Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

The Blackwell Companion to Religious Ethics provides a comprehensive account of issues and themes in current religious ethics as well as substantive treatments of the moral outlook and practices of the world's religions. With the dawning of present global realities, the religions are, for good and ill, some of the most dominant forces on this planet. Increasing cultural and religious interaction makes it imperative that scholars working within “religious ethics” understand the impact of traditions and communities on each other. For those theorists and community leaders undertaking constructive and normative moral reflection within their own traditions, critical awareness of the interactions among the world's religions seems extremely important as well. This volume, then, is meant for anyone interested in the moral beliefs and practices of the world's religions and their meaning and significance for current life. It aims to provide for scholars, teachers, religious leaders, and students at all levels needed resources and tools for the study of the world's religions. The volume is structured into three parts, each of which has subdivisions. Part I: Moral Inquiry provides an account of basic conceptual issues in religious ethics. The chapters explore (1) the elements of moral reflection, (2) the mechanisms of transmission and innovation in traditions, and (3) questions about how to ... log in or subscribe to read full text