A pocket guide to ethical issues

Good taste

A POCKET GUIDE TO ETHICAL ISSUES
By Andrew Goddard
Lion Hudson. 220 pages. £6.99
ISBN 0 7459 5158 9

This is a very comprehensive little introduction to a wide spectrum of ethical issues — not just the standard fare of euthanasia, abortion and sexual morality, but poverty, asylum seekers, capital punishment, smacking children, research on animals, environmental pollution, immigration, war, cloning, IVF and many other topics are also included.

Each chapter begins with a recent news story or anecdote illustrating the relevance of the problem. The issues themselves are then concisely explained, followed by an analysis of the pros and cons of the ethical dilemma from many viewpoints including a biblical one.

The book would be a useful addition to any school library to show the relevance of Christian faith to contemporary ethical debate. The great strength of the book in being both concise and comprehensive is also its great weakness. Those looking for an in-depth theological analysis of the questions will have to look elsewhere and in keeping with the aim of the book and the nature of ethical discourse, few answers are given. Some Christians may even feel that the Bible is simply treated as one outlook among many, from which one can pick and choose. However, as a ‘taster’ for those of no faith at all, this could be a helpful introduction to seeing how relevant the Scriptures are to moral decision-making.

Trevor Stammers,
GP in SW London and MA student in Bioethics at St. Mary’s College, Twickenham

© Evangelicals Now - September 2006
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Main Articles

• Good News on track
• The Commentary
  Gog and Magog?
• Leon Morris, 1914-2006
  Obituary
• Crusades & Festivals
  Ali Hull talked to evangelist Luis Palau at the Keswick Convention in July
• Handling problem people at your home group
• Worship Wars
  Final part of Tim Keller's consideration of the tension between historic and contemporary worship
• 4 loads of trouble!
  A retired pastor reflects on a life of ministry
• Evangelical student witness
  and what anthropology can do to help, and what insights it might give
• Monthly youth leaders column
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• Letter from America
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• The Third Degree
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• The Mosque
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• A pocket guide to ethical issues
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