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Why People Matter
Amid current arguments related to human life and dignity, Christians must be clear about how their faith speaks to such concerns and what other outlooks have to say. This book brings together noted ethicists--Russell DiSilvestro, David P. Gushee, Amy Laura Hall, John F. Kilner, Gilbert C. Meilaender, Scott B. Rae, and Patrick T. Smith--to make a Christian case for human dignity. It offers a robust critique of five influential alternative positions, including the emerging outlook of transhumanism, showing how a Christian view supports the crucial idea that people matter in a way other views cannot.
238 pages, Paperback
Published January 3, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 11, 2025
the conclusion section at the end is well communicated and worth the price of admission; however, the first two parts of this book use so much academic language directly adapted from what one would read in a formal thesis that I feel the average Joe would feel alienated.
in short, you should know this book is primarily a high level academic exploration of the primary world philosophies and their ability or inability to show why people matter.
in short, you should know this book is primarily a high level academic exploration of the primary world philosophies and their ability or inability to show why people matter.
March 3, 2020
This is really an excellent book. Both Christians and non-Christians can benefit from it.
The authors give a critique of five prevalent ethical theories: utilitarianism, collectivism, individualism, naturalism and transhumanism. It then proceeds to give a Christian ethical framework based on a God-given human integrity as an alternative.
And the conclusion sums up everything pretty well.
I am convinced at the arguments they gave. It's clear that they've given this a lot of thought. The transhumanist and naturalist ones could be a tiny bit better though. It felt as though the naturalist critique was a tad bit off topic, but nothing too major. And I've never heard of transhumanism before. Although it did open my eyes to various sci-fi movies and their implicit transhumanist ethical tensions. So there's that.
But at the other three chapters are great. And the Christian alternative is presented both philosophically (in one chapter) and scripturally (in another). So both the objective reader and the Christian can benefit from this.
All in all it's a very good book worthy of the attention of both laymen like myself and I'm sure more committed ethical thinkers.
The authors give a critique of five prevalent ethical theories: utilitarianism, collectivism, individualism, naturalism and transhumanism. It then proceeds to give a Christian ethical framework based on a God-given human integrity as an alternative.
And the conclusion sums up everything pretty well.
I am convinced at the arguments they gave. It's clear that they've given this a lot of thought. The transhumanist and naturalist ones could be a tiny bit better though. It felt as though the naturalist critique was a tad bit off topic, but nothing too major. And I've never heard of transhumanism before. Although it did open my eyes to various sci-fi movies and their implicit transhumanist ethical tensions. So there's that.
But at the other three chapters are great. And the Christian alternative is presented both philosophically (in one chapter) and scripturally (in another). So both the objective reader and the Christian can benefit from this.
All in all it's a very good book worthy of the attention of both laymen like myself and I'm sure more committed ethical thinkers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews