Alcohol, Addiction and Christian Ethics

Erscheinungsjahr 2016
ISBN: 978-0-521-85182-4
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, Band 27, 236 Seiten, Format (B × H): 157 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 540 g

Reihe: New Studies in Christian Ethics

Addictive disorders are characterized by a division of the will, in which the addict is attracted both by a desire to continue the addictive behaviour and also by a desire to stop it. Academic perspectives on this predicament usually come from clinical and scientific standpoints, with the 'moral model' rejected as outmoded. But Christian theology has a long history of thinking and writing on such problems and offers insights which are helpful to scientific and ethical reflection upon the nature of addiction. Chris Cook reviews Christian theological and ethical reflection upon the problems of alcohol use and misuse, from biblical times until the present day. Drawing particularly upon the writings of St Paul the Apostle and Augustine of Hippo, a critical theological model of addiction is developed. Alcohol dependence is also viewed in the broader ethical perspective of the use and misuse of alcohol within communities.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Cook, Christopher C. H.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Christentum/Christliche Theologie Allgemein Kirchliche Bildungseinrichtungen, Diakonie, Caritas
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Invalidität, Krankheit und Abhängigkeit: Soziale Aspekte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface; 1. Alcohol, addiction and Christian ethics: introduction; 2. An addiction in context: the use, misuse and harmful use of alcohol; 3. Drunkenness as vice in the New Testament; 4. Drunkenness as intemperance: Augustine, Aquinas, Luther and Whitefield; 5. Temperence redefined: the nineteenth century temperance movement; 6. Addiction as sin and syndrome: the divided self; 7. Alcohol, addiction and Christian ethics; 8. Conclusions.

Über Autor(innen)

Cook, Christopher C. H.
Chris Cook is chaplain of St Chad's College Durham and Professorial Research Fellow in the Department of Theology & Religion, Durham University. He is co-author of Treatment of Drinking Problems, 4th Edition (2003).