Alcohol, Addiction and Christian Ethics (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780521851824)

Addictive disorders are characterised 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.

Author: Christopher C. H. Cook
ISBN-10: 0521851823
ISBN-13: 9780521851824
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 05/29/2006
Pages: 236
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.12h x 7.24w x 0.83d

Review Citation(s):
Christian Century 02/06/2007 pg. 37