RT Review
T1 Engelhardt as Sectarian: An Evangelical Protestant Consideration of After God
JF Christian bioethics
VO 23
IS 2
SP 200
OP 218
A1 Thobaben, James R. 1954-
A2 Engelhardt, Hugo Tristram 1941-2018
LA English
YR 2017
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1588455866
AB In this article, I argue that while Christians should share Engelhardt's disappointment in how bioethics functions in the world, they should not share his exasperation. I begin by outlining the general argument in After God, its understanding of secularism, and of how such secularism has impacted bioethics. Next, I suggest that Englehardt appears to lean toward disengagement or at least an extremely suspicious sectarianism. Rather, I claim that it is possible for Christians to morally engage in a useful way with others and still base their own moral activity on proper life telos. Such cooperation is not to serve a commonly-held ultimate purpose, but shared proximate ends. That said, the moral discourse with those outside the Church may be necessarily limited by shallow moral acquaintanceship. I argue that the concept of "middle axioms" can be used as a mechanism for engagement with others in this society. Importantly, this approach does not require abandoning distinctive Christian commitments and foundational assumptions.
K1 Rezension
DO 10.1093/cb/cbx005