these ideas connect to the Beatitudes. Presenting the truth of the Bible in the context of modern society, other faiths, and 3,000 years of history, Guinness analyzes the corruption of ethics in academia and popular culture to reestablish the deadly seriousness of vice in an age of moral confusion. This is the second in a series of six Trinity Forum studies which combine classical and current readings with provocative discussion questions. The Trinity Forum has been successfully using this material for over eight years in their private leadership forums.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Religion, Christian, Read For School, Theology, Christianity

340 pages, Paperback

First published July 5, 2000

About the author

Os Guinness (D.Phil., Oxford) is the author or editor of more than twenty-five books, including The American Hour, Time for Truth and The Case for Civility. A frequent speaker and prominent social critic, he was the founder of the Trinity Forum and has been a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution and a guest scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies. He lives near Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[Almir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livro extremamente rico que faz um contraponto entre os sete pecados pecados e as Bem-aventuranças, e uma conexão com vários autores bem como suas respectivas obras, C. S. Lewis, Soren Kieekegaard, Leon Tolstoi e etc.

[Giovanni Casimiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Em português (em que li a obra) essa obra de Os Guinnes foi traduzida com o título "Os sete pecados capitais: navegando através do caos em uma era de confusão moral" pela editora Shedd.

O escritor procura trabalhar com questões morais numa época em que até a moralidade foi relativizada. O escritor mostra-se céptico com a preocupação moderna pelos cursos de ética e deontologia afirmando que "a moralidade é como a saúde- a preocupação com ela é, geralmente, sinal de doença, e não de vitalidade."
E seu cepticismo quanto à preocupação com a ética moderna tem ainda o sustento de que "a ética corrente é, muitas vezes, ensinado com uma perpectiva superficial da natureza humana. Por exemplo, raramente tópicos como a hipocrisia, a auto-ilusão, o egoísmo, e a crueldade vêm à tona."

O escritor faz o seu percurso narrativo através dos famosos sete pecados capitais (orgulho, inveja, raiva, preguiça, avareza, glutonaria e libertinagem. Nesta obra o escritor não procurou contrastar os sete pecados à luz das virtudes comuns (prudência, Constância, temperança, justiça, fé, esperança e amor), Mas fe-lo a partir das bem aventuranças de Jesus. Ele reconheceu que nem todos sete pecados são contrastes óbvios das bem aventuranças, mas ao fazer um exame mais profundo, se torna igualmente esclarecedor.

Realmente esses pecados embora formulados no século IV, ainda representam uma radiografia clara da realidade de nosso século. Conforme as palavras do escritor "essa lista de pecados de forma alguma abrange todos os pecados que podemos enumerar, mas ela apresenta os pecados capitais fundamentais, integrados, os quais se encontram no centro de nossa natureza humana e dos quais se originam todos os outros pecados." (P. 24)

Vale a leitura.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book just cries out for discussion. The author explores the seven deadly sins with writings from all periods of history. It is interesting to find that the themes are similar through the ages, though the writing styles and cultural milieu change over time. Each piece included deserves a bit of pondering, so I read this over a space of time, sort of absorbing the material.

[Hanna]

This would have been one of those boring nonfiction Christian books, but there were some good selections from written works, such as Plutarch, Augustine, Kierkegaard, and Victor Hugo (Les Miserábles) that I enjoyed reading.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a lot of potential but a few things blew it for me. Instead of contrasting the traditional Christian virtues to the vices, the editors contrasted the beatitudes with the vices. These virtues include the beatitudes and are general enough to be easily thought about. The editors skate over the historical development of the seven deadly sins, and that development has a lot to do with how we view them today.

I don't like to do much title-chopping, but "Steering through Chaos" sounds like it has more concern for action and less for character, which is a non-virtue ethics way of approaching virtue ethics.

The book got stars for some decently useful readings, but if you're the kind of person who gets himself interested in the Seven Deadly Sins this book isn't for you. What the editors have to say on the subject is better (and more accurately) said elsewhere, particularly with Henry Fairlie and Rebecca DeYoung. Go with those books, and if you still need more on virtue, read Evagrius or Cassian or Aristotle or Aquinas. Just not this book.

[Ange Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Dr. Estes, for assigning this book in Bible and the Gospel.
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One of the most convicting Christian books I've read in a while. Each chapter discusses a vice, how it shows up in our life, and the counter to said vice. It doesn't shy away from hard topics, and it's very detailed in how to combat day-to-day sins. It's pretty intense- don't read more than a chapter per sitting.
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I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone.

[South Asia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is only 4 stars if you read in a community or discussion group. It has some great discussion topics.

[Drew Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful book about the 7 deadly sins and their counterpoints in the Beatitudes. It is a compendium of other sources related to the topic. The best parts, however, were Guinness' own reflections and summaries.