Ethics in a Permissive Society.

by William Barclay

Ours is a permissive society. Laws are being eased to allow its members greater individual license to regulate their own ethical behavior in regard to such issues as abortion, contraception, indulgence in alcohol and drugs, sexual activity in and out of marriage. Where, in the midst of all this self-determination, is there a place for the Christian ethic? Professor William Barclay asked just this question when he delivered the highly respected Baird Lectures, which were broadcast for the first time over BBC television. ETHICS IN A PERMISSIVE SOCIETY brings together these lectures and supplements them with entirely new material to present his analysis of the situation in greater depth. In a society where all kinds of morality operate on equal footing with one another, where people are often ignorant of the Church’s teaching, how do we as Christians deal with these very complex ethical dilemmas? Professor Barclay approaches a diflicult and vexed question with his usual humanity and clarity, asking what Christ himself would say or do in our world today. He begins with a thoughtful consideration of the ethical teachings of the Old Testament, Jesus, and Paul. With this reminder of our ethical heritage, Professor Barclay reviews the very controversial and widely influential situational ethics in a particularly lucid and intelligent fashion. The Christian views on work and pleasure, and the relationship of the Christian to his money and to his community are then subjected to a careful reevaluation. In a final chapter, Professor Barclay proposes a “person-to-person ethic” whereby privilege is wedded to responsibility in order to sustain an abiding Christian framework for responsible Christian action.

Genres: Religion, Philosophy, Christian, Christianity

223 pages, Hardcover

First published April 26, 1971

About the author

WIlliam Barclay was a Scottish author, radio and television presenter, Church of Scotland minister, and Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow. He wrote a popular set of Bible commentaries on the New Testament that sold 1.5 million copies.

Reviews

[Angus Mcfarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dad has always expressed a deep admiration for the days Scotland stopped to watch Barclay deliver the Baird lectures which he later documented into this book, the first time the event was televised and also the first given by a theologian. I am unsure of the actual popularity of the event, but I have been impressed by the thoughtfulness of Barclays words, which in most cases would hold their own today, nearly 5 decades and a world of social change later.

The initial outlook focuses on the contrast between the ethic of Israel, Jesus, and Paul in contrast with the rest of the world and its religio-ethical approach. Barclay is a master of this period and it is hard to argue against the revolutionary benefit the people of the book gave the world then and arguably now. A transition to the pragmatic topics of work, pleasure, money and community is marked but a chapter on situation ethics. I don't think it's labeled this way now, but this school seems to have taken the now-routine post modernist approach whereby any assessment of right and wrong must be tempered with consideration of circumstances, thus absolutes are to be dispensed with in favour of the two sided coin love-justice. While acknowledging the positives of this approach (empathy) Barclay also makes an excellent rebuttal of the key arguments of the time, and indeed, probably it's more recent incarnation.

Of the pragmatic topics I found the work one the most interesting, given the current debate concerning automation, a concern for Barclay in Scotland even 50 years ago. The final chapter about person to person ethics seemed relatively mundane, or at least very familiar to me having spent a bit of time digesting New Testament concepts,many Barclays commentary, on marriage, parents, slaves, children etc. Overall, most chapters were quite a compelling read, but the ethic of Paul, and those on money and community dragged a bit. Again familiarity may have been partly to blame. It didn't seem to correspond to the chapters which were, or were not, part of the original lectures, although the bulking out that took place during the subsequent writing may have contributed to the drag of some chapters.

Of course, Barclay is seeking to present a Christian view of the subject and it is therefore unlikely that his viewpoints would find general agreement, although his moderate approach would be hearable by by any audience I think. Whether society adopts Christian positions on issues is a choice that individuals and governments etc need to make ideally having received a dispassionate understanding of the christian viewpoint. For the church at large, uniting behind a clear, moderate and yet uncompromisingly Christian spokesperson such as Barclay would greatly assist internal and external dialogue. Unfortunately, the opportunity given 1970s Scotland to have such as Barclay seems rare now, with the Christian voice presented to society generally liked because it's so liberal/secular or an irritant because it is overly conservative and in both cases severely limited in the breadth of issues allowed or choosing to address. So it is perhaps individuals who will now benefit most from Barclays thoughts, making this book a valuable addition to the lectures.

[Paul]

real

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't remember a lot now almost 40 years later but it was interesting and religious.

[Paul Korir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book (twice) when I was still in high school (~17 yrs). I guess I was tired with the usual set book thing. I expected such a book to be difficult because I had never ready anything non-fictional outside of the school curriculum. I discovered that there was a whole world of books and knowledge that was not part of 'mainstream' high school thought and it utterly changed my view on knowledge. I immediately realised that I could learn things that were not prescribed as required reading for an exam and that it would enrich my view of the world. I think that high school students should be encouraged to find out new, extra-curricular ideas for themselves, challenge the content of their text books and try to understand the implications of these new ideas. Students have to learn to think for themselves but this cannot be forced upon them.

Anyway, I found this book remarkably accessible. It discussed the role of Christianity in the context of an ethically unstable society. Perhaps this is crucial for the African Christian because our recent acquisition of a Christian perspective is often challenged by competing secular perspectives. Where do we draw the line? How do we distinguish between the good and the right?

I hope it is never made 'required reading' as that will destroy its revelatory effect on those who freely choose to read it for themselves.

[Constant]

So wonderrful, so much nourishing. It is so Philosophical.