Introducing Christian Ethics: A Short Guide to Making Moral Choices

by Scott B. Rae

Introducing Christian Ethics helps Christians form a sound basis for making ethical decisions in today's complex postmodern world. Raising 14 key ethical questions on today's most pressing issues including abortion, war, sexual ethics, capital punishment, and more, Scott Rae guides his readers in making moral choices wisely. Based on the best-selling college and seminary ethics textbook Moral Choices , this book distills nearly two decades of teaching and study into a succinct and user-friendly volume. It is an ideal primer for pastors, students, and everyday Christians who desire engagement with the world around them in an intelligent and informed manner. Teaching and study resources for the book, including additional video clips based on the questions corresponding to each chapter, make it ideal for use in the classroom as well as for pastors and for teaching settings within the church. Resources are available through ZondervanAcademic.com.

Genres: Philosophy, Christian, Theology

192 pages, Paperback

Published August 16, 2016

About the author

SCOTT RAE, Ph.D., is professor of Christian ethics and chair of the philosophy of religion and ethics department at Talbot School of Theology. He's written six books, including Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics and Beyond Integrity: a Judeo-Christian Approach to Business Ethics.

Reviews

[Noah Senthil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scott Rae’s approach to Christian ethics is standard evangelical ethics, which is a strength and a weakness. It’s a strength in that he rightly opposes secular schemas for ethics and helps us understand why those are incompatible with Christianity. On abortion, euthanasia, LGBT+, etc, he’s generally very clear, as are most evangelicals. Business ethics is an exception, as something that evangelicals generally don’t think much about, but Rae brings a lot of clarity it.

However, as soon as Rae begins talking about something evangelicals disagree about, he either takes the most conventional approach or sidesteps the issue completely. In my opinion, his reasoning about IVF, birth control, and the purpose of sex is missing fundamental moral categories, and the biblical support is weak. Not talking about divorce seems like a glaring omission. And when it comes to an issue like capital punishment, he just gives different options and leaves it at that. It’d also be interesting to do a word count on how many times he uses the word “seems” (i.e. this “seems” to imply…) instead of simply making his point.

One could argue that it’s only an introduction, so he can’t argue for each topic, but he has no problem arguing that transgenderism is unbiblical. Is it really helpful to only argue for the things your target audience already agrees with? It’s only on controversial issues among evangelicals he seems unwilling to counter the status quo or offer an opinion about.

In addition, while he’s clear that God’s design for marriage is heterosexual monogamy, he states that sexual orientation is “morally neutral,” which is misleading at best. This type of thinking lacks deep moral reasoning with broader, more holistic categories. Engagement with the Christian tradition would greatly help, but there’s only one mention of Augustine on Just War Theory (because he invented it). This is insufficient.

I don’t mean for this to be a negative review. There is a lot of good in this book. And we need more evangelical ethicists. I’m thankful for Scott Rae. And I’m sure he is much more thorough in the larger book, “Moral Choices,” of which this seems to be a shorter summary.

But my primary contention is this: a Christian ethicist must be somewhat of a troublemaker, challenging the moral sensibilities of his own people, not capitulating to them, otherwise he ceases to have anything worthwhile to say—not that he should be an unnecessary troublemaker or enjoy conflict—but that he should be an example of wisdom and courage, come what may.

I wish he showed a bit more of that here in this book.

[Kali · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the author writing a condensed version of a topic that often has thick volumes. This is easy to read and I appreciate that! I don’t agree with all the conclusions the author comes too.

[Madeline Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall a good book… I really liked the way the first few chapters taught me how to think about the way in which I make arguments/ethical decisions. He definitely shares his own opinion at times but if there is a debate that Christians frequently split between, he shares both sides and the scriptures people use to back up each. It really made me think deeply and process why I believe what I believe. I don’t think this is the only book I should ever read about Christian ethics, but it was a great place to start.

[Ferrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good introduction. The strength is in the first half of the book -- the simplicity with which he deals with the subject from a conservative theological perspective. In the second half, on specific issues, he does a good job in brevity, doing something that is very difficult to do. The most staggering omission is that he doesn't deal with the issues around the environment/creation care/climate change.

[Matthew Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book if you are looking for what the Bible says on a wide variety of topics. I feel like he went a lot deeper into the issue of abortion and reproductive technologies in a way that he would’ve done with the other topics as well.

[Carmen Dampf]

Great perspectives!

[Emma Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great primer on ethics through a Christian lens.

[Faye Fresta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small book that packs a punch and really makes you think. Challenging what your pre-established beliefs are.

[Maria Sprunger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good overview of the issues presented in modern society. There were some chapters I enjoyed more than others and I don’t think I’d read it again but pretty decent!

[Matthew Richey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An introductory text and, as such, decent and helpful. Read as a consideration for lay people taking a class at church.

[Kevin Stilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good little book, but I recommend that you select his other book -- Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics, 4th edition.