Evil and Christian Ethics (New Studies in Christian Ethics)

Rating:
Summary: Readable, insightful, thought-provoking
Review: Gordon Graham's book Evil and Christian Ethics is a considerable achievement. First, it is academic level philosophy in the sense that he has written a very rigorous text. But more importantly, it is a very accessible, readable text, so that almost anyone with a high-school or college education can understand it. His challenge to Christians who have capitulated to post-modern thought and/or liberal Biblical scholarship is strident. I believe that, in general, non-Christians will find the book a disturbing read. While there is certainly some reductionism that may make for possible solutions to his critiques, it seems that his attack falls on broadly logical and general lines that cannot be avoided.

The central points of his book are:
a. Demonstrating the primary significance of the Incarnation and Crucifixion of Christ is God's victory over Satan in cosmic warfare.
b. Demonstrating the lack of any discernible "Christian ethic"
c. Demonstrating the inability of materialistic worldviews to attribute any genuine moral significance to evil states of affairs.
d. Demonstrating the inability of materialistic worldviews to explain the causal origin of evil.
e. Demonstrating the inability of materialistic worldviews to ground a rational hope in responding to evil.
f. Demonstrating the ability of a Christian worldview to give moral significance to evil, explain the cause of evil, and give us reason for hope in responding to evil.

A powerful book. There are few wasted words in this 230 page work and it reads quickly (except when the stunning implications of his argument stops you, makes you think, and realigns your thoughts). Careful readers will find room to debate some of his conclusions, and he freely admits himself the arguments have not been given the fullest development they deserve--but what is here is worth your time.