Who We are: Our Dignity as Human : a Neo-evangelical Theology

Front Cover
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1996 - 487 pages
This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable.

This timely theology of humankind gives an evangelical and Reformed perspective on what it means for us to be created in the image of God and shows how this image relates to contemporary problems of racism, sexuality, and our relationship to the natural world.

The second volume in the late Paul Jewett's planned multivolume systematic theology -- which began with God, Creation, and Revelation -- this work brings solid biblical and theological scholarship to bear on the Christian doctrine of humankind, showing that our unique dignity as human beings is to have been created to live our lives before God, in loving responsibility toward God and other people. Excellent doctrinal sermons by Marguerite Shuster demonstrate how theological and practical aspects of the doctrine of humankind might be preached in local congregations.

 

Contents

I Introduction
3
B Humanity and Mechanistic Reductionism
7
Who Are We? A Sermon
11
C Humanity Viewed as Fellowship with God and Neighbor
16
D Humanity Viewed as Individual Selves
23
A Christian Perspective
26
On Persons and Personalities
29
Our Existence in the Body
30
c Birth Control
236
A Question of Life and Death
240
2 Concerning Slogans and Moral Simplicities
243
3 The Biblical Data
245
4 Soul and Fetus
247
5 Abortion and Womens Rights
252
6 Conclusion
254
4 Fidelity Within the Marriage Bond
255

Our Transcendence of the Body
35
2 Soul and Spirit
36
Concerning Trichotomy
44
Wellbeing A Sermon
47
The Image and Likeness of God
53
The Reliquiae Relics Remnants of the Image
58
Human SelfTranscendence
59
Memory
63
b SelfTranscendence and Reason
64
The Retarded and the Gifted
67
Concerning Humor
69
c SelfTranscendence and Will
72
Freedom or Mechanism? A Further Comment
76
d SelfTranscendence and Conscience
77
2 The Biblical Data
79
3 Conclusion
82
Conscience and the Moral Absolute
84
Conscience A Sermon
90
3 The Image and the Sense of the Beautiful
96
III Human Dignity and Racial Prejudice
100
Its Essence and Its Effects
103
C A Concluding Word
119
Concerning Capital Punishment
122
Male and Female He Created Them
131
B The ManWomen Relationship
136
2 Paul and the Hierarchical View of the ManWoman Relationship
138
3 The Hierarchical View of the ManWoman Relationship Elaborated and Defended
142
4 Other Scriptures Bearing on the ManWoman Relationship
149
b Jesus and Women
150
c The Pauline Argument Revisited
154
d An Analysis of the Second Creation Narrative
158
5 The ManWomen Relationship Viewed as a Partnership of Equals
162
Sexual Complementarity and Wifely Submission
164
Galatians 328
166
c Conclusion
170
Misogyny in Pagan and Christian Though
173
A Brief Comment
176
The Eternal Feminine
179
Something Fitting A Sermon
184
D Sex Love and Marriage
190
2 Sex as Erotic Passion
192
3 Romantic Love
198
b Concerning the Song of Songs
205
A Cheer for Heloise
209
4 The Covenant of Marriage
214
The Celibate Life
218
b Further Comment on the Marriage Relationship
222
2 The Blessings of Marriage Bona Matrimonii
228
3 Marriage and the Gift of New Life
231
b Induced Conception
232
Monogamy and Polygamy
259
Sex and Sin
262
The Wedding
266
Arranged Marriages
270
The Dissolution of the Marriage Bond
273
b Marriage Divorce and the Divine Will
276
c Conclusion
283
An Extended Addendum
290
b The Traditional Case Against Homosexuality in the Teaching of the Church
292
c The Traditional Attitude Shown Toward Homosexuals in the Life of the Church and in Society
297
d The Contemporary Case for Homosexuality
307
2 Concerning Civil Rights and Medical Opinions
310
e The Church and the Contemporary Case for Homosexuality
313
1 Sexual Orientation and Sexual Behavior Revisited
315
2 The Biblical Witness with Respect to Homosexuality
318
22 and 2013
319
2627
320
910 and 1 Timothy 110
324
e The Attempt to Find a Positive Biblical Word on Homosexuality
326
3 Attempted Solutions
330
a Change of Orientation
331
b Committed Homosexual Relationships
336
c Celibacy
342
4 A Conclusion of Sorts
347
V The Divine Image and the Dominion of Humankind
351
B The Rise of Civilization and Technology
357
2 Cain and Civilization
359
3 Babel Science and Technology
365
The Mystery of Life and Evolution
376
C The Ecological Problems
392
2 Particular Ecological Problems
394
b Habitat Destruction and the Loss of Species
399
c Population Growth and Hunger
402
d Exhaustion of Resources
406
3 Economic and Justice Issues
408
4 Technological Possibilities and Risks
418
a Nuclear Power
419
b Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
425
c Conclusion
437
5 The Recalcitrant and Interlocking Nature of the Problems
438
D A Modest Exercise of Domination
445
2 Stewardship
447
3 Love of Neighbor
452
4 The Value of Beauty Gratitude and Contentment
457
5 A View to Gods Future
461
A Wider Sympathy A Sermon
466
Index of Subjects
473
Index of Names
477
Index of Scripture References
481
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