The Political Crisis and Christian Ethics - by Ronald H Stone (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The Political Crisis and Christian Ethics addresses themes in political philosophy in the context of a crisis in democracy after the denial of the 2020 election by the Republican candidate for president. The refusal to accept the results of the election divided the electorate and drove the president's followers to fail in their attempted coup attempt in January of 2020. Democracy is defended in Reinhold Niebuhr's writing on politics and in Barack Obama's use of the theologian's thought. It is developed further in the political theory of Paul Tillich. The themes of just peacemaking are reviewed in Paul Tillich's critique of John Foster Dulles' work and in the author's critique of just peacemaking in the work of Glen Stassen. Domestically the issues of race, inequality, ecology, and healthcare are addressed from the perspective of prophetic realism. The book concludes in terms of Alfred North Whitehead's philosophy of education and religion and a vision of the good president. In summary, The Political Crisis and Christian Ethics is a volume of American, Christian political theory in a period of overcoming the trauma of 2016 with Christian ethics and political philosophy.

Review Quotes

"At a time when Christian participation in politics is guided more by religious enthusiasms than by theological analysis, this timely book provides both caution and corrective. Ronald Stone importantly centers public life as an object of theological reflection while identifying essential theological frameworks for examining some of today's most urgent public arena concerns."
--R. Drew Smith, professor of urban ministry, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

"A timely, insightful analysis of what Christian ethics can offer to American politics. Ronald Stone offers critical reflection on and application of the political ethics of Reinhold Niebuhr, Paul Tillich, and Richard Niebuhr, as well as his personal experiences as a Christian political ethicist and activist. Affirming that Christianity informs American politics, Stone offers concrete recommendations on issues of race, economic justice, climate, and more, and calls us to enact a prophetic realism."
--Mary Ann Stenger, professor emerita of humanities, University of Louisville

"At a point in time in which our civilization is replete with staggering mixtures of crisis and hope, the American tradition of Prophetic Realism--which declines any way of life other than the synergetic practice of reasonable religion, ethics, and politics--needs to be advanced. The Political Crisis and Christian Ethics exquisitely demonstrates how we can accomplish this and more."
--Bin Song, assistant professor of philosophy and religion, Washington College

About the Author

Ronald H. Stone is the Professor Emeritus of Christian Ethics at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the recent author of Reinhold Niebuhr in the 1960s and The Ethics of Paul Tillich.